Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-12-24

he was going to do, or rather he
thought he did, for the day still held
It's unsettling surprises for him, and
as he set forth on business bent that
afternoon he found himself besieged
by a skinny little boy in tattered blue
1 robes, who danced around him with
IA handful OF dirty postcards,
BE eff said Billy in vigorous
proudly, in most excellent English
Il am n messenger, sir, | am the
boy who held the canoe that night
Buy postcard, SIT? Only six piastres
dozen, six piastres, views of Egypt,
the sphinx. the Nile, the.
+ Impatiently Billy cut him short.
Never mind the bluff. No one is
listening, What's your message?'
''the streets have ears. sir. Buy "a
POSTCARD: Il have come from the
palace. brought in the bread IL
tot in under their nose while the big
Mohamn.cd was turned away with
| out SIGHT OF his uncle" Dragged the
little Imp. II AMI a clever boy. L. No
lone else SO clever TO find ont thin;,s
! The American man did well to come
to me-
| What the devil then, did you find
out -
Five p.astres a dcz,n. then. only
five, \. Go ON walking, sir, | will
run alonsside. Keep sinking your
head 1T Ei,--vtrN good. ind
out here she are"
Where who, 'e?'
the little bragg.,rt had reused Bill
iy's sasSieions, He determined to be
wary.
"'ihc yorag girl WIN the very light
haii'. MohamnGed scnd me TO ask of
her You know, S,r" the little fellow
insisted. hoppin: up and Gown be-
side him. "Cn,y four dozen--very
cheap. he SCI, ochCd ut him in Il
tone th;.t must have carried for
blocks II run in with the, hr,ad and
take it to tho Kitchen whore women
are working. Aad ] aretend make
| love to ore Very pretty girl. tell her
how Come marry he, when old
enough aud make enough. and hold
up piece mQicN TO show how rich
am. And the rtst they think ! jus,
make game but | whisper to her
quick how much you pay her for
news of that lady urstairs with the
tasi hair, and | give her some money
1t arc not much. sir, ! promise her
to come back with more"
Go on" demanded Billy, stopping
short. What did she tell your
Walk along, sir, walk along. just
nall ooHen then--very cheap, very
beautifully cried the little rascal with
deep enjoyment Of his role. Billy
found his hands clenching frenzied-
~. The Imp proceeded. '.She are
much afraid. that girl, to say things.
put tell her how suie ii is an I
ten her you great big rich man who
pay her well. l make her honest
promise to cone back with money
and she very poor girl. She whisper
quick what she know, looking back
ward over shoulder like this" Turn
ing his face about after this drama
tic illustration The Imp caught sight
of Billy's conntenance. and rolled the
rest of his narration into one speedy
sentence.
She are gone" he cried.
Gomez"
Iook, away. -. Take these
cards, sir stop and look at them -.
Yes, she are took away 1t happen
very quick: carly that morning. after
the other lady go in the night Ev-
eryone much excited that night,
great noise about and no one know
Just what happen. But the Captain
n ,inl.
motor car is ready and the strange
girl go away. Old woman go, too.
Nobody know where
That would he Sunday morning."
Billy cried eXcitedly ARD you sure
there is no mistake? There were
lights in that room on Sunday night
Il tell what the girl tell She are
Very honest girl" the Imp insisted.
She say the other lady run away
with her lover an Captain afraid the
new lady has a lover so he send her
away quick
But he didn't go himself%
NO. he have something with his
reg regieinent," gulpe the imp hast
lly, that day'and he stay and he
there now--but now he sick"
What's the ma, tore"
Il don't know, sir, but | know the
doctor comes because she say to me
to come back and say | am how from,
ooctof with medicine. and if I don't
see ner ! must say | lost that medi.
| cine ana go away, and come again
as | can till bring that money to
her. she are very much afraid. sir
Billy shufflGd the postcards with
assent hands and stared down NJ
them with unseeins yes. She was
gone-and the Captain was not with
her! That much at least was gain
ana the Fellow was here sick from
ms shot hand, apparently. 81 hope
gangreen sets in" he said between
his teeth
on are pleased with me, sr?"
the IMP was demanding. You 4 are
grad or so much clever boy? And Won
give me that money now to give that
slfl! make her most honest PROM
ise--and yo,, see. sir. l am very hon
est boy, | tell you all [, Know and
ask nothing OF prize yet. know
that You are honest American man
AT that Billy came out of his brown
study and prl SGD the tattered LITTLE
imp with hearty earnestness. He
saw no reason 10 doubt The ho,,,s
story. If he had been trying to in.
vert something in order TO MAKE
capltal out OF Ina nc wullId ha-d,>
'ltFe invented that story of Ar,ee's
departure, for that put an imIhedi-
ATE end to furtner hen,uner,tive in
designations in the palace q. course
Eliiy might be mistaken, and the bow
might be mistaken, but one. had to
leaVe something TO probabilities. He