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Show morning couldn't disappoint the baby," said the steady voice. .1 know," the clergyman agreed. Im In the same box. Yet," he harked back, It's taking too much rtsk Too. have no right to run such jj&k. How much are you 'carrying T Three thousand dollars. The man outside drew a sharp breath as If the distinct words had hit him. Three thousand dollars! The clergyman tnalde repeated them. "Three thousand dollars! Ita too much to carry after dark through nest of banditti." Banditti!" The other's tone pro- r uT5Wi &. Ramona Sh. i fw t . Andrews Vyny4j 'y-'Wi'fy, r WI rtf. were thick HERE -- kO?k flurries at Intervals CvWw M If the world were filled with a sudden torm of whit feathers, but no weight of snow fell; the air had a sweet coldness as one Inhaled It, yet was as mild as December twenty-fourt- h might be and w be not pusillanimous iWfcJ ijijf a win-ter- s well-behave- d day; there was not the ghost of a reason why the 1:05 local from Barchester should bs two hours late. ' The handful of pasengers at Blenheim Junction wandered aimlessly, afraid to go away lest the belated train should make up time; now and again they drtfted together and exchanged pessimistic surmises as to any one's chances of getting anyThe shifting where for Christmas. . fields with retentful eyes. He came to a stop In front of a bench, and, dropping Into It, drew out a let- at the ter. The thin envelope fell open as '' If read often before. Dear Carl," the writing ran, "I saw Peterson two days ago and be told me you were playing In bad luck. There's an opening out here In my business for a person who knows several languages, and you came to my mind. Would you care to take ItT You would have to put up a thousand or two, and that, beyond traveling expenses, would be all the money 1 think you would like Jk The business Is going to be a big one, and we are making money now. There is plenty of work, but plenty of play also, of the kind you're good at tennis and polo and that sort And theres the certainty of a fresh start In life with every chance of a solid career. I'm sure you know what a pleasure It would be to me, because It's always been a pleasure to t with you since neo-essar- mas Eve. Have you, mother?" knee, Benny yon weigh n tow. dear," remonstrated the mother, push-lns heavy foot. Well do this, "My g -- Alice. Benny- - knows WhU , Shep- herds. Watched as well as I, and If he hell aey It, then Ill Night Before Christina,' and the story, and Just anything you wank" "1 like your saying of Ik mother, better than I do Benny's. He always makes "the angels talk Ilk people," do-T- -- Knock-Dow-n Coops iknt Giro Perfect Satisfaction Both In Sommer and Win tax' One Pot Together ' In Fifteen Minutes Alice demurred. In order to do away with the dis- In about minutes. The roof es But the boy, undisturbed by critieach Is made with two pieces, and se tha that advantage colony ordinary cism, began at race. His large brown poultry house has of being exposed to Is the floor la the large one. It Is eyee fixed on the fire, he recited, not essential that there should he a It slowly, and conscientiously, the Christmas carol; year-olWhile Shepherds watched their fioeke hr eight All seated ea the ground. The angel of the Lord came down . . Ard glory shone around, the reedy voice repeated, and a listener might have urderstood what Alice meant It was much as If John Jones had met . William Smith and mentioned to him s matter of newa about a mutual friend, an angel. But to the woman who listened with the boy's head against her shoulder, the Incongruous Inflections were iweet; the so audacity of It seemed to bring near, that it thrilled her. a night when, for another Childs sake, the klee had rung with a song that has echoed always. Benny's fresh tones disclosed, with careful conversational emphasis, piore and more facts about angels, to him a shade less real, p shads more holy than his. mother. To you In David's town this day Is born of David's Una A Saviour, who Is Christ the Lord, And this shall ba tba sign was elucidated In a realistic manner, and the child proceeded to explain. Thus spoke the aeraph and forthwith appeared a shining throng of anGod who- - thus adgels praising dressed their Joyful song." An atheist would have got an impression, hearing him tell It. that the boy bad seen with hla eyes and beard with his ears what he related. There was a silence as the sturdy tones ended and Bennys eyes gased on into tha heart of the fire, aa if they saw in a vision the still eastern night, the shepherds on the hills, the white flight of angels. You repeated It very nicely," Mrs. Harding said softly, and put her mouth Now you against his head again. shall have yours." The big girl caught her mother's hand a hand worn with housework and sewing and held It against her cheek. Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, the woman began, and went on, a many women have begun and gone on with the charming old poem, to children on Christmas Eve. The fire crackled in the pausea, and the logs fell apart wtth gentle heaviness, an accompaniment to the twinging sentence. "Now Just one more, children dear, and you really must go to bed. Its The two big children nnd their small very late look! Its almost nine,' mother eat on the rug before the fire, and tbe girl and the boy cried out tothe fire being aa especial luxury for gether.' Oh, the Beasts! The Beasts!" Christmas Eve. The nursery wan n firethe pressed against her, a head on They room; spendthrift pleasant light washed brightness over gay col-or- a either shoulder, and held her hands In of coarse stuffs, over cheap prints theirs, while she told them a tale of of fine pictures, over the whitewashed a boy in a German forest whose fawalls and the peace of the two white ther and mother were so poor that eds folded back for the night. There there waa not enough to. eat In tbe was n homelike -- atmosphereIuQ. of house. She tOld them'hoW he lay In tested. FOLDINa AND PORTABLE HOUSES FOR POULTRY two-hundre-d But Dr. Harding persisted. "At least leave the money in town. Where?" Maxwell asked. The banka are closed. The men's wages must be paid the twenty-sixth- , n I'll carry It safe enough the Maxwells have carried their employes' wages to Maxwell Field for five generations." The clergyman's reply was serious. "With two Maxwells killed to dlacour-ag- e the practice," he said. There was alienee for a moment' Then, T nee what can be done," the older man poke. Give me the money. I'll take it to the rectory and youll all be over to service and you can fetch it hack. How la that?" Youve a lonely drive, too." Only two- - miles," said Harding. And theres no danger for me. y suspects a parson of money." Msxwell considered, hesitated. I think rU accept your offer, doctor," he said at last Quarles, the ryn-age- r, objects to my landing witha bag which I carry carefully myself, as I must when Iti loaded this way. The man outside, atralned forward, could - Imagine the manufacturers hand laid on the stout bag on his knee. case I throw My dress-sui- t st somebody to be put into the trap, end I think no more of but this 1 keep by me, end Im so well known about the country that they are fa? miliar with my ways." .The confident voice, the voice of a personage, went on, but the shabby figure outside relaxed, shivering a bit against the wall of the station. He was thinking fast hut his listening now was less careful; he knew the rest; ils data were collected. There was a whistle down the track, and a wave of humanity drew together; the traln pulled in, the man hovering In the background waited to see Mr. Maxwell of Maxwell Field. In ulster with Its collar and cuffs of sable, and the thin clergyman In bis overcoat a little gray at the seams, enter a car together, before he sprang unnoticed Into the car behind them. the weather, eves when unoccupied, R. Haswell of Pickaway d county, a poultry house. Illustrated In American Agriculturist, which Is shown herewith. He says they have given perfect satisfaction both aa summer and winter Ohio, has designed knock-dow- n Quarters. -The sizes he has built are respectively 7xt and 9x13 feet The lumber necessary to construct these two buildings cost S2M5. Paint and nails wers extra. They are put together floor, ae the houses are portable and are built on fairly stout scantlings ae base 'frames. The larger house is I feet high la front and BJeet at the back. For people who are tenants or who have a large number of fowls in tht summer and few la tho winter this kind of a house will commend Itself highly, because It can be taken apart and stored under a shed, and thus made to last many ifiore years than It otherwise would. Where there are t, -- No-'bod- it fur-line- d 3u ThS Man Drew a Sharp Breath." human atoms might be classified as bunch; four bunches; the small-boy- three women circling about a stolid and nnnoyed boy; the tobacco bunch, four unshaven men; the parson-bl- ack of clothes, pallid, yet strong of face nnd bis friend, a prosperous .business man by the look of him; and, the fourth division, solitary individual. This last waa young, and so strongly built that muscle waa the first impression on looking nt him. Ills listless movements were power ful, his face was cast In a virile mold, but It was strength anjbeauty gone wrong The face was lined with the first days of Groton. Think It over and send me a line by New Years so I may know during January r repeat that I want you and that 1 hope you may care to come." The letter was dated from Hong Foldlngand Portable Poultry Houses. with bolts,' Instead of screws. The bolts are about ten inches long, with one end half or more out, and with two holes in it to fasten to the sides of the end on the other end. Two men can put up the smaller one several houses of this kind each piece that goes to make up each Individual house should bear the number of that BEANS RETURN . GOOD PROFIT tion and harvesting are better die tributed and leavfes days of scarcity of farm help. This la a valuable feature. Fertilizing la an Important matte In raising beans. If the soil is too poor It will not raise good beans and It will not do to apply barnyard manure la time comes. . Fertilizing la Important Matter la Raising Crop. Cora Soli Beet Bg - dlreetly ta.the.erop. It . L. Griffin. . manure a la advance, and year the farmer will give this crop proper There le good profit In white field attention he will find It will give him beans, and they are a pretty sure crop. as great returns for money and time If the soil Is too rich the vines will invested as anything he can raise. grow rank, or if the soli Is loose and gravelly, there will be difficulty In reStimulating the Appetite. ., taining sufficient moisture. A good the appetite ia one ot Stimulating loam corn land la the right soil. I the uses to which artificial ' strangest r rotation-t- wo use beans in a lighting la puk At the London years clover, one year corn, folgardens small birds are called lowed by beans. to breakfast two hours ahead of their corn planting la done and. usual time by Hie turning on of the make a good, Ann seed bed. Planting electric lights and quailsare fattened occurs May 15 