LIVING UP TO BILLY
"I NEAR WENT NUTTY, AND MADE AN AWFUL FOOL OFMYSELF."—Page 137LIVING UP
TO BILLY
BY
ELIZABETH COOPER
AUTHOR OF "MY LADY OF THE CHINESE
COURTYARD," "SAYONARA," ETC.
NEW YORK
FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY
PUBLISHERS
Copyright, 1915, by
Frederick A. Stokes Company
LIVING UP TO BILLY
I
Dear Kate:
Two years! Only two years, what do you think of it! Why, when I heardthe judge say two years, I nearly fell off the bench. You were caughtwith the goods, and he had your record with its two stretches rightbefore him, yet he only gave you two years. You told me yourself youthought you would get at least five. We tried to dope it out up to theroom, and kind of figured that he had it in for the prosecutingattorney, and you got the benefit. Well, if you ain't singing to-nightin the tombs, you orter be. And two years, old girl, will go by so quickthat when you see the lights of Broadway again, you won't even see achange. You can get a lot[Pg 2] off for good behavior, and you know how towork all the con games there is to be worked, so as it will make it easyfor you, cause it ain't as if it was your first time. Put on a goodface, and don't get sulky and you will be out before you have time toremember you was ever sent up.
Now, I will come up and see you just as often as I can, and I will getyou a letter regular once a month anyway, and I will tell you all thatis doing. Oh, Kate, it kinda breaks me all up to think of you being putaway again. You're all I got, and I don't know what I will do withoutyou. That last stretch of yours I nearly died. You and me have just goteach other and we have been mighty close, more so than most sisters Ithink. You have not always treated me white, sometimes you have beenmean, but it was not your fault. I suppose it is hard in a girl like youto have a sister left on her hands, and I was only a kid when you had totake me over and was lots of trouble to you. You have been good in yourway, and Kate, I want you to know[Pg 3] when you are setting alone at night,that I am just counting the days till you come back to me.
Yours,
Nan.
[Pg 4]
II
Dear Kate:
I didn't write you before cause I wanted to be able to tell you what weare going to do about the kid. Jim was up and we talked it all over andI said I would take him. I don't want none of Jim's friends to have himcause he ain't no good, Kate, and I have always told you so. I made himpromise if I take Billy that he will leave him alone. I won't have himhanging around and I don't want Billy to see nothing more of him than hehas to. I blame him for all that has come to you. Before you married him