ss him. But--I think there's some mistake. Could you
telephone for me?" Billy Neilson was country-bred, and in Hampden Falls
all men served all other men and women, whether they were strangers or
not; so to Billy this was not an extraordinary request to make, in the
least.

William Henshaw smiled.

"Certainly; I shall be very glad to telephone for you. Just tell me whom
you want, and what you want to say."

"Thank you. If you'll call up Mr. William Henshaw, then, of Beacon
Street, please, and tell him Billy's come. I'll wait here."

"Oh, then Billy did come!" cried the man in glad surprise, his face
alight. "But where is he? Do YOU know Billy?"

"I should say I did," laughed Billy, with the lightness of a long-lost
child who has found a friend. "Why, I am Billy, myself!"

To William Henshaw the world swam dizzily, and went suddenly mad.
The floor rose, and the roof fell, while cars and people performed
impossible acrobatic feats above, below, and around him. Then, from afar
off, he heard his own voice stammer:

"You--are--B-Billy!"

"Yes; and I'll wait here, if you'll just tell him, please. He's
expecting me, you know, so it's all right, only perhaps he made a
mistake in the time. Maybe you know him, anyhow."

With one mighty effort William Henshaw pulled himself sharply together.
He even laughed, and tossed his head in a valiant imitation of Billy
herself; but his voice shook.

"Know him!--I should say I did!" he cried. "Why, I am William Henshaw,
myself."

"You!--Uncle William! Why, where's your pink?"

The man's face was already so red it could not get any redder--but it
tried to do so.

"Why, er--I--it--er--if you'll just come into the waiting-room a minute,
my dear," he stuttered miserably, "I--I'll explain--about that. I shall
have to leave you--for a minute," he plunged on frenziedly, as he led
the way to a seat; "A--matter of business that I must attend to. I'll
be--right back. Wait here, please!" And he almost pushed the girl into a
seat and hurried away.

At a safe distance William Henshaw turned and looked back. His knees
were shaking, and his fingers had grown cold at their tips. He could see
her plainly, as she bent over the basket in her lap. He could see even
the pretty curve of her cheek, and of her slender throat when she lifted
her head.

And that was Billy--a GIRL!

People near him at that moment saw a flushed-faced, nervous-appearing
man throw up his hands with a despairing gest