Catoctin clarion., 1918-09-26
3O.POUND BILLY
BY HELEN TRACY.
copyright, 1918. by the Mcclure Newsp"-
per SyndicateD

Nella had been weighing DapleS "ii
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 nameT
"Yiyi tum dum," babbled Billy.
"He can't speak yet, mann. Blly's
only two" explained the girl, watch
ing Nella closely, as she sought an even
balance. "How much does he weigh,
mam?"
Exactly thirty pounds to an ounce.
We shall have to nickname him ''Thir-
ty-Pound Billy" won't we, sir?'
Billy displayed row of pearly teeth;
his large blue eyes wrinkled with mer-
riment he gave joyous squeal, and
held out eager hands to Nella,
"Oh, you darling" she cried, clasp
ing him tightly in her arms. us he
your brotherW to the girl,
"No, he don't belong to us. His
mas dead and his pa travels. He just
boards with u.s."
Nelh left Billy in the girls care
and hastened back to her desk. For
long time she was busy with statistics,
finding average weights, the greatest
and the smallest. The sun was low
when she hade her companions-in-labor
good night and hasteped down the
street towards home.
At the corner crossing she hesltated.
the clamor of bells warning her that
the fire engines were approaching. A
second later she gazed In horror at
tiny, toddling figure that was wander
ina aimlessly into the middle Of the
street. Somehow, In spite of her half
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; 1t 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 hesltat-
ed no longer. Darling across the pave
ment, she pulled the implsh Billy out
OF danger.
What had seemed an eternity was
really but second, Seated on the
curbstone, her heart beating loudly, her
hands gripping Billy so that he whim.
pered with pain, anger surged forth In
q tempest. And when the girl who
should have been taking care Of tho
tot returned for him, Nella poured a
flood of accusations upon her.
''It's 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 a 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 matier 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
mint" the girl admitted reluctantly
"Very well. Thke 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
n blue-coated individual left II telegram
at the door. "Tm 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
maiedictipns. But I don't care! I'll
face him, no matter what he Is like"
In the evening he cume-=a big, strap
ping young man, full Of life and good
cheer, his large blue eyes twinkling
just as ThlrtyPound Billys did, yet
with wiStfulntsg in them that wrung
Nella's heart. ~ wish yDud help me-"
he came to the point at once. "Pm
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 / do
over anything else"
Nella's mother offered solution.
Let me have him. Pm 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 Billys father spent many hours
with his son--and Nella,
The doctor had weighed the baby.
He placed 1t in big Toms arms, who
laid 1t tenderly beside the waiting
Nella. "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. ] owe so much to
him." Nella mused.
$50 do l." Tom gripped Neila tight,
"All I have that makes life worth liy-