The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-05-27
Billy Vhi: kers
By Franc 8 1rego Montgomery.

If you had been an eavesdropper 1 after the friends went to bed, you l would have heard one of the party | toss and tumble about until the reg
 ular breathing of four tired animals proclaimed the time had come to put | through his plan. This wide-awake one was no other | than Billy Junior, and the softs guarded chuckIe he gave as he crept over to his adopted parents bed was a sure sign that some prank was even now under way.
 Nudging the sleeper gently, hs breathed: "Quet. Dad, it's Billy"
 Anything up?" was the whisper ed question.
 T an.' Billy answered.
 "So I see. but I wish you were not,' said Father William.
 Ssh" cautioned his son. "Ive something to say, and Nan must not hear.'
 Well, then. creep close to me and out with it quick was the impatient reply, for the older goat disliked to have his rest unbroken. and he was unusually weary tonight
 ''Pm comfy now. and here's the plan. You heard how boastfuI Nan nie was over that hayride for tomor- row? Now I say it'll never, never do to let her get ahead of us that way. I've been wondering how to come out on top.
 "I happen to know that the wagon is all ready and standing over in the livery barn. Saw it as we passed to- night. It's piled high with new hay to make easy riding. for the boys and girls.
 'tNow why can't you and I creep under the hay and conceal ourselves until the picnic party is well on the road? Then-wen, then it will be- too late to take us back, and so along we'll go with 4he crowd. And Mis- tress Nan will be one of three goats and not so exclusive as she thinks.@
 "An right!'' agreed Billy Seniors who could seldom deny his favorita anything. When shall we hide our- selves?"
 '' No time like the present." quot- ed the young fellow.
 So after a prelon1tnary yaHn and stretching of limbs, up they stoods and then nofselessly deserted tho three sound s1eepers.
 Arrived at the livery barn, access was easy because the great doors stood wide open, awaiting the return of one more carriage. The one man duty was tilted back against ths wall, his feet propped high against a post for support, and his snoring told plainly that sleep had conquered him. Fearing nothing from him, the two goats trotted in and with a light bound both landed on the hay rack.
 What a busy time they had for ths next five nainutesi Four hoofs paw ed away the hay that was well toward the front of the rack, until both had to stop for want of breath.
 Trump! went the front legs of the chair occupied by the man who had been startled into sudden wakeful- ness.
 "Ah shore1y heerd sofehn. shorely did" murmured the bewdi- dered negro, rubbing his woo1ly head with both hands to drive away the then slowly arose. throwing arms wide apart and stretching every muscle.
 'tMassa nezer forg1b dis here uig- gah if anyt'ing ud go wrong in dis stable tonight Ndggah mus keep close lookout. dat he Inusi'' ro1Iins his shining eyeba11s around the ills lighted place. <tAh guess & IFT music Il while de hours away" and he pro- luced a. mouth organ, and soon thA ,une of Nellie Gray f1oated out on he still air.
 CT0morrow you'll see how the goats sarried out thedr plan.)
 Copyrighted by the Saalield Pub- isa7ng Co.,. Akron, 0.