to July 1 perhaps the for the London market In undermoat being planted in the first half ground cellars, which are lighted up f to of June. -- 1 use from many times a day ta Induce the birds, of a bushel per acre. 1 drill to feed often and abundantly. At the In rows 28 Inches apart. Berlin zoological gardens a similar Up to the time of blossoming the plan la adopted to make certain bears cultivation of beans la practically the hibernate. Fob several weeks In fall same as for corn. It must be frequent their dens are brightly Illuminated, to destroy the weeds end preserve the they have a surface mulch, thereby conserving the favorite food, and thereat and grow-vemoisture of the lower soil. The branch fat, ao that, when winter comes roots are so far developed at the time and their dens are barricaded, of blossoming that further cultivation go to sleep for two or three will hurt rather than help the crop. It months, just as in their native haunts. Is a good plan to plant a part of the In spring they awaken, lean, hungry crop early and a part late, aa cultiva and healthy. apply If four-yea- Plow-afte- r . one-hal- Kong. Care to come!" The man flapped the . paper with-- a gesture of despair, and at the second a door creaked mournfully behind htra. opened half way, and the clergymans clear-cu- t speech sounded through it You dont mind the draft? the voice asked. Its dose In here." The man outside, the letter clasped against hla knee, did not stir; he listened intently. Tho two within aa i down without seeing hjm. back to beck with him, the wall between. Every Uord th-- y spoke came out to him distinctly. Why dont you put that bag on the floor? You bold on to It aa If U were treasure," the pleasant, easy tones of the parson continued. The big mans answer came jifter a seconds pause. "It Is treasure," he said briefly. Do you mean Sidney, you're not driving home alone with the house, so there can be no difficulty putting the house together when the three-fourth- a plentlful-aupply-ofthe- -- lr ry they-quletl- y -- SIMPLE EFFECTIVE- - SMOKEHOUSE 3 ft mens wage?" No, not alone. Tomlinson meets me." Tomlinson! Hes nothing. That la hes a good coachman, of course, but the mildest ruffian could do up Tomllnspn with one hand. A great protection!" I dont want protection," the alow vote half laughed-tea- a protect --myself and Tomlinson." The man outside could all but see the clergyman's head shake disapprovingly.I dont like The Man Avoided the Clergymari and Hie Friend. - unhappiness rrtke -- eyes were dull; a swinging walk lapsed to a lurch; kla post collar was up and hla hat brim down, hla cloth es were shabby. The hypothetical observer would have seen that the man avoided with some the clergyman and his Mend. As they came toward kirn down the for long platform, walking briskly warmth, talking earnestly together, be watched them from under his shadowing hat brim, turned his back aa they neared him, and disappeared behind the station. His hands in the pockets of his overcoat, be stared out eft 1 t ,, It Ita six miles and yonH have to go through the River Mill the other roada ira passable. There's a bad lot of roughs there just now. Pat O'Hara who used to he my maaof-al- l work told me about It last week. He's working now on the Falla' bridge, and live two miles this tide He says, theyre genuine desperadoes It will be known that you're coming tta always known. What poeseaed yon to go back at nlgkt?" Delayed." the laconic tones answered. "A meeting of the board of directors." Well, delay a bit longer, tad you may save time," tbe clergyman threw back. Dont go home Sid ney dts really unsafe." Must get home tor Christmas t, "gay ,The Night Mother, He Begged."' his cot on ChrUtmas Ev and heart them plan; how he listened as they divided what food was left into three portions for tomorrow's breakfast, tbe largest for the boy; how he sot bed to himself In the dark as he heard them arrange, to kill hla two friends, the old horse Frtedet and the old cow Minna, rather than let them starve to death. (TO BS CONTINUED.) Before Christmas, a bouse where much ,1a don. The children' leaned close against the woman between them; the girls hair was spread on her mothers shoulders, and the boys arm waa around her and hla head pressed her arm. The Night Before ChristBay mas' again mother." he begged. "Ton I promised youd say It next." "No, she dtdnk Benny," objected She only promised she'd the girt. say It again; she hasn't said 'While ft's Just tike a woman to forgive a Shepherds Watched at all yet, or told man who doesn't deserve Ik Chicago us the story of the beasts on Christ- - Newa. the alert leteereef- - " ordinary packing eaae may-bto serve as a smoke bouse, as shown herewith. A hole about 30 Inches deep la dug In the ground for a fire pot and a stovepipe laid hi s trench from this hole to an opening below packing cnee, eays American Agricultnrlsk This ease is then sunk a few Inches below' the level of the ground and banked wtth earth about a foot high around the outside. . Tbe fire not Is provided with an Iron cover and he case supplied with s beam os (kick to hang the mask It also has An mad e a lid which fits ever the top. - Meat to be smoked ia kept la brine for a couple of weeks, then soaked In cold water for 24 hours and finally hung ' In the case. New Milk Sterilizing Process. The new milk sterilizing process of M. Dastre, professor of physiology nt the Borbonne, consists In pouring tht milk slowly Into n tunnel under close exposure to the ultraviolet rays of mercury-vapo- r lamp. The milk Is not changed In taste or la chemical oon position. - n |
