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〃No； sir；〃 he said。
〃But you must be！ Are you sure？〃
The boy laughed this time。
〃Sorry； sir； but my name is 'Frank'； isn't it； mother？〃 he added
merrily； turning to the lady at his side； who was regarding William
very unfavorably through a pair of gold…bowed spectacles。
William did not wait for more。 With a stammered apology and a
flustered lifting of his hat he backed away。
But where was Billy？
William looked about him in helpless dismay。 All around was a
wide； empty space。 The long aisle to the Hampden Falls train was
deserted save for the baggage…men loading the trunks and bags on to
their trucks。 Nowhere was there any one who seemed forlorn or ill
at ease except a pretty girl with a suit…case； and with a covered
basket on her arm； who stood just outside the gate； gazing a little
nervously about her。
William looked twice at this girl。 First； because the splash of
color against her brown coat had called his attention to the fact
that she was wearing a pink； and secondly because she was very
pretty； and her dark eyes carried a peculiarly wistful appeal。
〃Too bad Bertram isn't here；〃 thought William。 〃He'd be sketching
that face in no time on his cuff。〃
The pink had given William almost a pang。 He had been so longing
to see a pinkthough in a different place。 He wondered
sympathetically if she； too； had come to meet some one who had not
appeared。 He noticed that she walked away from the gate once or
twice； toward the waiting…room； and peered anxiously through the
glass doors； but always she came back to the gate as if fearful to
be long away from that place。 He forgot all about her very soon；
for her movements had given him a sudden idea： perhaps Billy was in
the waiting…room。 How stupid of him not to think of it before！
Doubtless they had missed each other in the crowd； and Billy had
gone straight to the waiting…room to look for him。 And with this
thought William hurried away at once； leaving the girl still
standing by the gate alone。
He looked everywhere。 Systematically he paced up and down between
the long rows of seats； looking for a boy with a pink。 He even
went out upon the street； and gazed anxiously in all directions。
It occurred to him after a time that possibly Billy； like himself；
had changed his mind at the last moment； and not worn the pink。
Perhaps he had forgotten it； or lost it； or even not been able to
get it at all。 Very bitterly William blamed himself then for
disregarding his own part of the suggested plan。 If only he had
worn the pink himself！but he had not； and it was useless to
repine。 In the meantime； where was Billy； he wondered frantically。
CHAPTER VI
THE COMING OF BILLY
After another long search William came back to the train…shed；
vaguely hoping that Billy might even then be there。 The girl was
still standing alone by the gate。 There was another train on the
track now； and the rush of many feet had swept her a little to one
side。 She looked frightened now； and almost ready to cry。 Still；
William noticed that her chin was lifted bravely； and that she was
making a stern effort at self…control。 He hesitated a moment； then
went straight toward her。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 he said kindly； lifting his hat； 〃but I notice
that you have been waiting here some time。 Perhaps there is
something I can do for you。〃
A rosy color swept to the girl's face。 Her eyes lost their
frightened appeal； and smiled frankly into his。
〃Oh； thank you； sir！ There IS something you can do for me； if you
will be so kind。 You see； I can't leave this place； I'm so afraid
he'll come and I'll miss him。 ButI 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：
〃YouareB…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 redderbut
it tried to do so。
〃Why； erIiterif you'll just come into the waiting…room a
minute； my dear；〃 he stuttered miserably； 〃II'll explainabout
that。 I shall have to leave youfor a minute；〃 he plunged on
frenziedly； as he led the way to a seat； 〃Amatter of business
that I must attend to。 I'll beright 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 Billya GIRL！
People near him at that moment saw a flushed…faced； nervous…
appearing man throw up his hands with a despairing gesture； roll
his eyes heavenward； and then plunge into the nearest telephone
booth。
In due time William Henshaw had his brother Bertram at the other
end of the wire。
〃Bertram！〃 he called shakily。
〃Hullo； Will； that you？ What's the matter？ You're late！ Didn't
he come？〃
〃Come！〃 groaned William。 〃Good Lord！ BertramBilly's a GIRL！〃
〃A wh…what？〃
〃A girl。〃
〃A GIRL！〃
〃Yes； yes！ Don't stand there repeating what I say in that idiotic
fashion； Bertram。 Do somethingdo something！〃
〃'Do something'！〃 gasped Bertram。 〃Great Scott； Will！ If you want
me to do something； don't knock me silly with a blow like that。
Now what did you say？〃
〃I said that Billy isagirl。 Can't you get that？〃 demanded
William； despairingly。
〃Well； by Jove！〃 breathed Bertram。
〃Come； come； think！ What shall we do？〃
〃Why； bring her home； of course。〃
〃Homehome！〃 chattered William。 〃Do you think we five men can
bring up a distractingly pretty eighteen…year…old girl with curly
cheeks and pink hair？〃
〃With wha…at？〃
〃No； no。 I mean curly hair and pink cheeks。 Bertram； do