Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1917-02-02
Billy Atherton's
Christmas Money
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

BILLY, here's Christmas gift for
you" said his employer and handed
him a check for S25
Bllly's face lighted with JOY He had
not been with the firm long, and his
salary was meager, He had been hop
ing that 1t would be raised on the first
OF the new year, but had not counted
on receiving anything besides his ten
dollar weekly pay before that time,
"Next year Wen give you an add
tlonal S. week" added Mr.. Stuart.
Billy left the Office rejoicing, His
mother was widow and poor There
were several little children I'm the fam
fly and nothing with which to celebrate
Christmas, Billy's first impulse was to
buy lot Of gifts to take home with
him. Then he remembered that he
must first get his check cashed, While
he was going to the bank he concluded
to take the money home and give II 10
his mother TO spend ms she thought
best
He was known at the bank, having
often made deposits there for his en-
ployers, and had no difficulty in getting
the money. He rolled the bills to.
gether and crammed them into his
trousers pocket Then, giving place at
the paying tellcr's window to the next
person in line he ran outside and stood
waiting for trolley car to take him
home, The first car that came along
was crowded but Billy forced his way
through those on the platform and hung
on to a strap.
Billy was thinking Of the pleasure In
store for his mother at seeing his roll
OF bills when man standing next to
him cried out
"Givc me my money"
He was looking straight at Billy, and
vet Billy was some time getting on to
the fact that the man referred to him.
"You give me back them bills you
took out o my pocket" the man relter,
ated.
"If you mean me-" said Billy, you've
made mistake"
mo. | haven't thought there was
somethin' up when you jostled me.
When | got my hand down into my
pocket my money was gone
Billy protested that he was innocent,
but the man was immovable and cried
out to the conductor to stop the car at
the next corner The car was stopped,
and traffic policeman called rounds.
man, who took Billy and his accuser
off the car There the latter told his
story.
"Shall Imn him in?" asked the Of
ficer
Sure"
"Well, youn have to come along too"
Poor Billy was marched to a police
station and placed before sergeant at
the desk. When his accuser had stated
his case the sergeant asked him how
much money had been taken from
him.
Twenty dollars"
Billy turned pale, The sergeant or
dered him to turn out his pockets. He
responded by taking out the roll of
bills he had drawn from the bank and
handing them to the officer. They
were counted and corresponded exact
ly with the amount the man said he
had lost.
The sergeant looked somewhat sur
prised. Billy did not look like thief.
How long have you been crook|
asked the sergeant of Billy.
I'm not n crook" replied the boy
with tremor in his voice. "That 500
have just drawn from the bank 1t
was given me for Christmas
"What bank?'
"The Tenth National"
The sergeant took up telephone
and asked if check had recently been
paid to William Atherton. The paying
teller replied in the affirmative. The
amount was $25.
81 thought So" remarked the ser
geant and looking at the accuser, add
ed; 81 reckon you're the crook and this
young man Is the victim. You saw him
draw the money, got on the same car
with him and played your game"
At that moment policeman entered
the station and, seeing Billy's accuser,
looked hard at him. Then he said
Hello, Tom Flynn! When did you
get out?"
At this the man owned up. He had
stood in line before the cashiers win
dow, saw Billy draw the money, felt in
his pocket for n check he didn't find
and, running out, was in time to get on
the car with Billy.
He was put back in the penitentiary
from which he had recently come.
When Billy reached home he had so
much to tell his mother that he scarce
ly knew where to begin.
"Mothcr I've been accused of rob.
berry" he said.
Great heaven"
81 was taken to the police station"
"Oh, DEAR"
"My salary has been raised for next
year"
"Do tell"
"And Mr.. Stuart gave me 500 for
Christmas"