Show J 60 da B henry daly A story samuel I 1 E Kai find christmas Christ maa in an three pars farl 7 wilam D axes bit C copal A h 6 bv W i PART THREE continued jabez turned to look then thought thou glit ton be and now continued ursula coming back luto the car goodbye good bye byo yelled jabez the door atuck as car doors will when the man an in tho the tan oyer overcoat coat got it open jabes jaber was gone looking eagerly out vf of the window ursula thou thought glit she ahe saw a 91 man scuttling illch alko a scared cat up a dark little cross street she he thought the he saw aw him tako take a header over an lash A ash barrel half submerged in an old snow bank but she could not be sure cure then she aha turned back and began gathering up what sho she could find of I 1 mrs airs biggs christmas christinas dinner she 1 was waa so eo buty busy at this and so intent on ignoring the thirty two pairs of eyes which were trying to bore holes in her that sho she was unaware that the conductor had come in and was standing over her fore fare please he be said coldly and he added it that gent that just skipped shipped out was wid you you kin pay for him too ursula began tumbling over the things in her lap im in a sort of gasp im afraid she eho said bald that I 1 roust must have left my purse in the automobile tho the conductor 0 was not an amiable roan man it makes no odds odda to the corn com avny where you left it lie he began ten iten cents centa please now dut but at this moment a man who had been riding 1 on the front platform with a turkey camo came back into tho the car I heros leres your ton ten cents ho he said and sat in the vacant place beside miss allen alien 1 I was taking linking this bird out to mrs callahand callahans Call ahans ho he observed in his prosaic way as be tucked it between his feet IM glad I 1 happened to bo be on the tha tame car it wits was jones r im glad too said ursula wo we now return to the man who tell fell over the tha ask as barrel Al mcadam cAdam for it was indeed he was not hurt for or the barrel was covered with a heap of last weeks snow shoveled up there from the street ire quickly decided that thai ifor the abo moment ho he was safest where ho was its he crouched down in the vw I 1 gnor behind tho the barret with listening car as an shakespeare says waiting for or the chase to go by two three five minutes passed and nothing of the 1 cort 51 art happened only the snow in n which aich he bo riest nestled led slowly melted around him became la in fact uncomfortably fort ably slushy perhaps s the pur cult sl alt was abandoned or perhaps pe there w was ag somo some trick about this apparent inactivity ho he would try to find out ii 1 cautiously ho he lifted his head and looked down tho the street nothing to 41 0 M ava t r X be seen ceen at first but tho the crowd hurrying along the th lighted avenue where the cars ran dut blit when he ha looked again be had the doubtful satisfaction Is of seeing two dim figures one unmistakably la in a tan overcoat lounging in an entry near the abo corner DICA mcadara daiz sagaciously reflected that if 11 they remained eo 80 cheerfully at this nu bof of the street attest it must be ba because they know knew there thera was no way for him to get out tha other perhaps they would ehe him up eventually but la in the meantime how warm rn and dry delancey and rev hey arthur 1 be tu in the police stAt station loaf sa suddenly lie he straightened ad u up p murmured its christ abr 1 at maw ma vve ve bo glad of a little PC peace aca acq and aad good will wi OP on their own cot lil ill l il put it drong say ss two ts ac a ilo reached reach back 0 o li alliy OcIC 04 where ebore hla his oy ca still obese unimpaired by the stray leaves which had fluttered tram from it that evening should have reposed you know what had become of tt it mcadam happily for or him did not ile he paddled around in theto now in search of 0 it then gave it up up and collected from hla his various pockets his total cash resources they came to two dol lars and fifty five cents would the CO notables constables accept his promise to pa pay Y ile he was waa inclined to think not ile he uttered a sigh elgh of despair tor for without that friendly bulge in his bis hip pocket docket he be felt forsaken indeed when his eye chanced on air a lighted window across the street J hoeven w was as printed on it wigs and co costumes and then ills his eye lighted with hope Sav saved edl he murmured snatching lils ills chance when a fire engine went tearing down the avenue on art its way no doubt to some prema ture santa claus afire in a christmas tree he be dished dashed across the street up the stairs into the shop im going to a party tonight he said eald to the young man in charge 1 I want to wear something neat and handsome that keep my friends from knowing me ordinarily mcadam had only to appear to command respect but falling over in an ash barrel staving in his hat and lying for or halt half an hour in the street had mado made him a good deal less impressive at least it did not overpower tho the clerk cleric about what price he asked coldly jabez looked a bit sick at that something about two fifty he said with a haughty wave ot of tho the hand band the young man pointed to a dingy heap upon tho counter the last of its race thais