VOL. XL
TELLING SANTA CLAU§ HIS WANTS
AGHRISTIHAS DREAM
I
By J. A. WALDRON.
|' _ | DREAMED * dream on
111 Christmas eve that no one, -
| surely, will believe. All will
L f*J discredit It because In It I
was with Banta Claua and
witnessed many things so
queer I hesitate to tell them
here.
Old Santa had just filled his pack
and made It ready for his back. It
holds a million thints or more from
Santa's rare and endless store, and
like some basket magical, though tak
en from 'tis always full.
Though I saw Santa plainly, he
seemed not at all to notice me. He
sat In silence with a map spread oqt
upon his ample lap to mark his course
o'er land and sea while waiting for
' his evening tea.
His cook —he has no wife, you know
—came in and said she meant to go.
She said her job did not quite suit and
he must find a substitute. Cooks
everywhere just grump and gad, and
with most folks they get in bad.
Well, Santa's smile quick left his
face and he ripped up a dress of lace
perhaps Intended for this cook, who
gave him then a wrathful look; and
when she put the teapot down I aaw
her slip from out her gown and drop
Into the teapot quick some sort of
dope with movement slick.
Twould take much more than this, I
think, to drive old Santa Claus to;
drink; that is to say, to ram, per-,
haps, though sometimes he may like
his schnapps. Full many a cap of tea
he quaffed. The more he dragk the
PROFESSIONAL CARDS
JOHN J. HENDERSON
GRAHAM. N. C.
3. CQO Z ,
Attorney-lit- Law,
I H. - • • •, • N. C.
iOw rutaraon Building
Wlmor . . . . .
. RT ILL \ L(H(I, JIL
. DENTIST . . .
- . Wsrt> Caroline
mOM- BUILHIN»>
J. ELMEB LOMO
».NO A LOMO,
...41 mnsalorsalL w
-AH4.M I.
„ . «. H. VERNON
mu4 CMBseter-et-law
oaeiiSU llesUeace 111
■ ' H.I«I.iTON, N L.
Dr. il. J. Bureloot
omoi oru hadlkt's stobe
Leave Meaaagee at Alamance Phar
macy Vliouo 97, ResiJence 'Phone
' ( !5 2-4 p. ui. and by
Ap^.muueiit.
THE ALAMANCE GLEANER.
more he laughed, uuwuuy was his
Jollity, and 1 at first thought I should
flee.
He seized his pack, and full of Joy
! piled me upon it like a toy, and rush
ing forth Into the night began his
world-embracing flight. He used a
sleigh, as we all know, but needed
neither ice or snow. We sailed away
o'er mount and plain, through many
weathers, snow and rain—through
wind and sleet and zero air—though
all the time it seemed quite fair.
A dozen reindeer ran ahead. Their
bells were soundless as they fled, and
all the ghostly journey seemed quite
fttlng In the dream I dreamed. A
continent would lo6m and melt into
an oc-3 ere I felt a moment pass,
and yet between a million Christmas
homes were seen and gifts uncounted
were bestowed from Santa's rich and
boundless load.
Though I upon the top reposed I
was In no way discomposed, for magio
wonders multiplied that night upon our
snowy ride. The greater wonders,
though, to me might have been traced
to Santa's tea, sophisticated by his
cook, and of which he so much par
took; for at the homes of wealth,
where boys and girls bad much,
he left few toys, while poorer
children's wishes found complete ful
fillment on his round; and to strange
■.humors he gave vent as here and
there we quickly went.
t Some men by others well esteemed
got prison wear the while they
dreamed; and others, poor and fur
nished ill, of good things must have
found their fill; and many men of
lean estate awoke to find their riches
great, each one admonished that his
door should always open to the poor.
Fantastic tricks, too, Santa played
on men and women, boy and maid. In
one old spinster's stocking thin I saw
him slip a manikin; In one old bach's
dingy place a woman's form of won
drous grace. Twas wax, of course;
but'twas a hint that ought to stir a
heart of flint. A man with millions
strangely made Old Santa left a hoe
and spade; to one I knew ill-hap had
struck he left a parcel labeled
"Luck;" to pals of mine that For
tune bars he gave next season'* mo
tor cars. This got my goat and I to
see just what he purposed giving me
quite foolishly the silence broke, and
empty-handed I awoke! —Judge.
