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J / fr FANCES 4 (Copyright, by lei I CHAPTER XIV.-Continued. Jimmy seeing no hope of eluding Farah Jane's vigilance, resorted to strategy and deceit. "'Tain't no fun setting out here," he called to her, "so I'm going in the house and take a nap." She wilingly consented, as she was through with her ironing and thought to snatch a few winks of sleep her self. The little boy slipped quietly through the house, noiselessly across the back yard and into his "ather's big ga' den, which was separated from that of his neighbor I.y a high board fence. He quickly cliubndl the fence, flew across Miss linet va's tomato patch and tiptoed ip her hack steps to the back porch, his little hare feet giving no sign of his prey' nce. ilearing cul rious toises coming from the bath room, where filly was humping the chair up and down in his efforts to re lease his mouth, he inado for that spot, promptly unlocked the door and walked in. Billy by seutiling and tug ging had freed his mouth fromii the towel that bound it at that lmto montt snent. t "Hush!" he whispered as Jimmy opened the door, "you'll get eat up alive it your d1n't l'ok out." Ills tone was so myst,-rious ani thrillinug and he looked so s-aril ti'd to the 'hair that tho younger boy's blood almost froze in his veins. "What you dointz all tied up so?" he askcd, inl 1(ow, frightencd tones. "Mr. Algernon Jones done it. I spec' tie's a tohber anl is jes' a-rob berin' right :low,' answered 1lilly. "I'll untie you,' said his chum. "Naw; you bettetr not," said 11111y bravely. "le might git away. You leave mie jes' like he fixed me1 so's you can try to ketch him. I hear hint In the dlinin' room nlow. You leave me right here an' ste) over to yo' t house anll' J)lole to somle menis to como and git h11im quick. Shet tle (10' ag'in an' don't make no noise. Fly, now!" s And Jhntmy did fly. lie again took the gairden rote amli in ai minute was at the telephone witI the receiver to hia ear. "Mello! Is that yoU. Miss Central? This is me," he howl d into tlte trans mitter. "GiMnne -iss Mlinirva's beau. I don't know hii ntulber, uht he's got f a ollice over my paIlm's bank." lls father being out of town, the a littlo hoy slrewdly <t-'idetd that Miss a Minerva's beau was the next best man t to help capture the robbjer-. "Miss Minerva what lives by mue," he shrieked. Fortunately Central recognized his s Landed Upon the Nose childish voice anti was wvillinig to hui inor huntt, so as she too knew Miss 4quhek-lyinade. "hello! Ia that you. imajor'> This to me. if you don't want Mr. Alge mon Jones to be tobberiug everything MIBSs Miner'va's got you getter get a Inove on andi ('omo right this miumte You got to hustle and bring 'bout a mnillion pistols atnd guns and swords and tomahawks and all the mtans you can find and (logs, lie's the fiercest robber ever wns, and he's already done tie Hilly to the bath r'oom chair and done eat upi 'lboutt a million cold biscuits, I spec'. All of us is 'bout to be slewed. Goodby." The plumip, round~ gent leiman at the other 0end of tile wiire hiear-d this amiaz ing mesSage in the tmost confusion and constei'nation. Hie frantically rang the telephone again and again bit eould get no answeor from tho Gar mior's honmt so Ihe putt en his hat and walked the short distance to Miss Ml merva's houtseg Jimmy was wvaiting to receive him at the front gate, having again elutded Barah Jane's vigilance. "Hush'" he whispereod mysterious 2y, "he's in the dining room., Ain't. jou bringed nobody else? Oet your jlstol and come on." Mr. Algernon Jones, feeling safe and secure for the next hour and hay. lot partakcen of a .light lunch, was in the act of transferrin. on sl~ fINEVA GREEN HiMt o) CALHOUN Ily & Britton Co.) spoons from the sideboard to his pock ets when a noise at the dining room door caused him to look in that di rection. With an oath he sprang for ward, ani landed his fist upon the nose of a plump gentleman standing there, bringing a stream of blood and sending him sprawling to the floor. Mr. Jones overturned a big-eyed little boy who was in his way, and walk Ing rapidly in the direction of the raill road, the erstwhile plumber was seen no more. Jimmy quickly recovered himself And sprang to his feet. Seeing the blood streaming down the white shirt Front of Miss Minerva's unconscious )eau, he gathered his wits together ind took the