nil all we have at two fifty he said and turned away with hla his nose in the air leaving poor jabez to paw oyer over the disreputable worn and dirty garments and wigs which looked as it if they had done duty at of masquerade balls balla in tho the cheapest quarters ot of the city reverend arthur and delancey re reached ached the allens aliens house a at t exactly eight simultaneously with six little girls from froin across the street in tho the hall they encountered ursula she bundled bundled the little girls oil oft upstairs and I 1 must be on off too she said were just juat this minute up from dinner we were dreadfully late getting home and I 1 have to dress I 1 wish I 1 had time to hear bear how you two got out of jail we find it necessary to accompany the officers to the station began reverend arthur coolly wo we ill hoar hear all about it later she ohe interrupted now run along and help mr air jones with tho the christmas tree in tho the room you know ali ah mr jones Is here sald said delancey ilas haa mr me mr air jones dined here said ursula turning toward the stairway you must help him get through with the tree because he be has to dress lie he la Is going 0 o be ray my santa claus claua you know my santa claus 1 if they had known the she regarded it in just that light they would have fought for the part themselves well it was waa too late lata now so they went to the musto room to the menial occupation of helping jones but jones aad said they could do nothing for him indeed his expression sion of fact was so BO vivacious when they all but set fire to the tree with a cigarette that they retired ira in good order to the great hall where they gloomily discussed jones and the tb good luck that seemed to attend him he certainly had scored scared on them moro more than once already in tho the cour course of this eventful evening and their lovo love for him was not ln increasing with noticeable rapidity think of him dining here in his bis morning goat coat observed delancey ile he makes himself useful said rev hey arthur so they stood where they commanded a view TIOW of the great front door lazily looked over theriel the new arrivals and waited tor for ursula Ur sulas a reappearance on the tha scene to make it worth while taking part deamos b by the tha big door grandly admitting the guests guesta the bell rang downstairs where he ha could not hear bear it but a footfall on oa the porch or the crunching of i A carriage in the drive told him when anyone was waa coming so he bo was a good deal surprised not to may aay start startled ledat at hearing without any preliminary sound bound whatever a faint katat W on the door ho opened it a little way and vas still more surprised at seeing no ono there then us as he was vias about to close it again ho he was waa electrified by A hoarse open tho the door let mo me in opening wider he ha made out a dark figure witt with a venerable ren Ven arable beird in ili the shadow of tho the doorway this was scandalous co 0 ot off tow BOW he ha said bald severely verely ao no beggars allowed beggar i said tho the hoarse voice as aa though something wn wet cholson chols ln it it im a friend of miss allens aliens stand aside aalde you tool fool and lot let roa ina to in quick see sea me in a minute tal nute you look like a arnd of 0 you do indeed come came be oft off now or IU IM turn youa you wito pr q the polica im her santa claus why rm im dressed this thin way shouted the applicant cant furiously but not forgetting caution so BO far as to come out nto into the light youre drunk said jeames advancing into the dark courageously intent on flinging tho the intruder off the porch it was a false move disreputable he be looked drunk he might be hut but the unknown was certainly quick before jeames had bad fairly got clear of the door ho he had bad shot past him into the vestibule the light revealed revealed the full horror of him film a tunic of greasy red cotton nannel flannel with draggled dragg led tutta tufts of white along the edges red worsted tights of which the less said the better A pair of yellow oilcloth boots broken and muddy and over his head and shoulders a torn tangle of frowsy drowsy white hair and this hideous travesty prefigured pre figured santa claus hero was the saint of christmas the jovial old gentleman who brought gifts to all and about whose knees the sweet little children were to cling while be stroked ho A taftt tn rill ay UM A tl belr hair and patted their innocent cheeks upon this blasphemous parody jeames sprang with a cry of horror but the parody basmore was more than he be bargained for that was evident in less than live five seconds Ilo however wever reinforcements for were at hand band rev arthur aithur rushed to the rescue and a little behind came delancey Do lancey the door stood wide open the scuffle was plainly to be seen from the street and two men one in a tan overcoat were rushing across the lawn intent on taking a hand of their own in n the lif affair fair altogether it was lively while it lasted dut but it was short abort As the two men from outside dashed up the steps the big dc arr r swung to with a click and jones who had bad closed it said in his quiet way get up get up dont you know his voice its mcadam they scrambled to their feet it Is safe to say that