CHRISTMAS SUPERSTITIONS
- If you will go to the crossroads be
tween eleven and twelve on Christmas
night you will bear what most con
cerns you In the coming year.
If on Christmas eve you make a lit
tle heap of salt on the tftble, and It
melts over night, you will die the
next year; if, in the morning, it re
mains undiminished, you will live.
If a shirt be *pun, woven and
■ewed by a pure, chaste maiden on
| Chriitmas day it will be proof against
lead or steeL
| If you are born at sermon time on
ChrUtmas morning yon can sea spir
its.
If rou burn elder on Christmas ere
you wtll have revealed to you all tbe
witches and the sorcerers of the
neighborhood.
If you eat a raw egg on Christmas
morning, fasting, yon can carry heavy
weights.
It Is unfortunate to carry anything
forth from the house on Christmas
morn! - until something has beea
brought into It
If the Are burns brightly on Christ
mss morning it betokens prosperity;
If it smolders, adversity.
A Husky Fowl.
Willie came ia from tbe shed where
Uncle Rufui was picking a Christinas
chicken for his small city nephew's
dinner.
"Aunt Sue!" be cried as he entered,
"what do you think? Uncle Rufus la
out ia tbe shed husking a hen!"
Hard Times Sure.
Brown—Yon mustn't feel disappoint
ed this Christmas. Johnnie. Tbeee
are terrible times we're having.
* Little Johnnie—They must be pret
ty bard, 'dad, when Santa: Clans takee
the trouble to drag my old cart oat
of tbe lumber-room and give It s
new coat of paint
#' *
Cause fer Sorrow.
Photographer (taking family group)
—Now, then, Mr. Housefull, the ex
pressions are all right but yours. Try
to look happy; remember that Christ
my ii coning
Mr. Housefull (despondently)—
Hang it man. that's just what 1 am
thinking about
GRAHAM, N. C., THURSI)AY, DECEMBER 34, 1914
The Ikiioii Dollar Mystery
- By HAROLD MAC GRATH
Illustrated from Scenes in the Photo Drama of the
Same Name by the Than ho user Film Company
(Copyright, IBM, bjr
CHAPTER 111.
The Safe In the Lonely Warehouse.
The princess did not remain long
after the departure of the police with
the bogus detectives. It had been a
very difficult corner to wriggle out of,
all because Bralne bad added to his
plans after she had left the apart
ment. But, for the advent of the med
dling reporter the coup would have
succeeded, herself apparently perfect
ly Innocent of complicity. That must
be the keynote of all her plans: to ap
pear quite Innocent and leave no trail
behind her. She had gained the con
fidence of Florence and her compan
ion. And she was rather certain that
she had Impressed thla lazy-eyed re
porter and the stolid butler. She had
told nothing but the truth regarding
her relationship. They would find that
out. She was Katrina Pushkin's cousin.
But blood with her counted as naught
She had room In her heart but for two
things, Bralne and money to spend on
her caprices.
How long has your highness known
Mr. Bralne?" asked the reporter idly,
as he smoothed away all signs of his
recent conflict
"O, the better part of a year. Mr.
Hargreave did not recognize me the
other night. That was quite excus- I
able, for when he last saw me I was
not more than twelve. My child," she j
said to Florence, "build no hopes re
garding your mother. She Is doubt
less dead. Upon some trivial matter
I do not know what it was —she was
confined to the fortress. That was
seventeen years ago. When you enter
the fortress at St. Petersburg, you
cease to be."
"That Is true enough."
"I did not recall myself to your fa
ther. I did not care at that moment
to shock him with the remembrance of
the past. Is npt Mr. Bralne a re
markable man?" All this in her charm
ing broken English.
"He Is, Indeed," affirmed Norton.
"He's a superb linguist, knows every
body and has traveled everywhere.
No , matter what subject you bring up
he seems well Informed."
"Come often," urged Florence. '
"I shall, my child. And any time
you need me, call for me. After all, I
am nearly your aunt. You will find
life In the city far different from that
which you have been accustomed to."
