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MISS BILLY'S DECISION
BY ELEANOR H. PORTER Author of ``Miss Billy,'' etc.
TO My Cousin Helen
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
CALDERWELL DOES SOME TALKING II. AUNT HANNAH
GETS A LETTER III. BILLY AND BERTRAM IV. FOR MARY
JANE V. MARIE SPEAKS HER MIND VI. AT THE SIGN OF THE
PINK VII. OLD FRIENDS AND NEW VIII. M. J. OPENS THE
GAME IX. A RUG, A PICTURE, AND A GIRL AFRAID X. A JOB
FOR PETE--AND FOR BERTRAM XI. A CLOCK AND AUNT
HANNAH XII. SISTER KATE XIII. CYRIL AND A WEDDING XIV.
M. J. MAKES ANOTHER MOVE XV. ``MR. BILLY'' AND ``MISS
MARY JANE'' XVI. A GIRL AND A BIT OF LOWESTOFT XVII.

ONLY A LOVE SONG, BUT-- XVIII. SUGARPLUMS XIX. ALICE
GREGGORY XX. ARKWRIGHT TELLS A STORY XXI. A
MATTER OF STRAIGHT BUSINESS XXII. PLANS AND
PLOTTINGS XXIII. THE CAUSE AND BERTRAM XXIV. THE
ARTIST AND HIS ART XXV. THE OPERETTA XXVI.
ARKWRIGHT TELLS ANOTHER STORY XXVII. THE THING
THAT WAS THE TRUTH XXVIII. BILLY TAKES HER TURN
XXIX. KATE WRITES A LETTER XXX. ``I'VE HINDERED HIM''
XXXI. FLIGHT XXXII. PETE TO THE RESCUE XXXIII.
BERTRAM TAKES THE REINS

Miss Billy's Decision
CHAPTER I
CALDERWELL DOES SOME TALKING
Calderwell had met Mr. M. J. Arkwright in London through a common
friend; since then they had tramped half over Europe together in a
comradeship that was as delightful as it was unusual. As Calderwell put
it in a letter to his sister, Belle:
``We smoke the same cigar and drink the same tea (he's just as much of
an old woman on that subject as I am!), and we agree beautifully on all
necessary points of living, from tipping to late sleeping in the morning;
while as for politics and religion--we disagree in those just enough to
lend spice to an otherwise tame existence.''
Farther along in this same letter Calderwell touched upon his new
friend again.
``I admit, however, I would like to know his name. To find out what
that mysterious `M. J.' stands for has got to be pretty nearly an
obsession with me. I am about ready to pick his pocket or rifle his trunk
in search of some lurking `Martin' or `John' that will set me at peace.
As it is, I confess that I have ogled his incoming mail and his outgoing

baggage shamelessly, only to be slapped in the face always and
everlastingly by that bland `M. J.' I've got my revenge, now, though. To
myself I call him `Mary Jane'-- and his broad-shouldered,
brown-bearded six feet of muscular manhood would so like to be called
`Mary Jane'! By the way, Belle, if you ever hear of murder and sudden
death in my direction, better set the sleuths on the trail of Arkwright.
Six to one you'll find I called him `Mary Jane' to his face!''
Calderwell was thinking of that letter now, as he sat at a small table in a
Paris caf. Opposite him was the six feet of muscular manhood,
broad shoulders, pointed brown beard, and all--and he had just
addressed it, inadvertently, as ``Mary Jane.''
During the brief, sickening moment of silence after the name had left
his lips, Calderwell was conscious of a whimsical realization of the
lights, music, and laughter all about him.
``Well, I chose as safe a place as I could!'' he was thinking. Then
Arkwright spoke.
``How long since you've been in correspondence with members of my
family?''
``Eh?''
Arkwright laughed grimly.
``Perhaps you thought of it yourself, then-- I'll admit you're capable of
it,'' he nodded, reaching for a cigar. ``But it so happens you hit upon my
family's favorite name for me.''
``_Mary Jane!_ You mean they actually call you that?''
``Yes,'' bowed the big fellow, calmly, as he struck a light.
``Appropriate!--don't you think?''
Calderwell did not answer. He thought he could not.
``Well, silence gives consent, they say,'' laughed the other. ``Anyhow,

you must have had some reason for calling me that.''
``Arkwright, what does `M. J.' stand for?'' demanded Calderwell.
``Oh, is that it?'' smiled the man opposite. ``Well, I'll own those initials
have been something of a puzzle to people. One man declares they're
`Merely