unless they know his voice they could hardly have recognized him the disguise by now at least yaa tras effective they looked at him aghast then as aa they heard Ur sulas step on the stairs jeames with as shakespeare says ono one auspicious and one dropping eye helped him to his bis feet joez jabez pulled oft ills his wig aud and dropped it on the floor ile H tugged impotently at his beard the damned thing wont come coma off he said with something like a sob its glued ursula stood before him pretty much everyone else ja in the house was there too tor for the sound of the scuffle had been audible all over it but his bla experience of the last two hours had reduced him to his element there was waa att an OPIO simplicity about him lie he saw caw only ursula ive como come back he said 1 I want ed to speak to you go BO I 1 came back v come in here said ursula she led him through tho the crowd into a little reception room and closed the door utter after her jones jonea herded the mob back into the drawing rooms jeames went back and opened the door again looking except as to his eyes an aa though nothing had happened out but iter her arthur and P od frozen where they stood and gazed at each other this la Is what was happening behind that closed door before you say anything to me mr mcadam I 1 want to as ash f tor r your good wishes said ursula MY good wig heal ho he echoed she held out her hands bandi and he be SAW that she wore no rings but one solitaire brilliant upon a third finger it was i a moment before he comprehended so ZY my account it Is closed out he ha said eald 1 I la in time to cover m my 7 margins after all JC IC a mattor matter of 0 time 1 said bald ursula urania blushing a little b but ut you do give me your lour good will wishes hes dont you all of em cm C I 1 ho eald shaking hands aanas can have ave a cup of at comee co rt alter after hii he it had ad had it ho he feu fell enough better to loo loot k up his two rivals lie ha found at last la in an aa ll 11 ire cord cor f ner of the great hall gloomily he would have said watching the festivities in the drawing room there was waa a complex tissue of emotions to bo be rend read in his bis face ace but ft a smile of puro pure good humor dominated it ile ho had cot asked ursula which of them was waa the successful one at the time he cared but now be was puzzled to as it were pick the winner whiner whichever he was he be looked exactly as the tha other must feel well said jabez with what cheerfulness he could muster which one of you fellows do I 1 congratulate T what shouted reverend arthur what echoed delancey Delan coy whose ring Is it ashes wearing demanded jabez one ot at you ought to know not I 1 said reverend arthur again echo answered not I 1 I 1 and then a sickening silence enveloped them jabez was merely puzzled but the hearts ot of reverend arthur and delancey were like lead in their bosoms the lights were blurred in their eyes and the knowledge of defeat took for tho the time all the joy out of life not ono one of the trio spoke tor for there was nothing more to be said bald la in the dra draw ing room the tide ot of tun fun was rising steadily expectation stood at tiptoe it was nearly time for the christmas tree for the moment the loaders leaders of the merriment had disappeared ursula and jones were nowhere to be seen they though suddenly jabez laid compelling hands on the other two they turned and follow id his look there were two mares angures in the dark the almost dark recess at the far end of the hall this wa a childrens party but the these alldren hll dren and then in a moment reverend arthur and mr P delancey knew where jones had hung the mistletoe im going to get out of this said said 1 I 1 think I 1 must be going myself said reverend arthur 1 I cant go sald sat jabez my car Is hers here said delancey we could make a 1 I never could kel gel but to it said jabez dairing for me on the sidewalk possibly hesitate reverend Rev prend arthur if I 1 were to gu first er dressed in such a manner as to create a diversion reverend I 1 exclaimed jabez youre a brick ile he opened a door that happened to be at hand 1 I guess we can change clothes in here he said five minutes later jones and ursula came cama upon the product of the metamorphosis first they gasped with astonishment and then howled with delight while the reverend gentleman wriggled in sheepish embarrassment ras but a few words sufficed to make clear to them the situation and then they jumped into the game with a will adding touches here land and there to reverend arthurs picturesque tur esque it if not handsome costume but you need the wig to make you complete said jones here allore it Is reverend arthur had put his bis hand to the plow lie put on the wig delancey returned from a momentary sortie to the carriage drive my air man has the motor going he report I 1 i A atal wilina anz ed 61 and there ther 0 snow enough to bother us we can bo be oft off in a minute minu u t e USTe rond arthur shook hands with ursula walked into the vestibule and james jaaes let iel bilm irn out into the night light from a nindo wi they watched hin ns a he vaulted the low fence and sped aped down down pursued by a volcanic figure in a tan overcoat bowl cried ursula now la is your il almet titer oh dont stop atop good luckl merry alem |