Part 21 (1/2)

Billy was up instantly. ”Would you like Snap?”

”I am sure I would,” said Wesley.

”Would she?” Billy indicated Margaret. And then he answered his own question. ”But of course, she wouldn't, cos she likes cats, and dogs chases cats. Oh, dear, I thought for a minute maybe Snap could come here.” Billy lay down and closed his eyes resolutely.

Suddenly they flew open. ”Does it hurt to be dead?” he demanded.

”Nothing hurts you after you are dead, Billy,” said Wesley.

”Yes, but I mean does it hurt getting to be dead?”

”Sometimes it does. It did not hurt your father, Billy. It came softly while he was asleep.”

”It ist came softly?”

”Yes.”

”I kind o' wisht he wasn't dead!” said Billy. ”'Course I like to stay with you, and the fried chicken, and the nice soft bed, and--and everything, and I like to be clean, but he took us to the show, and he got us gum, and he never hurt us when he wasn't drunk.”

Billy drew a deep breath, and tightly closed his eyes. But very soon they opened. Then he sat up. He looked at Wesley pitifully, and then he glanced at Margaret. ”You don't like boys, do you?” he questioned.

”I like good boys,” said Margaret.

Billy was at her knee instantly. ”Well say, I'm a good boy!” he announced joyously.

”I do not think boys who hurt helpless kittens and pull out turkeys'

tails are good boys.”

”Yes, but I didn't hurt the kittens,” explained Billy. ”They got mad 'bout ist a little fun and scratched each other. I didn't s'pose they'd act like that. And I didn't pull the turkey's tail. I ist held on to the first thing I grabbed, and the turkey pulled. Honest, it was the turkey pulled.” He turned to Wesley. ”You tell her! Didn't the turkey pull? I didn't know its tail was loose, did I?”

”I don't think you did, Billy,” said Wesley.

Billy stared into Margaret's cold face. ”Sometimes at night, Belle sits on the floor, and I lay my head in her lap. I could pull up a chair and lay my head in your lap. Like this, I mean.” Billy pulled up a chair, climbed on it and laid his head on Margaret's lap. Then he shut his eyes again. Margaret could have looked little more repulsed if he had been a snake. Billy was soon up.

”My, but your lap is hard,” he said. ”And you are a good deal fatter 'an Belle, too!” He slid from the chair and came back to the middle of the room.

”Oh but I wisht he wasn't dead!” he cried. The flood broke and Billy screamed in desperation.

Out of the night a soft, warm young figure flashed through the door and with a swoop caught him in her arms. She dropped into a chair, nestled him closely, drooped her fragrant brown head over his little bullet-eyed red one, and rocked softly while she crooned over him--

”Billy, boy, where have you been?

Oh, I have been to seek a wife, She's the joy of my life, But then she's a young thing and she can't leave her mammy!”

Billy clung to her frantically. Elnora wiped his eyes, kissed his face, swayed and sang.

”Why aren't you asleep?” she asked at last.

”I don't know,” said Billy. ”I tried. I tried awful hard cos I thought he wanted me to, but it ist wouldn't come. Please tell her I tried.” He appealed to Margaret.