Sbe limped down to her limousine.
In tripping up N jrton be had stepped
upon her foot heavily.
"She Is lovely!" cried Florence.
"Well, I must be on my way, also,"
said Norton. "I am a wofldly-wlee
man, Miss Florence. So is Jones here.
Never go any place without letting
him know; not even to the corner
drug store. lam going to find your
father. Some one was rescued. I'm
going to find out whether it was the
aviator or Mr. Hargreave."
Jones drew in a deep breath and his
eyes closed for a moment. At the
door he spoke to the reporter.
"What do you think of that wom
an?"
"I believe that she told the truth.
Sbe is charming."
"Sbe Is. But for all her charm and
truth 1 cannot help distrusting her. I
have an idea. I shall call up your of
fice at the end of each day. If a day
comes without a call, you will know
that something Is wrong."
"A very good Idea." Norton shook
hands with everyone and departed.
"What a brave, pleasant young
man I" murmured Susan.
"I like him, too; and I'd like him
for a friend," said the guileless girl.
"It ia very good to have a friend
like Mr. Norton," added Jonea; aud
passed out into the kitchen. All the
help had been discharged and upon
his shoulders lay the burden of the
cooking till such time when he could
reinstate the cook.
There was a stormy scene between
Bralne and the princess that night.
"Are you in your dotage?" she asked
vehemently.
"There, there; bring your voice
down a bit. Where's the girl —■——
"In ber home. Wlfefe did you sup
pose sbe would be, after that botch
work o( letting me go to do one thing
wblle you bad In mind another? And
an ordinary pair of cutthroats, at
that!"
"The thought came to ma after you
(eft I knew you'd recognise the meflfc ■
and understand. I see no reason wby
it didn't work."
It would have been all right if you
bad consulted a clairvoyant"
"What tbe deuce do you mean
that?" Bralne demanded roughly.
"1 mean that then you would bare
learned your Mend tbe reporter was
to arrive upon tbe scene at Ita most
vital moment"
"What, Nortoer
"Tea. The trouble U with you, you
have been so suceeesful all these yean
that you bare grown overconfident 1
tell you that there la a desperately
tfirewd man somewhere hack of all
thla. Mark me, I do not believe Har
greave la dead. He ia In hiding. It
may be near by. He may have dropped
from tbe balloon before it left land
Tbe man they picked up may be Orts.
tbe aeronaut Tbe five thousand might
>ave been bis fee for rescuing Har
greave. Hare la tbe greatest thing
we're ever beea up against; and you
•tart in with every day methoda!"
"Little woman, dont let your tongue
run away with you too far."
1 "I'm not tbe least bit afraid of rou, /-
Leo. Ton need me. and It has never
beea more apparent than at this mo
ment"
"All right I fell by tbe wayside
thla trip. Truthfully. I realised It five
minutes after the men were gone. The (
"U $ - . . A
r Harold MaoOrtth)
onfy clever Qilng f did was fo keep
the mask on my face. They can't
come back at me. Bat the thing looked
so easy; and it would have worked
but (or Norton's appearance."
"You all but compromised me. That
butler worries me a little." Her ex
pression lost its anger and grqx
thoughtful. "He's always,about, some
where. Do you think Hargreave took
him Into his confidence?"
' "Can't tell. He's been watched
straight for 40 hours. . He hasn't
mailed a letter or telephoned to any
place but the grocery. There have
been no telegrams. Some one in that
house knows where the money is, and
It's ten to one that it Xvill be the girl."
"She lookes enough like Katrlna to
be her ghost."
tiraine went over to the window
and etared up at the stars.
"You have made a good Impression
on the girl?" with his back still to
ward her.
"I had her in my arms."
"Olga, my hat is off to you," turn
ing, now that his face was again In
repose. "Your very frankness regard
ing your relationship will pull the
wool over their eyes. Of course
they'll make Inquiries and they'll And
out that you haven't lied. It's perfect.
