Show F 4 CHRISTMAS THE CAROL ra s by helen waterman HE christmas spirit if su such ch THE a sprite there be must have fled in dismay from old silas wentworth for a crustier coustier cru stier harder less christmas spirited man would be hard to imagine yet sally blaine his clerk and bookkeeper had the temerity to bring christmas into the store stringing lines of tinsel old silas coming to work stopped and stared at this unusual addition to the colored globes and patent medicines with which his windows were adorned sally blaine rather frightened now looked up merry christmas mr wentworth silas surveyed the store grimly take it down but sally hesitated 1 I said take it down more of your tool fool notions this dickens christmas carol sir he thrust the book on a back shelf humpal dont let me catch you reading on the job yes sir im sorry about the decorations at nine on christmas eve silas saw out his last customer and began putting up the shutters it was beastly cold and his numb fingers were slow at their task As he was about to lock up he was confronted by two men one carrying a revolver let us in and lock the door said the man silas his teeth chattering from more than cold complied now if youre quiet you wont get hurt said the spokesman my pal here has had an accident I 1 N silas surveyed the store grimly take it down n need eed some medicines be paid all right of course of course silas answered and brought out a stock ot supplies the wounded man spoke up sorry to keep you on christmas eve buddy silas grunted tommyrot IP the other man had been rummaging about the store here he commanded 1 I cant watch what youre doing so you read aloud until I 1 get through and he handed silas christmas carol he was scarcely halt half way through when the men paid him and left he threw the book down and started off but at the door he turned and sitting by the night light read again so like me he muttered as he finished from the wastebasket he drew out the tinsel and strung it awkwardly around the store he looked looke d through ej 1 his s accounts marked overdue and selected several bills ach which lie he marked paid in full tt t and put in proper P envelopes then T he his got w wraps raps merry christmas silas 11 he ex clai M ed and a went ent out to the the dawn wn in 9 of f his first years merry one in many y a western newspaper U union |