Show t t t One Christmas Eve Cu Du n clam T. T Barker aE t iY fY t t t t Copyright by Western Newspaper fr r Union lie Ile was wall grinning tike like a schoolboy it at the tho gyrations gyration of oC a mechanical clown Ills bt bluff t hearty laugh seemed to lo come coma straight from his heart Ilia Ills long lone white whiskers bearskin coat merry eyes eres and full round full round figure figure- suggested the veritable Kris Kringle to a aT T. T Men Ien women and children were all smiles rallies as al they looked him over but too polite to linger Unger and embarrass him The proprietor of ot the store o observing observing ob ob- serving the slight alight halt In the passing procession beckoned to the stranger My friend he spoke rapidly could o ld I 1 have a word with you you A dozen It if It ft suits suite you responded respond respond- ed the other heartily and followed his Interviewer Inside the store Its just this explained the tore store man weve got gol a Santa Claus Claus see him Dim yonder in that booth shaking hands with the children I see him nodded the Westerner lie Fie Is on till midnight and I cant can't spare him A family here the here the Moodys Moods best best people in town want town want me to send Bend them up a Santy Youre You're Just lust made for it Come ten Come ten dollars c cash sh shand and it wont won't tako take you an hour Ill I'll turn furnish Ish the robe and cap The Westerner smiled queerly Ill I'll take th the job lob he replied Directed by a lad l lad d from the store he w was piloted to t the Moody a admitted and shown Into a room room oft off th the m main ln parlor where a a Christmas tree stood loaded and ablaze ablate Allaround AH around It the hired Santy gazed cased keenly almost eagerly He e appeared to be scanning the various framed portraits portraits portraits por por- traits on the wall and seemed li ed disappointed disappointed pol pointed d. d 8 as as If It In in that Inspection he missed something he be b had bad d' d expected to fin find Ond A servant came cam and helped him on on with his costume directing him in what he should do when the children entered the festal room An admirable admirable admirable able Santy he made He went through his part in a merry merry- heart ome way then quietly slipped out through the side door and proceeded down the street He seemed to have been over ver the ground before for he reached his destination by pursuing lanes and byways byways by by- ways where he would not be observed in the costume he still retained It was in the snow snow drifted drifted gardon gar gar- don of ot a neat but humble bumble little cottage cottage cot cot- tage that he ha finally finally finally final final- ly halted Ill do It he spoke to himself It if I can work it Maybe Im I'm not forgotten here He knocked on the door and a a woman opened it I r Dont be scared maam ma'am spoke the We Westerner terner You see Bee Ive I've ju just t been up to the Moody Moodys relatives Moodys-relatives relatives ol of yours I 1 believe believe acting acting Santa Claus Knew that you had a little one here saw the tree and thought maybe 1 I could make her her happier by going through my act Oh would you you cried the lady in quick delight Indeed it ft wo would ld cap the climax of all her Christmas eve eva Joys f t Smuggle me into the room with the Christmas tree suggested the Westerner buoyantly Ill do the tha rest It It was passing strange but conducted conduct- conduct ed into the apartment and halt half hiding hid ing lug behind a screen the Westerner studied the walls of ot the room circumspectly circumspectly circum circum- just as he be had done at the Moody mansion A great glow spread over his face tace as he noticed a portrait over the piano in the special place of ot honor It was wreathed with holly hoUy I and evergreen n. n No not not forgotten that's certain I he uttered in an intense tone I Igue Iguess Iguess guess gue Ive I've landed fn in a real home spot The little one of ot the household came tame in In leading the children ot of some some poor neighbors They screamed and then fluttered with delight as Santy came Into view Then their eyes danced as his jolly manner restored confidence He Ue handed out the presents pres ants from the tree The air quivered with the joyful shouts shout of ot the happy little ones For tor Uncle Reuben he read the card pinned onto an Old worn woolen stocking Wheres he be Come on Uncle Reuben he shouted Into apace and his tone was a sobOh sobOh sobOh sob Oh he isn't here prattled little Esther stepping forward lie He hasn't been for tor two Christmases That's him and she pointed to the holly holly- wreathed portrait Hell Uell come back some time though Mamma says so dont don't you mamma mamma And every Christmas Christ mas I put a nice card in bl his bis old stocking Blocking and then I 1 S save Te them all up t to give to him when he comes back A choking sound came from the throat of the Westerner lIe He turned aside ulde and re reached Leached under his robe It was wal to a great belt buckle abelt a abelt belt bulging with gold Your Christmas gift Mary I h he be cried to the mother of ot little Esther Only a trifle out of a whole mine mineta mine mine- ta te full of ot the stuff tuft and be threw t into her bel lap Then Shen off ot went costume and cal ct Dont know you me Mary Uncle Reuben she ahe gasped Uncle Reuben and Santa Claus both In one onel shouted the Westerner Little Esther Esther comet come And Esther bounded into his hla ar al' s I sn In n a wild transport of ot recognition d dell delight bt i z |