The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-08-30
Billy Asks Questions.


Gee, them's lot of books. I'm go'n'
t have me some books some time
Wouldn't you like TO have one
now?"
1--WE got First Reader, but I've
read it,
The girl led him to the bookcase.
rummaged out a book-probably the
only collection of fairy tales in the
Flatwoods-and laid it in his hands.
The outside cover page was done in
colors-a cat wearing boots; ragged
little girl by fireulcae; a boy climb
ing a bean vine; another boy with a
sword lighting two-headed giant.
Round with wonder, the sharp eyes
devoured the pictures.
Gee, l visit Gran'ma could see
them!"
"She shall; it's yours"
"Mine!"
He Rugged it tight in his arms. 1t
was worth a good many books just to
see the light that TRANSPORTED the
freckles. In two jumps he was at the
door and fumbling with the latch. The
girl let him out.
How is your grandma today?"
Already half out of the dooryard,
the question turned the sharp pointed
straw hat around for brief instant.
"Oh. she's well ag'in. She cooks
lots of things now. She fried me some
screw cakes yisterd'y."
Hugging the book close under his
arm, he was gone-"lickety-s split" as
he had said-bearing the precious
treasure home to his "Gran'ma."
The girl closed the door, laughing
softly and turned toward the curtains.
The Pearlhunter was just coming
through them. The incident had
brought grin to his Individually seri-
Gus face. She made him sit down on
the couch, and sat down beside him.
1T couldn't turn out better. he
said. THE dark, one stroke more, and
things will take turn"
"That stroke!" She was very
thoughtful, her eyes searching the
side of the face toward her. "You
speak of it lightly; but so you spoke
He sat still long time.
81 don't know why / shouldn't tell
you," he said at last "The only rea-
thought of it. But a girl like you
I'd ask no better backin' in a tight
place"
Her face lighted.
Then why not take me with your"
He started, turned his slow eyes
toward her. Her face was eager, her
lips parted, the question like two
steel points in her eyes. A moment
he studied the eyes, and then shook
his head.
''No"-the word seemed final. at
won't do for a girl-a lady--to hear
what will have to be heard tonight,
and see what will have to be seem
Her eyes dropped; SO did his. They
both met at the same focus the let
ter in her hand. She passed it TO him.
He turned it over and over, looked at
the address, the postscript, and hand
ed it back.
Il never got letter in my life," he
said, nor wrote one"
Neither did l." She turned the
letter over and over. studying it. "Box
23," she unused. Its for Daddy! He
couldn't read it, even if he were here.
Do you think should open it?"
Yes, / think you should" he ad
vised.
She tore open the end of the envel-
ops and drew out a folded sheet of
legal cap. AS she unfolded il, bill
"a greenback-fell out upon her lap.
She pounced upon it.
Fifty dollars! Why-why-!"
1.-THE letter will TELL" he said. lean
ing eagerly toward her.
She unfolded the stiff sheet, the in
ner side of it covered with the letter,
written in a clear, readable hand:
Vincennse. Ind, June Is, Isl.
My Dear Colonel:
Enclosed / am sending the usual
monthly remittance, as per your or
ders when you left.
Why haven't you answered any OF
my letters? I have sent the remit
lance regularly but have not heard a
word from you for nearly seven
years. As have repeatedly told you.
your estate has increased till hardly
know how TO invest it further. | II
don't hear from you / shall have to
come up to Buckeye for a consulta-
ton.
The little girl-little Hesper Dawn
must be quite a woman now AS II
have written you, her grandfather, old
Godfrey Dawn, died last year. He
repented in his last hours and left her
sole heir to his fortune, which. as
you know, is even more considerable
than your own. The estate is in my
hands ready to CONVEY to her. Tf
legal age OF a woman in this state is
eighteen. IF old Godfrey has not mis-