Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1918-08-08
3O-POUND BILLY
BY HELEN TRACY.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

per syndicate)
Nella had been weighing babies all
the day. Her muscles ached with lift.
ing the heavy tots and steadying the
fragile ones. Her voice was husky
from overuse, cajoling, comforting,
soothing.
THE next one shall be the last for
today" she stated just as Billy toddled
| in.
well, little man." Nella exclaimed,
lifting him, what Is your namef"
"Yiyi tum dum," babbled Billy.
"ae can't speak yet, mann. Billye
only two" explained the girl, watch
ing Nella closely, as she sought an even
| balance. How much does he weigh,
MANI"
Exactly thirty pounds to an ounce,
| We shall have 10 nickname him "Thirs
| ty-Pound Billy" won't we, sir?"
Billy displayed row of pearly teeth;
his large blue eyes wrinkled with merS
riment; he gave a joyous squeal and
held out eager hands to Nella.
ooh, you darling" she cried, clasp
ing him tightly in her arms. rs he
your brother?" to the girl.
mo, he don't belong to us. His
mas dead and his pa travels. He just
boards with u.s."
Nella left Billy in the girls care
| and FASTENED back to her desk. For d
| long time she was busy with statistics,
| finding average weights, the greatest
and the smallest. The sun was low
| when she babe her experimentation
good night, and fastened down the
street towards home.
At the corner crossing she hesitated,
the clamor of bells warning her that
the fire engines We're approaching. a
| second later she gaZed in horror at q
tiny, tOddling figure that was wander.
| ing almlessly into the middle of the
street. Somehow, m spite of her halls
view Of the very dirty infant, she rec.
ognized the baby at 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 Il second Seated on the
curbstone, her heart beating loudly, her
| hands gripping Billy so that he whlm-
pered with pain, anger surged forth Id,
tempest. And when the girl who
| should have been taking care of the.
tot returned for him. Nelia poured a
! food of accusations upon her.
TITS a shame. You are not fit to
take care of children. Where is his fa-
ther? 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,
| 1t is
She stopped after while, out 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
Bile she uses 'Rochester-General De-
| livery for an address; that's all. Some-
times he's there and sometimes he
| Amt" the girl admitted reluctantly.
every well. Take Billy home now
and do clean him up. Good-by, Thlr-
ty-Pound Billy"
Nella wrote to Billys father He'll
| 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. I'm in for it now" Nella
| groaned, reading the message. "Bllly's
| father Is calling tonight. He will prob
ably pitch into me with all kinds of
maledictions. But I don't carel I'll
| 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 a usefulness in them that wrung
| Nellas 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
worry more over that tike than 1 do
over anything else"
| Nela's mother offered a solution.
| LET me have him. I'm alone all day.
with Nella OF at the settlement house.
| I'd love 10 have him here"
So II was settled. Thlrty-Pound
| Billy was installed at his new home,
| where he was cared for and loved, and
where Bllly's father spent many hours
| with his Son-and Nela.
|
The doctor had weighed the baby.
| He placed II In big Toms arms, who
laid it tenderly beside the waiting
Nella. "The little lady weighs eight
/ mounds Sveetbaartn ba vrhIsparad