The Elbert County tribune., 1918-01-11
THIRD EPISODE
BHlie's Romance.

l like bcTsl l might as well con-
fess 1t here and now, for it will be
one of those facts which we "hold to
be self-evidcnt" by the time | nave
tod you the adventure of loyal little
chap named Billie Dram Good boys,
bad boys; mischievous lads and sedate
ones; golden-haired Lord Fanntleroys
md freckle-faced Penrod Schofields-I
like them all.
So now you will see why Billie Dran's
letter brought tenderness to my heart.
and--I confess II all unashamed-tear.i
to my eyes.
1t was written on Western Onion
telegraph blank.
Dear Miss Fairfax:
am fourteen years old and am in love
teiegraphy. How soon can / ask her to
marry met Please telephone reply.
BILLIE DRAM.
Schuyler 1892.
1 picked up my desk telephone and
a momrut later | had the operator in
the Western Union office. And she
complied cheerfully with my request
that she summon Billie. Such nice.
clear embarrassed boys voice as came
back to me over the phone.
l knew Billie Dram and 1 were pre-
destined friends.
''I'm studying telegraphy. Miss Fair
fax-studying awful hard. l know
most of the Morse alphabet now, and
can push the keys pretty fast. Don't
you think l got prospects?" asked the
boy
Your future looks bright, Billie.
But you can't marry on your present
salary" said /.
Then l hung up the receiver and
turned to face n black-browed young
gentleman named Barton. Jimmy's
face was never made for scowling but
he was managing to twist it into some
thing strongly resembling Jealous
scowl. / spoke to him and he didn't
answer for minute, and then sud-
denly. in very unjlmmyesque voice.
he fairly growled out, who's Billie?"
His attitude annoyed me a bit. and
told Mr.. Barton that 1 was not in
the habit of being questioned about my
friends.
A moment later Jimmy got up and
marched forth with an assumption of
dignity that was quite entertaining.
The days work got itself done with
the ense and facility which sometimes
lightens the burden of toilers. Just
as l was finishing, my dear friend,
Mrs. Arthur, telephoned to ask me If
/ wouldn't like TO take her car and
drive out in the country for an hour or
so.
spin In the country was Just the
tonic and stimulant / wanted.
Out over the road / drove through
sweet-smelling fields and into the
clean, wide spaces where there is no
jagged skyline of buildings reaching
up toward the placid blue sky.
Suddenly l found myself on lone
iy Ir-ad about an hour from New York.
1 had not passed a car for quite n
while and l was thinking that l had
better return to the haunts of men,
when n great, dark limousine came
tearing down the road toward me like
some ugly monster conjured up from
the dark ages.
Ii hurtled toward me with an at
tcndant cloud of dust. swirling about
1t, thudded heavily over great jut
In the road. swerved bit and then
swept on as If 1t were the juggernaut
car of ancient fable.
l was looking after the car, but at
the roadside / saw something which
made me bring Mrs. Arthur's car to
sudden standstill. l knew she would
have forgiven me for setting the brakes
SO hurriedly had she been there to see
the dusty little figure l beheld by the
roadside.
Inert and quiet he lay there-a little
lad, mysteriously hurled off into space
by that vast, speeding black car. But
ps i got to his ride he was managing
to get to his feet.
'Oh, please. please don't stop for
anything Just take me in your
car. Lady, and drive after that one. l
can't let 1t get out of my sight
they've got my sweetheart in it."
Even while the lad spoke he was
dragging me frantically back to my
car.
please go fast. Please don't let 'em
get away from you. They're awful
looking folks. and she's such n little
girl. oh, do help save my Jean"
Over the rush of the air his voice
rose loud and shrill. "Jeanl" That
name rang Its changes in my memory.
"Please hurry" shrilled the boys
voice with more and more pleading in
its childish tone. 'I've got to save
Jean-nobody else knows except me,
but Billie Dram is going to be her
cavalier, just like he was in the
dream"
"Billie Dranl" / cried. "Billie
Dran-well, and do you know who 1t
is you've pressed into service like this?
PtIIia hov vou'ye come right home to