Show O 1 o s BY F. F kf R I SANTA CLAUS CLAUS' NARROW ESCAPE Thomas Thoma and William Were about i 7 years old They were W e twins and no one could think ot of more mIschief than they could The dRy day before Christmas said I b hope pe Santa Claus brings that gun this year I wrote him a letter ask ask- lug Ing for It and a a. knife with two to blades and he didn't pay 08 any attention to the He did not nol bring my pistol or sword either said Thomas Perhaps he thinks we nC are too young He Is not supposed to bot bother er about thAt said William He ought to lust Just take taka or of the care asking part 1 1 wish we could see him said Thomas It If Itc we c ask him Instead or of writinG to hIm be night might give civo thorn to us But how bow can we e see ICe him him 1 William lie Ire comes come comeIn In late at night and ISO so softly you cannot hear him and mother never would let us alt up Ind watt Ve Ne could sot a 8 bear trap and catch him suggested Thomas There Thero is the bear trap that would hurt him replied William I I should hould not like to do that for or ho has beta been very good od to us us even if Ie he dId not leave leavo the things wo we asked for Cor lit last year Ill I'll tell teU you ho continued we we can leave the cellar window ow open he very very likely will be glad Iad to get et in so I easU What good will hat do said Thomas Thoma We will be asleep Come on In the tho cellar and I Will show you ou said William All Ail the tho afternoon on the they worked and when night eight came they had completed the trap to catch Santa Claus The window was len left open and In front ot of Jt it was a lon long board Ono One end ond rested on the theIn win In dew claw sill the other on the tho cellar floor This the they covered well with soap P. and at the end or of the board Was Vas a stick to which was fastened a piece 0 of stron twine which would close the window Y when hen Santa slid down the board and hit t the sUck stick 1 guess lie 11 be somo surprised when he hc slides down that board boar said William but that thal will keep him there until w we e run downstairs and ask for tor tny my gun un an and ed d knife and your pistol and sword Do you suppose wo we can keep awak e until he comes asked Thomas You Yo u a know they say he does docs not get et around aroon d sometimes until next next f ourse we can replied William Ullam I They sat t up as long Jons as theIr mother Would let thorn them and then hung up their stockings and went to bed It was hard haro Work keeping awake Then they listened and after aCter a long time they thoy heard someone some some- one walking around to the yard ard There he be Is said William let us uso go o to the top ot of the stairs and wait Just as tho they reached the stairs they I heard a a. terrible noise an and the window closed with a banS bang Their father heard It also and Tan ran to the s stairs but the boys boya were at the cel- cel I tar lar door fie 0 back called Thomas Thoma ThomasIn to In hi his father N have a 1 ht Santa Claus and wo we want ant to B see C hIm aloe t Hold on on Santa they called t cellar door and turning on the 11 Ils well be down and let you out ut again But Instead or Santa anta Claus thor thoro e wa Just an ordinary man Inan lying on the cell cell floor Who Vho are you called Tho Thomas yon 10 ar are not Santa Claus I know 5 The father faUler Dulled both boys bos fin away awa trot p the door and closed tt It then ha h t phoned phon d for or the police and In a slier time the officers came and Into u cellar They found that the burglar ha broken his leg Jog and that was waa the Te rea he had not escaped We Nc soaped thA hoard board so 80 It h esy X for or him to o sll slide o to the tho bottom sal at i 1 net bet Santa would have c all all right rl ht p You boys boy go o to bed said their father J when the officers had gone gono an and It 10 dont don't go to sleep you OU rill not set get an Christmas pr presents Wo Ne had fun tun anyway t We saId Thomas s 's Yes Y replied William next to data ate best In ink Santa I think thin catching a 1 J I Copyright ht 1919 by the McClure News hew Newspaper paper Syndicate New York etty C Tomorrows Tomorrow's story Tanta nta Clay Fa F I rv 11 |