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Show ANOTHER H mr. fm scrooge hm Tanner M3mW cutest?" Wade saw only a very crudely crude-ly fashioned calendar but Larson waa smiling and his eyes were moist. "My little five-year-old made that all by herself. I tell you I'd rather bava that than almost anything," was the proud boast "She couldn't wait until tomorrow to give It to me," the man chuckled. "Funny," mused Wade, "how much those things mean sometimes." Ha remembered a foolish little penwiper bidden away In his dresser the work of Helen's five-year-old fingers several sev-eral years ago but he remembered bow happy they both were over It "It's a good thing people drop their ' grouches once a year and can speak decently to a fellow." "Do you mean Christmas r Wade asked the man at bis side. "Sure," was the reply. "Some people peo-ple In this office grouch all year, but Just as soon as Christmas comes, they're all smiles." "Working for a present, maybe," was the comment "No, they aren't," was the emphatic answer. 'They're all talking about what they're going to give not get No sir I They Just forget themselves once a year and remember there ara others on earth. And a good thing, too, say I." Wade thought about It many times that day. Maybe Anderson was right 1HEKE was to be no exchange of Christmas gifts that year, (31 In the family, as Gordon ft I Wade had made very plain. K. tJr J This Christmas "stuff" was VofttPo all "the bunk," anyway YllK time and money wasted, Just UrT to help the merchants sell their goods. Half of the things no one wanted either to give or receive. It didn't mean a thing any more If It ever did he rather doubted If It ever did. So his mind was quite free on that subject as he stopped for his morning morn-ing puper the day before Christmas. "Ain't Christmas grand?" the newsboy news-boy asked, bis face wreathed with smiles. "Do you think so?" tbe man asked as he paid for his paper. "Sure!" whs the enthusiastic reply. "Ain't we goin' ta have a tree at the church tonight?" pointing across the itreet, "with candy and nuts, and everything. ev-erything. And tomorrow a dinner? I'll say It's grand 1" Then "Oh, wait a minute, mister," he called after the retreating nyin who quickly turned. "Lookl" display-playing display-playing a red glass pin for the man's Inspection. "Ain't this a peach 1" proudly. "It's for my Mom. She Just loves Jewelry. 'Course this nln't good enough for her, but Its the best I It would be rather strange not to have any of the usual excitement of Christmas preparations at home. Junior was "a great kid." lie certainly cer-tainly did want that bicycle. And Helen would be as proud as a peacock pea-cock with that wrist watch she had been talking about so much. And Jamie, "the little scamp," he surely would be disappointed If that football wasn't there tomorrow morning. And Qrace bless her heart she was the best wife and mother possible. She deserved something mighty fine. They were all a "fine bunch," and nothing was too good for them. And he was going to show them that be thought so, too. Was there time enough yes, If be hurried. After telephoning borne be would be late ; off he rushed shouting "Merry Christmas" as he went Hours later on the train on his way home he was too happy to think of how tired he was. "It was Just a ease of another Mr. Scrooge," be chuckled to himself. (). 1929. Western Newspaper Union.) could afford." Then with a sigh, "I sure hope she likes It." "Of course she will," the man reassured re-assured him. "I sure hope so. Merry Christmas, mister." "Merry Christmas," returned the man. Late thnt day one of the men laid before him a package. "Isn't that the |