Not even that newspaper weasel will
see anything wrong. Toward you
' they will eventually ease up and you
I can act without their even dreaming
your part In the business. We must
not be seen in public any more. This
butler may know where I stand even
though he cannot prove it Now, I'm
going to tell you something. Perhaps
you've long slnce'guessed It. Katrlna
was mine till Hargreave—never mind
what his name was then —till Har
greave came Into the fold. So sure
of her was I that I used her as a lure
to Tiring him to us. She fell In love
with him, but too late to warn him. I
had the satisfaction of seeing him cast
her aside, curse her. and leave her. In
one thing she fooled us all. 1 never
knew of the child till you told me."
He paused to light a cigarette.
• "Hargreave was madly In love with
her. He cursed her, but he came back
to the house to forgive her, to And
that she had been seized by the secret
police and entombed In the fortress. I
had my revenge. It was I who sent In
the information, practically But
In Russia they never question; they
act and forget. So he had a daugh
ter!"
He began paring the floor, his hands
behind hie back; and the woman
watched him, oscillating between love
and fear. He came to a halt abruptly
and looked down at her.
"Don't worry. Y ou have no rival.
I'll leave the daughter to your tender
mercies."
t "The butler," she said, "has full pow
ers of attorney to act for Hargreave
while absent, up to the day the girl
becomes of legal age."
"I'll keep an eye on our friend Jones.
From now on, day and there will
be a cat at the knothole', and 'ware
mouse! Could you make up anything
like this glrlT" suddenly.
"A fair likeness."
"Do It. Oo to the ship which picked
'up the man at sea and quiz the cap
tain. Either the aviator or Hargreave
is alive. It Is important to learn which
;at once. Be very careful; play the
game only aa you know how to play It
And If Hargreave I* alive, we win. To
morrow morning, early. Tears of an
guish, and all that. Sailors are easy
when a woman weeps. No color, re
member; just the yellow wig and the
salient features.* Now, by-by!"
i "Aren't you going to kiss me, Leo?"
He caught her hands. "There la a
jspecles of Delilah about you, Olga. A
kiss tonight from yonr lips Would'snip
my locks; and I need a clear head.
Whether we fall or win, * when this
game Is played you shalMe my wife."
He kissed the hands aqkstrode oat
Into the hall. , 'q
j The woman gaxed down'at ber smill
white hands and smiled tenderly. (The
tigress has h[-tender moments!) Ha
'meant HI 4
She went Into her dressing room and
for an hour or more worked over her
; face and hair, till she waa certain that
If the'captaln of the ship described hsr
'to anyone else he could not fall to give
a fair description of Florence Har
_greave.
• But Norton reached the captain first
!Other reporter* bad besieged him, but
they had succeeded in gathering the
vaguest kind of Information. They had
no description of Hargreave,
Norton had. Before going down to the
•boat, however, he had delved into the
past of the Prtnceee Olga Peri go If.
coat him a pocketful of money, but the
end justified the means. The prinoess
bad no past worth mentioning. By
piecing this and that together be be
came assured that she had told the
simple truth regarding the relationship
to Florence's mother. A cablegram
had given him all the facts in her his
tory; there were mo gape or discrep
ancies ft read clear and frank. Tn«t
a Russian secret agent to know what
he was talking about
Bo Norton's suspicions—and bs bad
entertained some—wire completely
lulled to sleep. And he wouldn't have
doubted ber at all except for the fast
that Ursine bad been with her wbeo
be had Introduced Hargreave. Har
greave had feared Bralne; that much
the reporter had elicited from the but'
/ler. But there wmant the slightest
evidence. Bralne had been In New
York for nearly six years. The princess
bad arrived In the city but a year gone.
And Bralne was a member of several
fashionable clubs, never touched cards,
and seldom drank. He waa an expert
• - ——.—~—-———
; *• > -. , / , ,
h* ■
cbees player ana A wonderful amateur
billiardlst. Perhaps Jonea, the taciturn
and inscrutable, had not told him all
he knew regarding his master's past.
Well, well; he had In bla time un
tangled worae snarls. The ofllce had
. turned htm loose, a free lance, to
handle the case as he saw fit, to turn
In the atory when it was complete.
But what a story it was going to be
when, he cleared It up! The more mys
tifying it was, the greater the zest and
sport for him. Norton was like a
IfjaflflßflL M
"I Am Not Afraid of You, Leo."
gambler who played for big stakes,
and only big stakes stirred his crav
ings.
