| Show ey 76 paa den mcclure syndicate service T D AVIE stood at the camp window and looked out over the great frozen lake do you think heu hell come right across the ice he mother answered from the kitchen oh santa claus why perhaps darling but not this morning funny boy not before evening such unquestioning five year old fa faith ith and she must watch its betrayal because there going to be any presents there any money suddenly davie screamed with excitement ci cit and his mother went running to look out too why its a deer davie reindeer said davie without any question at all one of santas you think maybe the sleigh tipped over and all the presents spilled ledl I 1 that too bad they watched the graceful creature until it disappeared into the woods on the other side then mother returned to her baking and davie followed its a shame for it to happen just the day before christmas when there wont be time to make arty any more how disappointed all the children in the world will bet bel but you F two small blobs blob appeared far out against the snow wont mind so much will you davie darling because know what happened just think you saw the daerl and he beautiful yes davie drew a long sigh of rapturous memory he fell silent then may I 1 go out and play the eleven sun was warm and she bundled him out suddenly it was one and time for lunch and she had heard no sound from davie for an hour no answer when she called from the door pavie davie in the yard of course he had gone to find the sleigh the tipped over sleigh and the presents how could she have failed to consider the way a childs mind would woul work she dared not leave the baby who had a slight cold nor start out with th her on a search which might last for hours nothing to do then but wait for jock to come in it ir was three before a small blob appeared far out against the snow two small blobs in fact she waited sobbing with relief 1 I find santa claus sleigh mama he explained as soon as he could speak for her kisses but I 1 found his house she lives there and that was one of his reindeer the tracks went right into the yard santa claus was gone there was just a man asleep in the kit kitchen chen 1 I think hes one of the toy makers no that was ned said goldilocks your name dear phillie Ph iUie As the afternoon wore on something familiar about the contour of the little face kept tickling her memory until realization struck golden curls and a blue zipper suit phillie ned ned cozetti of course this was the bentley child phyllis bentley thanksgiving day and given up for dead I 1 jock bending to unlace his snowshoes was met by a whirlwind bundled to its ears in shawls and surrounded by three miniature whirl winds similarly wrapped crank up the car right away weve got to get into town before the telegraph office closes do you know who this child is the whirlwind gave a bounce and grasped his arm phyllis bentley all and her mother thinks ashes dead and this is christmas eve oh hurry davie was gone three hours today and I 1 know just how she must feel and if we get hauled up for driving without a license therell be ten thousand dollars to pay the finel fine |