thread of events again nto his own little hands. He flung inself over the fence careless of Sarah Jane this time, mounted a chair mad once more rang the telephone. "Hello! Is that you, Miss Central? rhis is me some more. Gimme Dr. ;anford's office please." "hello! Is that you, doctor? This s me. Mr. Algernon Jones done kilt liss Minerva's beau. lie's on her ack porch bloody all over. He's 'bout he deadest man they Is. You'd better ome toreckly you can and bring the earse, and a coffin and a clean shirt nd a tombstone. He's wounded me ut I ain't dead yet. Goodby." I)r. Sanford received Jimmy's crazy lessage in astonishment. He, too, ang the telephono again and again, ut could hear nothing more, so ho alked down to Miss Minerva's house nid rang the door bell. Jimmy open I the door and led the way to the ack porch, where the injured man, ho had just recovered consciousness, as sitt ing limply in a chair. "What does all this mean? Are you urt?" asked the doctor as he exam ed Mr. Jones' victim. "No, I think I'm all right now," was to reply; "but that scoundrel certain gave me a severe blow." Hilly, shut up in the bath room and steni ,g to all the noises and confu :in, had been scared nearly out of his enses. Ile had kept still as a mouse il now, when thinking he heard riendly voices he yelled out: "Open lie do' an' untie me." "We done forgot Billy," said the ttle rescuer, as he ran to the bath )om door and opened it. Ile was >llowed by the doctor, who cut the ords that bound the prisoner. "Now, William," commanded Dr. anford, as they grouped themselves round the stout, plump gentleman in he chair, "begin at the beginning, nd let us get at the bottom of this." "Mr. Algernon Jones he come to the. ate," explained the little boy, "an' he ay he goin' to fix the water pipe an' tote aroma' futthn ko ed Plum grele teraena shc me lie wha pluber He'e a very doreabl msan but Iay--"at un "nowd he mrbe'n abollon meian kers," interrupted. Jimmy, who thought Hilly was receiving too much attention, "and he-" "One at a time," said the doctor. "Proceed, William." "An' he say he'll bust my brains out er tmy head if I holler, an' I ain't a goin' to holler neither, an' he tie me to a chair an' tie my mouth up an' lock the do' 'And I comed over," said Jimmy, engerly, "and I run home' and I see M r. Algernon Jones is a robber an' I 'phoned to Miss Minerva's beau, and if he'd brunged what I telled him, he wouldn't never got cracked in the face like Mr. Algernon Jones donie crack him, and Billy got to all time let rob' ber's in the house so they can knock mans and little boys downi." "While you stand talking here the scoutndrel will get away," said the in jured mnn "That's so," agr'eed Dr, Sanford, "so ll go and find the sheriff." Sarah Jane's huge form loomed upi in -the back hall doorway, atid she Ktabbed Jimmy by the' arm. "Who? -that little old Jimmy nap. ner? I hope I don't talk like that chieken; he'n 'bout the mensliest boy that is and I like you 'nother eight better'n him. You're a plumb Jim. dandy', Billy," came from the door way. "So's you." howled back the delight ed and flattered Iilly. Jimmy thought he would pop wide open in his efforts to keep from laughing. "How'd you like to be my sweet heart?" he asked. "I's already promised to marry Miss Cecilia when I puts on long pants, but if we ever gets a 'vorce I'd 'nether sight ruther have you 'n anybody. You can be my lady frien', anyhow," was the loud reply, "I'm coming for you to go riding in my little pony and cart," said a gig. I gling Jimmy. "All right, I's going to ask Aunt Mi- I nerva to lemne go. Can't we take Jimmy, too?" This was too much for the little boy. He had held himself in as long t as possible. He burst into a peal of t V t C :le Boy, a Man-to-Man Smile. laughter so merry and so loud that I Billy, turning quickly, almost fell out 1 of the chair. t "What you doin', a-listening to me talk to Marie Yarbrough th'oo the tel. I ephone?" he questioned angrily. "Marie you pig's foot," was the in. I elegant response. "That was just me I a-talking to you ill the time. You all time think you talking to little girls f and all times 't ain't nobody but me." I A light dawned on the innocent one. He promptly hung up the receiver and 4 got down out of the chair. Before Jim- I my was fully aware of his intention, Billy had thrown him to the floor and I was giving him a good pommeling. "Say you got 