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Show Santa and the Talking Doll i Eric Opens Kris' Eyes When He Returns With Guest j I J?v Siarttl Am - - THE STORY BO FAB: Erie, th of Lichtalnc mat Lac en, a do LI that M talk aftrr f' mkdnlrht, oonw back to f)aa- t ta'i ToyBhop with a ttri, Etea, they hava icaenad la th WMda from mim trll&. 1 .... - i CHAPTER EIGHT Santa wai acting very annoyed' when Erie and Leexen cam. bark! to the Toyshop. He had been up.. - all nlfht looking for them. HI - ; hand! and feet were cold from tramping through the (now. He i wai worried because he hadn't, kept hit promise to take Leezen". to the King of Westphalia that. : night. " I But hit eyet nearly popped out j when he saw the returning party.. "What, what V- he spluttered In the doorway. - Erie swept off his blue cap," smiled mischievously and said, ." "Sire, we are back for breakfast." . "So I see," sakl Santshalf tempted to laugh. "But you have upset me very much." "We did not mean to, SIr. "But but but, who is this, girl?" askfcd Santa. "Some one to help Mrs. Santa, bake Christmas cookies," said Erid So Elsa told Santa the story of , what had happened. But Eric ran , back up the first alii and picked , up the sleeping Leezen very gently , and carried her into the Toyshop , and stood her up at the foot of the Christmas tree. Santa watched him with an , amused smile. "Eric, Eric" he said. "You are strong willed but it ' seems you are right, too. If I had ; found this girl I would have , brought her here, too." Eric bowed very low and ' said, , "Thank you. Sire." Santa smiled and said, "But to- night you must behave Just as . well. Tonight I shall Uke Leezen c to the King of Westphalia. She was made for him by the fairies, k and I cannot fail. Even though you -. think so much of her you must not , Interfere." Eric tossed hit hair and laughed. . Santa, looking at him, couldn't . help but pat him on the shoulder.' . So they sat down to breakfast and . Elsa sat with them drinking great '. cups of hot chocolate. But all that day Erie looked un-. nappy when he thought no one was watching. He tried to help the gnomes make trains again. But really he kept glancing up to see If Leezen was still there. That night Santa really did take . Leexen away. This Is how It hsp-pened. hsp-pened. Erie had dinner with Santa that night, but once when he, looked away from the table a llt- tie fairy dropped seven shining, drops from a tiny flask Into hit cup. When Eric had drunk It he fell into such a deep tleep It wat a day and a night later when he v woke. v That midnight Santa lifted Lee- zen gently Into his sleigh and flew over the clouds and down the sky to the castle of the King of Westphalia. West-phalia. The King sat asleep by the fire. Candles burned In tall silver sticks. Quietly, as the clock struck IX Santa seated Leezen In a chair near the King, and tip-toed out. The King stirred at the clock struck, and Leezen's blue eyes fluttered flut-tered open. She saw the fair-haired fair-haired King, half asleep, wipe a-tear a-tear from his eye. She smiled and said quietly, "Your Majesty, If ' your dreams are sad you can leave them by opening your eyes." The King's blue eyes flew open ' with surprise. Then he closed them 7 again. He said, "Please be com- foruble. I am thinking." But he wasn't really. He was Just too shy. Too shy to Ulk to Leezen. Tomorrow Leeaea runs away. |