The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1918-07-19
302P0UND BILLY
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
copyright, l9IS, by the McCIure NeWspa-
per Syndicate)
BY HELEN TRACY.


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, eajoling, 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 name?'
"Yiyi tum dum," babbled Billy.
"He can't speak yet, mann. Billy's
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 to nickname him "Thir-
ty-Pound Billy" won't we, sir?"
Billy displayed a 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. 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 US"
Nella left Billy in the girls care
and FASTENED back to her desk. For a
long time she was busy with statistics,
| finding average weights, the greatest
and the smallest. The sun was low
when she babe her companions-in-labor
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 were approaching. A
second later she gazed in horror at
tiny, toddling figure that was wander
ing afmlessly 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 it was the same beati-
fe, eomradely smile-but he continued
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 second. Seated on the
curbstone. her heart beating loudly, her
| do
! pered with pain, anger surged forth in
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.
ITS 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
| 1t Is"
She stopped after a 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 we'll. Take Billy home now
and do clean him up. Good-by, Thir-
ty-Pound Billy"
Media 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 telegram
at the door. I'm in for it now" Nella
groaned, reading the message. "Billy's
| father is calling tonight. He will prob
ably pitch into me with all kinds of
maledictiens. But l 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 ThirtyPound Billy's did, yet
with usefulness in them that wrung
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 / do
over anything else
Nella's 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 it 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 Nela.
The doctor had weighed the baby.
He placed it in big Toms arms, who
laid it 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"
81 like to think of him as the little