The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-08-16

Tie Di,Uy III once.

ognlzeu Tne D;,Oy u once.
BILLY" she screamed, waving to the
child. "COme here--cOme |"
Billy grinned it was the same beati-
| fic, cOmradely smile-but he continued
onward. Nella glanced wildly up the
street. The heavy chemical was charg-
| ing down upon the child. She hesitat-
ed no longer. Darling across the pave
ment, she pulled the impish Billy out
Of danger.
What had seemed an eternity was
| really but a second. Seated on the
curbstone, her heart beating loudly, her
| hands gripping Billy so that he whim-
pered with pain, anger surged forth In
a tempest. And when the girl who
should have been taking care Of the
tot returned for him, Nella poured a
flood Of accusations upon her.
tits a shame. You are not fit to
take care Of children. Where is his IA
Their? What's his address? He ought
to know how Billy is being neglected.
Look at his clothes. They are filthy.
It's wonder his body Is as clean as
it is"
She stopped after a while, ont of
breath. Stimulated by the frightful
experience she had passed through, she
determined to follow the matter up.
"When ma wants to write to Mr.. No
bic she uses Rochester-General De-
livery for an address that's all. Some
times he's there and sometimes he
LOTT ha ~ ri %o1
every we'll. Take Billy home now
and do clean him up. Good-by, Thir-
ty-Pound Billy"
Nella wrote to Billy's father. Hell
say it's none Of my business" she said
to her mother, 'but I've fallen in love
with his son and can't see him neg
lected."
A week passed, and when the girl
had almost forgotten the Billy episode
blue-coated individual left a telegram
at the door. "rm in for 1t now" Nella
| grOaned, reading the message. "Billy's
father Is calling tonight. He will prob
ably pitch into me with all kinds Of
maledictions. But I don't care! IN
face him, no matter what he is like"
In the evening he came-a big, strap
ping young man, full Of life and good
cheer, his large blue eyes twinkling
| just as Thirty-Pound Billy's did, yet
with usefulness In them that wrung
F; Nella's heart. II wish you'd help me-"
he came to the point at once. I'm
frantic about the boy. My parents are
dead and the wife's-she died at his
| birth-are across the continent
There's no one to leave Billy with.
I've tried him in three boarding houses
already. But the people take him in
because they need the money, not be-
cause they need him. Perhaps you
won't believe me, Miss French, but I
worry more over that tike than 1 do
over anything else"
Nellas mother offered a solution
LET me have him. I'm alone all day.
with Nella off at the settlement house.
I'd love to have him here"
So 1t was settled. Thirty-Pound
Billy was installed at his new home,
where he was cared for and loved, and
where Billy's father spent many hours
with his son-and Nella.
L
The doctor had weighed the baby
he placed it in big Toms arms, who
laid it tenderly beside the waiting
N'ella. 'The little lady weighs eight
pounds, sweetheart" he whispered,
kissing the white lips lovingly.
my, but she's got to gain some be-
fore she can catch up with our Thirty
Pound Billy!''
'Thirty pounds! Nearly sixty now
the buster"
II like to think of him as the little
two-year-old baby. I owe so much to
him." Nella unused.
| $50 do l." Tom gripped Nella tight.
"All have that makes life worth liv-
ing l won through him and his thirty
pounds"