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Show 0- W Helen Ifeif OLD Mr. Thompson sat quietly quiet-ly by his fire. He had sat so, watching - the leaping flames, every evening for years. But tonight was New Year's eve, and although the clock on the mantel man-tel whirred loudly, and struck nine times, and the fire died to smoldering smolder-ing embers, he did not move. The family had gone to the New Year's party at the schoolhouse, where all but the very young and very old were gathered. As he sat on, dreaming of other New Years, the old man had a dar-i dar-i ing thought. Now, tonight, he would go out and visit with his cronies. He struggled into his heaviest wraps, and taking his cane, went 111 down." From the hall came a cry, and at that moment the old couple smelled smoke. Flames were licking the overturned over-turned table, but they were q u i c kly extinguished, extin-guished, and the frightened Barbara Bar-bara released from muffling blankets. "H 0 w fortu- U Li L t. U LIIC UlllU' swept porch. Caref u 1 1 y he picked his way through the falling fall-ing snow, holding hold-ing fast to the railing, then the fence, and then the neighbor's. He turned in at the next gate and safely crossed the icy walk. Slowly, laboriously la-boriously he climbed up the steps and rang the bell. ' , . Although h could have swern a light had just been moving through the house, now all was dark and still. He rang again. A child cried, and there was a muffled curse. Old Mr. Thompson pounded on the door. He heard a table fall and the crash of glass. The child screamed. In the back, a door slammed, men were running, and an engine roared away into the distance. The eld man tried the door. It was unlocked. He went iu, and felt for a light. On the floor lay old Mrs. Pea-body, Pea-body, limp. As he struggled to raise her, she regained consciousness. "Oh," she cried, "did they get the baby?" "I don't know," he answered. "What happened?' "Kidnapers they tried to steal little Barbara. I guess one of them knocked me ,,, . lllll mm mi nate you came," saiu Mrs. 1'eabcdy. "You have saved us both." "It was nothing," he answered. "I just dropped in to say Happy New j Year. If you are sure you're all right, I'll go now." "Ii's nearly twelve. Stay and i celebrate." "Thank you. Not tonight." He ' made his way home through the : swirling snow. I Horns were blowing as the old 1 man climbed the stairs and silently 1 went to bed. ). Weetem Newspaper Union. |