'nough?" he growled from his position astride of the oth er boy. "I got 'nough, Billy," repeated Jimmy. "Say you sorry you done it." "I say I sorry 1 done it," abjectly repeated the younger child. "Get up. Billy, 'fore you bust my stonmmick open." "Say you ain't never a-goen' to tell nobody, cross ye' heart," was the next command. "I say I ain't never going to tell no body, cross niy heart. Get up, Blilly, 'fore you makes me mad, and ain't no telling what I'li do to you if I get mad." "Say you's a low-down Jezebel skunk." "I ain't going to say I'm nothing of the kind," spiritedly replied the.under dog. "You all time wanting somebody to call theirselfs somepin. You're a low-dowvn Isabella skunk yourself." "You got to say it," insisted the victor, renewing hostilities. "I'll say I'm a Isabella, 'cause Isa bella discovered Amer'ica, and's in the Bible," replied the tormented one; "Miss Cecilia 'splained it to me." Billy accepted his compromise and Jimmy's flattened stomach, relieved of its burden, puffed out to its usual roundness as that little boy rose to his feet, saying: "Sam Lamb would 'a' died a-laugh ing, Billy, if he'd seen you telephon ing." "He'd better never hear tell of it," was the threatening rejoinder. CHAPTER X,VI. The Humble Petition. Billy, sitting in an old buggy in front of the livery stable, had just engaged in a long and interesting conversation with Sam Lamb. Hie was getting out of the vehicle when the sharp) wire around the broken rod caught In the back of his trousers and tore a grenit hole. He felt a tingling pain and looked over his shoulder to investigate. Not being satisfied with the result, he turned his back to the negro arnd anxiously inquired: "Is my breeches tore, Sam?" "Dey am dat,'.' was the reply, "dey am busted f'm Dan ter Beersheba." "What I goin' to do 'bout it?" ask ed the little boy; "Aunt Minerva she' will be mad. These here's bran-spankin' newv trousers what I ain't never wore tell today. Ain't you got a needle an' thread so's you can fix 'em, Sam?" "Nary er l)eedie," said Sam Lamb. "Is my union suit tore, too?" asked Billy again turning his back for in spection. His friend made a close examina tinn_ you a nap is yuh, yuh 'ceitfut ettertg. lar. Come on home dis iinute. "Lemne go, Sarah Jane," protest ed the little boy trying .to jerk away from her, "I got to stay here and pertec' Billy and Miss Minerva's beau, 'cause they's a robber might come back and tie 'em up and make 'em bleed if I ain't here." "I)id Mr. Algernon Jones make all that blood?" asked the awe-stricken little boy gazing in admiration at the victim of Mr. Jones' energy. "You sho' is a hero to stan' up an' let him knock you down like he done." "Yes," cried Jimmy, as the black woman dragged him kicking and strug gling through the hall, "we's all he roes, but I bet I'm the' heroest hero they is, ind I bet Miss Minerva's go ing to be mad 'bout you all spilling all that blood on her nice clean floor." "Lemnie see yo' big toe what was shot off by all them Yankees and in Juns what you killed in the war," said Hilly to Miss Minerva's beau. The major smiled at the little boy; a man-to man smile, full of good com radeship, humor and understanding. b AMAL t The Major Smiled at the Lit Billy's little neart went out to him at once. "I can't take off my shoes at present," said the veteran. "Well, I must be go ing; I feel all right now." Billy looked at him with big, sol emn eyes. "You couldn't never go 'thout yo' pants, could you?" he asked, "'cause Aunt Minerva jest nachelly despises pants." The man eyed him quizzically. "Well, no; I don't think I could," he replied: "I don't think I'd look any better in a Mother Hubbard or a ki mono." The little boy sighed. "Which you think is the fittenest name," asked he, "Billy or William?" "Billy, Billy," enthusiastically came the reply. "I l-ike mens," said William Green Hill. "I sho' wisht' you could come and live right here with me and Aunt Mi nerva." "I wish so. too," said the major. CHAPTER XV. Billy, the Credulous. After the advent and disappearance of the excitirig Mr. Jones, Miss Mi nerva, much to Hilly's joy, had a tele Phone put in the house. IHe sat in the hall the (lay it was p~ut in waiting for it to ring. Jimmy, coming up on the front porch and through the half-open door .and seeing him sitting there, rang the door bell just for a joke, ready to burst into a laugh when the other