The captain of the tramp steamer
Orient told him the same tale he had
told tbe other reporters; he had picked
up a man at sea. The man had been
brought aboard totally exhausted.
"Was there another body any
where?"
No." ■.
"What became of him?"
"I sent a wireless and that seemed
to bother him. It looked so that be did
not want anybody to learn that he had
been rescued. The moment the boat
touched the pier he lost himself In tho
crowd. Fifty reporters came aboard,
but be was gone. And I could but tell
them Just what I'm telling you."
"He bad money." ,
"About five thousaiid."
"Please describe him,"
Tbe captain did so. It was the same
description he had given to all the re
porters. Norton looked over the rail
at the big warehouse.
"Was it an ordinary balloon?"
"There you've got me. My Marconi
man says the balloon part was like
any other balloon; but the passenger
oar was a new business to him. It
could be driven against the wind."
"Driven against the wind. Did you
tell this to the other chaps?" ,
"Don't think I did. Just remem
bered It Probably some new inven
tion; and now It's at the bottom of the
sea. . Two men, as I understand it,
went off In this contraption. One Is
gone for good."
"For good," echoed the reporter
gravely, (lone for good, Indeed, poor
devil I Norton took out a roll of bills.
"There'a two hundred In this roll."
"Well?" said the captalu, vastly as
tonished.
"It'a yours If you will do me a
•mall favor."
"If It doesn't get me mixed up with
the police. I'm cihly captain of a
tramp; and some of the harbor police
have taken a dislike to me. What do
you want me to do?"
' "The police will not bother you. This
man Hargreave had some enemies;
they want either bis life or his money;
maybe both. It !■ a peculiar case, with
Russia In the background. He might
have laid the whole business before
the police, but he chose to fight It out
himself. And to tell the truth, I don't
believe the police would have done
any good."
"Heave her over; what do you want
me to do for that handsome roll of
money?"
"If any man or woman who 1s not a
reporter comes to pump you tell tbom
the man went ashore with a packet un
der hl» arm."
"Tie a knot In that"
"Say that tbe man was gray haired,
clean •haven, straight, with a scar
high up on his forehead, generally cov
ered up by hi* hair." u
"That's battened down, my lad. Go
on." t. ..
"Say that you aaw blm enter yonder
wtrehouse, and later depart without
bU packet"
"Easy as dropping my mudbook."
"That's aIL" No: ton gave the cap
tain tbe money, "tiood-by aud many
thanks."
"Don't mention It"
Norton left the slip and proceeded to
tbe office of tbe warehouae. He ap
proached the manager** desk.
"Hello, Oraqnla, old top!"
Tbe man lodtad up from hi* work
surlily. Then bla face brightened.
"Norton? What's brought you here?
O, yea; that balloon bualnea*. Sit
down."
"What kind of a man I* the captain
of that old hooker In tbe slip?"
"Shifty In gun running, but other
wise as square as a die. Looks funny
to see an old tub like that fixed up
wltb wireless; but that has saved bis
neck a dozen times when be was run
ning It into a noose. Not going to In
terview me. are your'
"No. I'm going to ask you to do ma
a little favor."
"They always say that But spin
her out. If It doesn't cost mo my job,
it's yours."
"Well, there will be a person mak
ing Inquiries ahnnt the mysterious
(Continued on 4th page.)
I The Gift That 8
| Tipped the
Scales
| By LILLIAN DUCEY |
KS2S2S2SdSaSESESHS2SHS2SESES2S2SS
(Copyright bj SjrnillotU)
IS long as Caljsta's money
held out she went gayly
about her Christmas shop
ping. When sbe found
tbat her tiny purse was
empty, sbe stopped buy
ing—wherein she showed
grcator wisdom than many
grown-ups—and with a
soul replete with satisfac
tion she left the store.
"I've got pretty much
most everything, 1 guess,"
she said to herself, hug
ging her bundles close as
she tripped along the coun
try streets. "But I'll know
for sure when 1 get home."
