The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-20
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

U1uSl HTSI get Ills tHcCh SdsItu. W hiic
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.
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 teller'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 a man standing next to
him cried out:
"Give me my money!
He was looking straight at Billy. and
yet 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 reiter-
ated.
Tf you mean me-" said Billy. you've
made a mistake"
"No. I haven't. thought there was
somethin' up when you jostled me.
When l 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 after told his
| story.
"Shall run him IMP asked the Of
flcer.
"Sure!''
"Well, you'll 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-five dollars"
Billy turned pale. The sergeant or
responded by taking out the roll Of
bills he had drawn from the bank and
handing them to the officer. They
were counted and correspondent exact
" with the amount the man said he
had lost.
The sergeant looked somewhat BUR
prised. Billy did not look like a thief.
"How long have you been crookT'
asked the sergeant Of Billy.
"I'm not crook" replied the boy
with tremor in his voice. '1That S25
I 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 a check had recently been
paid to William Atherton. The paying
teller replied In the affirmative. The
amount was $50.
II thought So" remarked the SER
geant and, looking at the accuser, add
ed: Il 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 a policeman entered
the station and, seeing Billy's accuser.
looked hard at him. Then he said:
Hello. Tom Flynn! When did you
get QUIT"
At this the man owned up. He had
stood i'm line before the cashiers win.
dow. saw Billy draw the money, felt in
his pocket for 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
~ knew where to begin.
Mother, I've been accused of rob.
berry," he said.
Great heavenr'
II was taken to the police station"
"Oh, dearr
MY salary has been raised for Mex
! year."
do tell!'
And Mr.. Stuart gave me S25 FOL
Christmas"
Mercy on usi What else has hap
penedr
Billy. having got out the main points
settled down to the story. beginning a
the right end and ending with his dis
charge from custody.
| Mrs. Anterior at the close Of the re
cital embraced her son, then hurriet
out to spend a part Of his money 70