little boy turned around and saw who it was. Hilly, however, in his eagerness mistook the ring for' the telephone bell and joyfully climbed up on the chair, which he hadl stationmed in readiness. Ile took (Iown the re ceiver as he had seeni Jimmy (do in his home, and, without once seeing that little boy standing a few febt from him, ho yelled at the top of his lungs: "Hello! Wbo is that?" "This is Mario Yarbrough," replied Jimmy from the doorway, instantly recognizing Billy's mistake. Marie Yarbrm'agh was a little girl much admired by the two boys, as she had a pony and a cart of her very own. However, she lived in a different part of the town and attended another Sun "You Got to Bay It," insisted the Vic' tor, day school, so they had no speaking acquaintance with her, "I jus' wanted to talk to you," went en the counterfeit Marie, stifling a laughtand trying to talk like a girl. "I think you're !bout the sweetest lit' tie \boy there is and I want you to come to tmy party," "I sho' will," screamed the gratifled Billy, "If Aunt Minerva'll lemme. Whet makes you talk so much like "To' Untog is insured plum scan rlous," was his discouraging decision, 'and hit 'pears ter tne dat yo' hide lone suffer, toot you's got or turrible scratch." The child sighed. The injury to the lesh was of small importance-he ouid hide that from his aunt-but the ,ont in his trousers was a serious natter. "I wish I could get 'em mended 'fore goes home," he said wistfully.. "I tell you what do," suggested sam, "I 'low Miss Cecllia'll holp yeh; est go by her house an' she'll darn em up for yeh." Billy hesitated. "Well, you see, Sam, me an' Miss )ecilia's engaged an' we's fixin' to narry jes' 's soon's I put on , long >ants, an' I 'sta~imo' to ask her. An' don't believe young 'omans patches he breeches of young mans what hey's goin' to marry nohow. Do you? Lunt Minerva ain' never patched no treechos for the major. And then," vith a modest blush, "my unions is ore, too, an' I ain't got on,nothin' else o hide my skin." Again he turned his back to his riend and, his clouded little face look ng over his shoulder, he asked: "Do ny meat show, Sam?" "She am visible ter the naked eye," .nd Sam Lamb laughed loudly at his awn wit. "I don't believe God pays me much .ttention nohow," said the little boy olefully; "ev'y day I gets put to bed 2ause sumpin's all time a-happenin'. f he'd had a eye on me like he ought r they wouldn't a been no snaggin'. Lunt Minerva's goin' to be mad th'oo .n' th'oo." "May be my ol' 'oman can fix 'em, o's dey won't be so turrible bad," uggested the negro, "'tain't fer, so ou jes' run down ter my cabin an' tell lukey I say fix dem breeches." The child needed no second bidding -he fairly flew. Sam's wife was cook ng, but she cheerfully stopped her fork to help the little boy. She sew d up the union suit and put a bright lue patch on his brown linen reeches. Billy felt a little more cheerful, hough he still dreaded confessing to Lis aunt, and he loitered along the ay till it was nearly dark. Supper as ready when he got home and he falked into the dining room with his ustomary ease and grace. But he took is seat uneasily, and he was so quiet uring the meal and ate so little that is aunt asked him if he was sick. Ia was planning in his mind how to reak the news of the day's disaster o her. "You are improving, William," she emarked presently, "you haven't got nto any mischief today. You have >cen a mighty good little boy now for wo days." Billy flushed at the compliment and hifted uneasily in his seat. That >atch seemed to burn him. "If God'd jest do his part," he said larkly, "I wouldn't never git in no flea nness." After supper. Miss Minerva washed he dishes in the kitchen sink and Silly carried them back to the dining oom. His aunt caught him several times prancing sideways in the most "Nary or Needle,' [diotic maimer. fle was making a raliant effort to keep from exposing his rear elevation to her; once he had to walk backward. ."William," she said, sharply, "you will break my plates. What is the matter with you -tonight?" A little later they were sitting qul stly in Miss Minerva's roomn. She was reading "The Christian at lHoma," and he was absently looking at a picture book. "Sam Lamb's wife Sukey sho' is a beautiful patcher," he remarked, feel Ing his way. She made no answering comment, ad the discouraged little boy was si lent for a few minutes. He