The Press., 1916-01-12

40 the young lady and he would be put
10 considerable trouble to explain his
/ theft, concluded to take preeaution.
He was chummy with the clerk of the
hotel and told him the story. Since
Billy was well known to the manage
ment, this bit Of advance knowledge
was all that was necessary to prevent
trouble. Billy learned from the clerk
that the young lady was Miss Helena
Clarke of New York.
Shortly after Billy's theft and re-
turn Of the stolen property Mr. and
| Mrs. Balllnger came down from the
north and stopped under the Same
roof with him. The first Billy knew
OF their arrival was seeing them hob
nobbing with Mrs. Clarke and her
daughter. Billy WINGED. He had been
led by circumstances into doing what
would put him into Il position which
would, to say the least, be considered
| foolish and had come to realize that
any transition to his own respectable
| self would be humiinting. The ar
| rival OF these friends, mutual to him
self and the Clarkes, might bring
about II dcnouement before he was
ready for one. At the same time II
he wished for u voucher the new ar
| rivals would serve the purpose admira-
bly,. Billy determined to keep out OF
| their way until he could think up q
| way out Of his dilemma. But the
more he thought the more he became
impressed with the fact that there
was no way out Of 1t unless he should
soncoct bigger deception than the
ono he had practiced. While he was
trying to invent story the Clarkes
departed for the north. Billy, having
learned all about them from his
| friends the Ballingers, took his own
departure for home.
1t was now a couple Of weeks be-
| fore Christmas. Billy went to his
bank and procured n certificate of de-
post in the name Of Helena Clarke;
| then, going home, he inclosed it in a
note saying that he was the man who
had been saved from an ignominious
| career by her kindness A misery I'M
| Gle had died and left him a large for
| tune. Would Miss Clarke kindly dis
! tribute for him the inclosed amount
, for the poor at Christmas time? If
so she would go far in helping him to
| forget the sin the remembrance Of
which was embittering his life.
"Well," said Billy to himself, eff
can't keep her from setting me down
| for fool I can at least prepare the
| way for a confession" And with this
hn mi in,
| mail box. A reply soon came to him
from Miss Clarke showing plainly that
| she had swallowed this story as well
as the other. She promised to dispense
his Christmas charity and asked If
there was anything else she could do
| to encourage him in making his re-
| formation permanent. Billy replied
that he thought she could. but he
would speak of that later.
Meanwhile the Ballingers had re-
turned to New York Billy went to
Mrs. Ballinger, told her of the fix he
was in and asked her to help him out
of it. The lady at once wrote the
Clarkes an invitation to Il Christmas
dinner, declining to take no for an
answer A reply came accepting the
invitation. Billy was also invited.
Mr. Emerson says that the most
courageous act Of his life was when
he walked into Mrs. Ballinger's draw
ing room that Christmas day and be-
held Miss Clarke arrayed in dinner
costume, looking, it seemed to him,
beautifully cold. Mrs. Ballinger had
promised him that she would an
70 orJyo thof ho
be one Of the dinner company and
make his confession for him. She had
also insured him a not unkindly recep-
ton. What was Billys relief when
the young lady. with a charming smile.
extended her hand to him.
It seemed that leaden coat of trou-
BILE had peeled off him and left him
light as a feather.
do tell me- she said when they
were seated side by side, "what in
duced you to confess crime that you
had not committed?"
Billy's resource came to his aid.
Il was caught red handed, wasn't
1? Well, if 1 had told you that l had
taken your portemonnaie you might
not have believed me-"
But l would
THAT I wasn't sure of. But of an
other thing I was sure. If l carried
out the appearance of a theft with
subsequent confession and contrition
1 knew by that kindness which show
ed itself in your every feature that
you would forgive me and I would
run no risk
Wasn't that thoughtful Of your she
replied with a suspicion of a blush.
The rest was easy, and it proved
merry and happy Christmas for both
Of them.