第36章 CHAPTER VII(5)

Margaret arose."I haven't treated that child.I have only let him alone.I can barely hold myself.He needs the hide tanned about off him!""If you'd cared to look at his body,you'd know that you couldn't find a place to strike without cutting into a raw spot,"said Wesley."Besides,Billy has not done a thing for which a child should be punished.He is only full of life,no training,and with a boy's love of mischief.

He did abuse your kittens,but an hour before I saw him risk his life to save one from being run over.He minds what you tell him,and doesn't do anything he is told not to.

He thinks of his brother and sister right away when anything pleases him.He took that stinging medicine with the grit of a bulldog.He is just a bully little chap,and I love him.""Oh good heavens!"cried Margaret,going into the house as she spoke.

Sinton sat still.At last Billy tired of the swing,came to him and leaned his slight body against the big knee.

"Am I going to sleep here?"he asked.

"Sure you are!"said Sinton.

Billy swung his feet as he laid across Wesley's knee.

"Come on,"said Wesley,"I must clean you up for bed.""You have to be just awful clean here,"announced Billy.

"I like to be clean,you feel so good,after the hurt is over."Sinton registered that remark,and worked with especial tenderness as he redressed the ailing places and washed the dust from Billy's feet and hands.

"Where can he sleep?"he asked Margaret.

"I'm sure I don't know,"she answered.

"Oh,I can sleep ist any place,"said Billy."On the floor or anywhere.Home,I sleep on pa's coat on a store-box,and Jimmy and Belle they sleep on the storebox,too.

"I sleep between them,so's I don't roll off and crack my head.Ain't you got a storebox and a old coat?"Wesley arose and opened a folding lounge.Then he brought an armload of clean horse blankets from a closet.

"These don't look like the nice white bed a little boy should have,Billy,"he said,"but we'll make them do.

This will beat a storebox all hollow."

Billy took a long leap for the lounge.When he found it bounced,he proceeded to bounce,until he was tired.

By that time the blankets had to be refolded.Wesley had Billy take one end and help,while both of them seemed to enjoy the job.Then Billy lay down and curled up in his clothes like a small dog.But sleep would not come.

Finally he sat up.He stared around restlessly.Then he arose,went to Wesley,and leaned against his knee.He picked up the boy and folded his arms around him.Billy sighed in rapturous content.

"That bed feels so lost like,"he said."Jimmy always jabbed me on one side,and Belle on the other,and so Iknew I was there.Do you know where they are?""They are with kind people who gave them a fine supper,a clean bed,and will always take good care of them.""I wisht I was--"Billy hesitated and looked earnestly at Wesley."I mean I wish they was here.""You are about all I can manage,Billy,"said Wesley.

Billy sat up."Can't she manage anything?"he asked,waving toward Margaret.

"Indeed,yes,"said Wesley."She has managed me for twenty years.""My,but she made you nice!"said Billy."I just love you.

I wisht she'd take Jimmy and Belle and make them nice as you.""She isn't strong enough to do that,Billy.They will grow into a good boy and girl where they are."Billy slid from Wesley's arms and walked toward Margaret until he reached the middle of the room.Then he stopped,and at last sat on the floor.Finally he lay down and closed his eyes."This feels more like my bed;if only Jimmy and Belle was here to crowd up a little,so it wasn't so alone like.""Won't I do,Billy?"asked Wesley in a husky voice.

Billy moved restlessly."Seems like--seems like toward night as if a body got kind o'lonesome for a woman person--like her."Billy indicated Margaret and then closed his eyes so tight his small face wrinkled.

Soon he was up again."Wisht I had Snap,"he said.

"Oh,I ist wisht I had Snap!"

"I thought you laid a board on Snap and jumped on it,"said Wesley.

"We did!"cried Billy--"oh,you ought to heard him squeal!"Billy laughed loudly,then his face clouded.

"But I want Snap to lay beside me so bad now--that if he was here I'd give him a piece of my chicken,'for,I ate any.

Do you like dogs?"

"Yes,I do,"said Wesley.

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 Ilike 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 Igrabbed,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.