had worn Aunt Cindy's many-colored patches too often to be ashamed of this one for himself, but he felt that ho would like to draw his aunt out and find how she stood on the subjet of patches. "Aunt Minerva,'- he presently ask ad, "what sorter patches'd you ruther wear on ye' pants, blue patches or brown?" "On my what?" she asked, ioo-Aing at him severely over' her paper. "I mean if you're me," he hastily ex plained. "Don't you think blue patches is the mos' nat'ral lookin'?" "What are you driving at, William?" she asked; but without waiting ?or his answer she went on with he, rad~ Ina. The chilt was silent fora long tine his little mind busy, then he begn "Aunt Minerva-" She peerea at him over her glasses a 6econd, then dropped her eyes to the' paper where an Interesting article qn Foreign Missions hold her attention. "Aunt Minerva, I snagged-Aunt Minerva, I snagged my-my skin to day." "Let me see the place," she said, ab sently, her eyes glued to a parrGraph describing a cannibal feast. "I 's a-settiu' on it right now," he ra. plied. Another long silence ens' .at Willy resolved to settle the matter. "I's gettin' sleepy," he yawned. "Aunt Minerva, I want to say my pray era and go to bed." She laid her paper down and he dropped to his knees by her side. He usually sprawled all over her lap dur ing his lengthy devotions, but tonight he clasped his little hands and rear ed back like a rabbit on its haunches. After he had rapidly repeated th, Lord's Prayer, which he had recei ly learned, and had invoked blessinp on all his new friends and never-to-" forgotten o1(1 ones, he concluded wi "An', 0 Lord,, you done kep' a f'on meddlin' with Aunt Minr 's hose any mo', an' you done key e f'om gittin' any mo' Easter eg an' playin' any mo' Injun, an' you ne kep' me f'n lettin' Mr. Algernon s come ag'in, an' now, 0 Lord, pl e don't lemme worry the very 'ziste col outer Aunt inerva any mo' 'n you can help, li fe she said I done this mornin', an' please, if thy will be done,. don't lemme tear the next new breeches what she'll gimme like I done ruint these here what I got on." CHAPTER XVII. A Green-Eyed Billy. "Have some candy?" said Miss Ce cilia, offering a big box of bonbons to Billy, who was visiting her. "Where'd you git 'em?" he asked, as he helped himself generously. "Maurice sent them to me this morn ing." Billy put all his candy back into the box. "I don't believe I want noner yo' candy," he said, scowling darkly. "I reckon you likes him better 'n ine any- 4 how, don't you?" "I love you dearly," she replied. The child stood in front of her and looked her squarely in the eye. His little form was drawn to its full, proud height, his soft, fair cheeks were flush ed, his big, beautiful gray eyes looked somber and sad. "Is you in love with that red headed Maurice Richmond, an' jes' a- ., foolin' o' me?" he asked with dig nity. A bright flush dyed crimson the young lady's pretty face. She put her arm around the childish, graceful figure and drew the little boy to the sofa beside her. "Now, honey, you mustn't be silly," she said, gently, "you are my own, dear, little sweetheart." "An' I reckon he's yo' own, dear, big sweetheart," said the jealous Billy. "Well, all I got to say is this-here: it Said Sam Lamb. he's a-goin' to come to see you ev'p day then I ain't never comin' no mo' He's been a-carryin' on his foolishnesi 'bout 'a long as I can stand it. You got to choose 'tween us right this min ute; he comes down here mos' ev'y day, lie's tuck you drivin' more'n fifty hunderd times, an' he's give you all ' the candy you can stuff." "IHI is not the only one who comeg to see me," she said smiling down at him. "Jimmy comes often and Len H-amnor and Will Reid. Don't you wed~ themi to coins?" "Don't nobody pay no 'tentlon ta Jimmy," lie replied contemptuously, "he ain't nothin' but a baby, an' them ether mns can come if you wants 'eim to; but," said Billy, wvithi a lover's un. erring intuition, "I ain't a-goin' te standl for that long-legged, sorrel-tog Maurice Richmond a-trottin' his great big carkiss down here ev'y minute. 1 wish Aunt Minorva'd let ins put os long pants tomorrer so's we could gil married." He caught sight of a new ring sparkling on her finger. "Who give you that ring?" lie ask ed sharply. "A little bird brought it to me," sh~ said, trying to speak gayly anti blu'b lng again. "A big red-headed peckerwoo4," ga Billy savagely.