The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-31
Billy Atherton's
Christmas Money
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

Christmas from the Office OF Stuart d
Co., he was called into Mr. Stuart's Of
/ fee
Billy, here's a Christmas gift for
you" said his employer and handed
him check for SO.
Billy's face lighted with Joy. He had
not been with the firm long. and his
salary was meager. He had been hop
ing that Ii 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 we'll give you an addi-
t!onal So a week." added Mr.. Stuart.
Billy left the office rejoicing. His
mother was a widow and poor. There
we're several little children In 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 ne
must first get his check cashed. While |
he was going to the bank he concluded |
TO take the money home and give 1t TO
his mother to spend as she thought
best
He was known at the bank. having
often made deposits there for his en-
plovers. and had no difficulty in getting
the money, lie rolled the bills TO-
gether and crammed them into MS
trousers pocket Then, giving place at
tha having tellers window to the next
nerson in line. he ran outside and stood
waiting for n trolley car to take MN
home. The fl3t car that came along
was crowded. but Billy forced his way
through those on the platform ana huhs
on to a strap.
Rirv was thinking of the pleasure In
store for his mother at seeing MS ron
Of bills when a man standing next 10
him cried out:
"Give me my money!
He was looking straight at BLY, anu
g vet Billy was some time getting on .
r Inc IN 1t that the man referred 10 hiih'
;. "yeu five me back them bllls yo'
/ .oo,- o-t q my pocket" the man reiter
ated.
| III YOU mean ule, suiu i'''s'
mace 4 mistake.
d "No lrven't thought there wa
1t eor,eth,n' IN when you jostled M
t. Whom | got my hand down into III
rocket my money was gone.
th Fills protested that he was innoceh
re hrt tho man was immovable and erie
ne out TO the conductor to stop the cur
" the next corner. The car was stoppe
Of and n traffic policeman called rounu
d. man who took Billy and his accus
m or Tho car. There the after told
H. story.
"Shall run him INF" asked the
re 6cer.
as "Sure!"
nd swell. you'll have to come along TOO
to Poor Billy was marched to a poll
s." station and placed before sergeah.
,ut the desk. When his accuser had sta'
The his case the sergeant asked him ~
of much money had been taken III
mo him.
ak Twenty five dollars"
the Riuv turned pale. The sergeant
dered him to turn out his pockets.
vas responded by taking out the ron
ON bills he had drawn from the bank
ose. nm nding them to the officer. II
still were counted and corresponded eA'
tile " with the amount the man saiu
Ding had lost.
The sergeant looked somewhat
Wish pr,sed. Billy did not look like th
ter "How long have you been croo
asked the sergeant OF Billy.
,ave "I'm not a crook" replied the
Miss with a tremor In his voice Ina.
rson I have Just drawn from the bank
In. vas given me for Christmas"
nize "What bankf'
m 1.-THE Tenth National
was The sergeant took up telepr
posi- and asked II a check had recently
her maid TO william Anterior. The pa.
.nt,v taller replied I'm the affirmative.
, did amount was s25.
70 as al thought So" remarked the
care peant and, looking at the accuser,
, his ed: 81 reckon you're the crook and
how Young man is the victim. You saw
love draw the money, got on the same
, ad. with him and played your game
Mice At that moment policeman ent
the station and, seeing Billy's acc
SAINT looked ha.u at LII Nh, Ala
acted heho, Ao'
"a 70. get outT
Ar this the man owned up. He
= ~ stood in line before the cashiers
a n..u dow. saw Billy draw the money, 4
as,eo his pocket for check he didn't
'hue and. running out, was In time to 9
Turing mo-. mt hack in the peniten
lmsen from which be had recently come
sne When Billy reached home he D.
listaK much to tell his mother that he &C
oposai lv knew where to begin.
"Mcther, I've been accused OF
HAS berry," he said.