And when sbe reached
home the very first thing
eho did was to array the
gorgeous gifts upon tbe
wblte spread of her lit
tle bed. Christmas was
two days away. There
fore it was imperative
tbat sbe begin tbat very
moment to put them In
order. Then like an em
bodied cyclone she burßt
into her elder sister's room, intent
upon tissue paper and seals and all the
other necessities for making beautiful
Christmas bundle*.
What Calista saw there made her
freeze In her tracks, as if tbe high
wind of Destiny, which had borne her
thus far. bad suddenly become a dead
calm. Margaret, her beautiful, -lovely
Margaret was standing with tightened
lips that twitched and quivered. In
her hand, which hastily dropped to
her side, but not before Calista had
seen, was clutched a photograph. And
the whispered words on her lips re
peated themselves over and over In
CaUita's mind, while amazement held
her dumb. "It grows worse, the ache
—worse as the days go by." Not until
Calista had interpreted the meaning
of those words did she find her voice;
then she said blandly:
"1 came for— I'm wrapping up my
Christmas bundles." Seeing what she
wanted lying on Margaret's desk, sbe'
went for them.
Meanwhile, a brave control touched
tbe quivering Hps of tbe elder girl. She
was Indeed fortunate, she thought
that It was only Calista who had dis
covered her momentary aberration.
For that was what It was. How could
It be anything else? What girl with
any pride would allow »>«r*elf tp—
No, sbe hadn't cried! The man did
not live who could make ber weep
for him.
"You'll return what you don't need,
Callata. dear?" she said, sweetly.
"Yes," answered Calista briefly, and
went.
And then. Just to prove to herself
that she had regained her sanity., Mar
garet Wesley looked again at that pic
ture In her hand—looked, and felt a
quick contraction of the throat, a sud
den piercing sting upon ber eyeballs.
And down upon the picture dropped a
tear.
Calista, on the other side of the door,
was saying to herself;
"She was going to cry. Her eye*
were teary. It was Jasper'* picture
■he was trying to hide." And then,
childlike, In spite of her surprise the
gathering forces of her sympathy were
completely overwhelmed to the de
mands of Christmas. And why not?
After all. Calista'* mind was too youth-,
ful to be deeply concerned about
lover's quarrels and broken engage
ments and such things. And she had
made tuch marvelous purchase*.
Indeed as they lay spread out on the
bed It did seem as If only a genius or
a little girl could have reached *uch
decisions. -There was.a really lovely
box of handkerchiefs, embellished
with the pinkest of pink paper, for
mother. That gift had put • tremen
dous hole In her pocketbook. And a
pair of suspenders for daddy. Those
two presents were tbe first purchased,
snd wblle Calista still held the leash
In her fancy. Afterward, let the sad
truth be revealed at once (but then
Callfta was such a little girl, how
could she be expected to prove bigger
minded and stronger than grownup*?),
■he luccumbed to this Intoxication of
glittering, gleaming, glowing displayed
ware*.
"For brother Jim—that nice green
tie." Calista hummed softly to herself
—a tune Improvised for the occasion
"For al*t*r Nell—that *tory book. I
hope she reads It all to me. And
baby boy can have tbat rattle. Uncle
Fred that nice glass pitcher." She
paused and added sot to voce: "I got
It In the beautiful Ten Cent (tore.
And be'* going to be married, so be
can use It" Then the song went on—
"Ar.d Auntie Madge that box ol
sosp" Tbat was from tbe Ten Cent
store also, but then each cake was
done up In shiny red psper, snd there
were three rake* In a box. "And (la
ter Kate a string of beads. "Once mor«
tbe song reverted to everyday speech:
"Maybe she'll lend them to me once
In s wh'le 'cause I gave them to ber."
"And sister Margaret—" Calista
paused agbast Tba one thing tbat
nad not been apportioned was a tiny
set of dl*he*—also from thst beautiful
Ten Cent store. Bbe looked over the
gifts. Some were already wrapped,
for all the while sbe sang ber nimble
fingers had been busy. But ber gen
ius solved tbe problem.
"Well," she *aid reflectively, "sbe
can nse them for sn ornament on ber
desk maybe, and I'll promise to dust
them for ber. I like little dishes."
