crowded. Billy understood it to mean that he might lose his companion
and took a grip. That little hot hand clinging tight to his, the sore
feet recklessly scouring the walk, the hungry child panting for breath
as he tried to keep even, the brave soul jesting in the face of hard
luck, caught Sinton in a tender, empty spot.

"Say, son," he said. "How would you like to be washed clean, and have
all the supper your skin could hold, and sleep in a good bed?"

"Aw, gee!" said Billy. "I ain't dead yet! Them things is in heaven! Poor
folks can't have them. Pa said so."

"Well, you can have them if you want to go with me and get them,"
promised Sinton.

"Honest?"

"Yes, honest."

"Crost yer heart?"

"Yes," said Sinton.

"Kin I take some to Jimmy and Belle?"

"If you'll come with me and be my boy, I'll see that they have plenty."

"What will pa say?"

"Your pa is in that kind of sleep now where he won't wake up, Billy,"
said Sinton. "I am pretty sure the law will give you to me, if you want
to come."

"When people don't ever wake up they're dead," announced Billy. "Is my
pa dead?"

"Yes, he is," answered Sinton.

"And you'll take care of Jimmy and Belle, too?"

"I can't adopt all three of you," said Sinton. "I'll take you, and see
that they are well provided for. Will you come?"

"Yep, I'll come," said Billy. "Let's eat, first thing we do."

"All right," agreed Sinton. "Come into this restaurant." He lifted Billy
to the lunch counter and ordered the clerk to give him as many glasses
of milk as he wanted, and a biscuit. "I think there's going to be fried
chicken when we get home, Billy," he said, "so you just take the edge
off now, and fill up later."

While Billy lunched Sinton called up the different departments
and notified the proper authorities ending with the Women's Relief
Association. He sent a basket of food to Belle and Jimmy, bought Billy a
pair of trousers, and a shirt, and went to bring Elnora.

"Why, Uncle Wesley!" cried the girl. "Where did you find Billy?"

"I've adopted him for the time being, if not longer," replied Wesley
Sinton.

"Where did you get him?"

"Well, young woman," said Wesley Sinton, "Mr. Brownlee told me the
history of your lunch box. It didn't seem so funny to me as it does to
the rest of them; so I went to look up the father of Billy's family, and
make him take care of them, or allow the law to do it for him. It will
have to be the law."

"He's deader than anythi