so I'll go and find the Sheriff."

Sarah Jane's huge form loomed up in the back-hall doorway, and she
grabbed Jimmy by the arm.

"Yaas," she cried, "you gwine take you a nap is yuh, yuh 'ceitful
caterpillar. Come on home dis minute."

"Lemme go, Sarah Jane," protested 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."

"Did Mr. Algernon Jones make all that blood?" asked an awe-stricken
little boy gazing in admiration at the victim of Mr. Jones's 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
struggling through the hall, "we's all heroes, but I bet I'm the heroest
hero they is, and I bet Miss Minerva's going to be mad 'bout you all
spilling all that blood on her nice clean floor."

"Lemme see yo' big toe what was shot off by all them Yankees and Injuns
what you killed in the war," said Billy to Miss Minerva's beau.

The Major smiled at the little boy; a man-to-man smile, full of good
comradeship, humor, and understanding. Billy's little heart went out to
him at once.

"I can't take off my shoes at present," said the veteran. "Well, I must
be going; I feel all right now."

Billy looked at him with big, solemn 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 kimono."

The little boy sighed.

"Which you think is the fitteness name," asked he, "Billy or William."

"Billy, Billy," enthusiastically came the reply.

"I like mens," said William Green Hill, "I sho' wisht you could come and
live right here with me and Aunt Minerva."

"I wish so, too," said the Major.

CHAPTER XV

BILLY, THE CREDULOUS

After the advent and disappearance of the exciting Mr. Jones, Miss
Minerva, much to Billy's joy, had a telephone put in the house. He sat
in the hall the day it was put 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. Billy, howev