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Show &auta (Halts Z on uHngs jj By E. 3. HENDERSON jjj (Copyright.) HRISTMAS cheer was in the air, but the fact did not particularly appeal to Boyd Wis-ner, Wis-ner, for lie was consumed con-sumed with eunui and suspense. It was typical typ-ical old-fashioned yule-tide yule-tide season. A great snowstorm bad blotted blot-ted out every country turnpike and the railroad rail-road connecting his ; town with Muyville. "Hovd mniies around like a lost soul," commented his sister Nettie to her mother. "If his fellow ace of airship fame in France, Willis ! Thorne, cannot get here In time for ' the holiday festivities we shall have a dull season of it." "It's Muriel Lane," asserted Mrs. Wisner. "A year ago this time both you and Boyd had the time of your lives at Lane farm aud the contrast is Irksome to the poor boy." "Aud 'the poor boy,' " mimicked Nettle, "is on pins and needles of sus pense. Of course you know that he proposed to Muriel a week ago?" "I didn't know it, but I suspected it would come to that." "Muriel asked him to give her a few days to think it over, so she would be sure she knew her own mind. Then this storm came along and the telephone tele-phone wires have been down until this morning." But that very day Boyd Wisner heard from the prudent maiden who sought to make no mistake in solving life's greatest problem marriage. His quickened heart throbs were a series of thrills as he was called to the phone at his office, and more alluring than the soft cooing of a dove were the fluttering words, "Is that you, Boyd?" "Yes, darl I mean Miss Lane." "Don't be silly, Boyd. We are snowbound, snow-bound, but I wanted to tell you that I am sure of my mind now. The children chil-dren are crying for last year's Santa Claus, and I oh, I wish it would rain hot scalding water and clear the roads ! Merry Christmas ! Come soon !" And then the provoking damsel dropped the phone. Muriel had made up her mind 1 Boyd was inspired with the most radiant soul of hope. He reached the street to find It crowded with people looking skyward. "Double "Dou-ble luck !" he jubilated. "It's Thorne," and he decided that the airship aloft, graeefully circling to land, must be the one which his fellow ace of France had purchased after returning home. Twenty miles distant, lovable and loving Muriel Lane looked out upon a bleak, white expanse, surrounding the old farm home. Her six little brothers and sisters nestled about her. "We can trim up the Christmas tree with last year's spangles, children," she tald. "I want to see Santa Claus !" whimpered whim-pered little Tim. "If he can land on a roof and come down the chimney he can ride on the air. Oh, sister, there's the telephone." It was the first time It had rung for a week. Muriel ran to It, and her cheeks grew to wild rose beauty and her eyes sparkled as the words came: "Look to the northeast for a new star at nine o'clock tonight." "Boyd " began Muriel, flutterlngly. "No, Santa Claus, by air. Have the tree ready and keep the children up." xnat wise little head of Muriel comprehended. com-prehended. She was as unsettled and expectant as the children. The tree was trimmed, the candles all ready for lighting. She took a chair at the window win-dow and began telling them stories. Finally she leaned closer to the pane and strained her glance. A speck of luster held her vision until It had resolved re-solved Itself into mingled colors of red, white and blue. "Wrap yourselves up warmly," she ordered. "We will all go out and look for Santy," and a great hush came down as the group discovered "the new star," and the outlines of B-32 be- ; came clearly distinct in the crystalline j air and there "settled to earth Willis 1 Thome's airship driven by Boyd Wisner. Wis-ner. Forth from the amazing air vehicle ! stepped a form familiar to the wonder-eyed wonder-eyed children the Santa Claus of last year with frosted beard and a bulging bag of gifts on his back. And only the two older children ever guessed the Identity of this grand Krlss Krin.le on wings. Aud, oh ! the marvelous gifts he had for them all! And Boyd drew Muriel behind a door and kissed her, and only old , Grandfather Lane, going up the stairs j to his bed, witnessed the event, and chuckled serenely. |