Billy Whiskers in France

by Frances Trego Montgomery

When Stubby and Button reached the side street down which they had seen Billy disappearing, no Billy was in sight. But as they stood there debating what had become of him, and wondering where they would look for him, they saw Billy run out of a fruit store with a big apple in his mouth, followed by an angry Frenchman madly jabbering and waving a broom over his head, with which he was trying to hit Billy. He was just about to bring it down on Billy’s back when Stubby ran between the man’s legs and tripped him. He got up with an oath and started to chase Stubby when Button ran in front of him and down he went again. He was so busy watching Billy and Stubby that he had not time to cast his eyes down to see what was under his feet or where he was stepping. This time he fell flat on his stomach, which knocked the breath out of him so he could not rise again and chase them. And he sat there trying to get his breath until he saw them turn a corner and disappear, though he had the fun of seeing a man knocked over as he himself had been by Billy running into him as he turned the corner. Billy did not see the man as his head was turned to see if the fruit dealer was still pursuing him. And when he looked ahead, he was surprised to find both Stubby and Button following him. He still had his head turned when he ran into a fat woman going the same way he was, a big basket of clean clothes on her head. The first thing Billy knew, he was rolling over something soft that squealed like a stuck pig and that kicked like a calf. He lost his own balance and rolled over in the gutter. All this commotion caused a crowd to gather around them in no time, and Stubby had to bark and growl and nip the heels of the people to make a clearing so Billy could get up. Soon the police were upon them, swinging their clubs and crying out in French for the crowd to make way and clear the street.

The fat woman was crying and trying to gather up her wash which had spilled in all directions, and she was afraid the people would steal some of the pieces or step on the clean snow-white bosoms of the shirts.

“Here, don’t you put your dirty hands on that shirt!” she called to a boy who was going to try to help her pick up her scattered things.

“Police! Police! Stop that woman! She is trying to hide a lady’s skirt under her shawl!”

Stubby felt sorry for the poor laundress and he watched to see if any of the crowd tried to steal her things.

Presently a bootblack picked up a nice fine white dress shirt and attempted to hide it under his short jacket, but the shirt was too long to conceal even when folded, and when it unfolded a long white tail stuck out. A policeman made a grab for it but the boy dodged and ran down the street with the shirt dangling between his legs. When Stubby saw this, he started in pursuit and soon overtook the boy. He made a snap at the flying tail, caught it in his mouth, gave a jerk and the shirt slipped from the boy’s hold, wound itself round his leg and tripped him. The policeman coming up just then caught the boy and gave him two or three sharp raps with his club together with a kick and told him to go about his business while he carried the much prized shirt back to the laundress.

“Thank you! Thank you, sir, for saving that shirt! It belongs to the man at the head of the Police Department and I’ll tell him how smart you are on your beat and get you promoted for helping a poor working woman out of her troubles,” and she wiped her eyes and began to count her pieces to see if they were all there.

While the police was keeping the crowd from bothering her, the three Chums sneaked away and decided to return to the boat for they did not want to be left in Paris. Their destination was Havre for the present and America next.

About six o’clock when the Captain, his wife and the sailors came back to the boat, they found Billy, Stubby and Button all lying out on deck enjoying themselves.