But having clsared that hurdle an
other presented Itself almost Imme
diately. On a flooding onset of mem
ory Calista remembered tbat shs had
fully Intended when shs,started out to
————^—— [
■Ma nHf . gfor H HBf
' WmM* 1 ?''^■Hg
Ep#^W t ■&%*•"' ; M:'
F V# ~ N _ -^
P* ' *' \ JBHI
/"****~ " * * I
A ship cam* In from the Land of Nodi
Its daclc waa whit* as snow.
It bora no tow'ring maats abovet
No anchor chalna balow.
Ita email, apring -boqdmed mattress-holl
Was ladatvl>JXti4rith wealth,
Which Btraoitl/ had baan placed aboard
En voyage hist I by stealth.
get something for Jasper—tne oromer
that was to bare been, bat now wasnt
to be, as sbe explained It to ber mind.
For In Callsta'a loyal little heart
burned a steady flame of liking for
the man who could treat little girls
with the consideration he had be
stowed upon her.
This was a dilemma. And for the mo
ment Callsta actually thought of rob
bing her real brother Jim of the glo
rious green tie. Jim, just two years
older, was a "pig" to her sometime*.
Dut then sbe remembered that Jasper
never wore any but black ones on ac
count of hlii red hair, aa he bad ex
plained to her at one time.
It was Indeed a perplexing problem
to say the least. For had It been any
one but Jasper she might confide In
some one—her mother, or even Mar
garet—and negotiate a loan.
"I guess he'll have to go without,"
she concluded almost sadly.. And cu
riously a dusk of dreama crept Into
her blue eyes. "Unless —unless I give
blm something of my own." But a
mental review of her most cherished
possessions failed to reveal anything
suitable for a big grown-up man.
Then even as sbe gave up the prob
lem her despslrlng musing awoke to
life with a delighted, "Oh!" As she
pondered she had been gaxlng directly
at the framed picture of Margaret
which stood on her little dresser.
Callsta was nothing If not master
ful In the manner In which -ahe
reached ultimate decisions —and then
lived up to them. Less than a minute
after she had allotted Jasper that
forget-me-not framed face sbe was
also promising him a note. For
Callsta really had a fellow feeling of
understanding for the man —especially
about that picture.
"Dear brother Jasper, that was to
have been," I)er_]etter ran. "1 am
sending you for a Christmas present
the picture of Margaret which you
returned when you sent back the
other presents sbe gave you. I know
you will like to have It again. I know
how you feel. Just most like the day
I threw the peanuts at Kitty Mar
sbal's head when she put them In my
lap and I was mad at ber. Only being
a big man and not a little girl you
can't do 'xactly what I did. Of courss
I waa mad—but I did want the pea
nuts. 80 after she was gone and no
body was looking I picked them up
again. Nobody'll know you got the
picture, 'cause I won't telL- Anyway
Margaret's got one of yours she didn't
send back. I guess 'cause she ain't
such a maddy cat as we. It's our red
hair.
"Tour faithful and loving,
"CALISTA."
"P. B. A merry Christmas. If yon
want to send me a present send it to
Margaret Instead. Without being un
faithful to her, I will close by ]uft
saying her ache grows worssr wltn
the days."
The gift and the letter were done up
and duly delivered the next morning.
Amid the stress of holding prepara
tions Callsta did not experience the
necessity of being secretive. She
walked up to the Hemingway's door, a
little rlrl bursttnc wlrt. reason's
joy, snf saia rj »a-»er's mother:
"It's—lt's my Christmas present to
Jasper! No reason—ls there? —why 1
shouldn't ' give my dear Jasper, one?"
And with a shy little laugh sbe scam
pered off.
And then the wheels of Fate spun
round and round, having been given a
very vigorous start by Callsta.
Christmas morning dawned clear
and white-bound The drifting cloud
banka had left the heavens during the
night and settled with feathery light
ness on the earth, had made Calleta'a
world a beautiful amphitheater, snow
muffled to an echo, wherein sleigh
bells tinkled merrily and Joyous voice*
rang giadsomely. It waa an Meal
Christmas Day. > And perfect It proved
to Calista.
Callsta was steeped la bliss. But
net any more so than it ahe had re
ceived but two or three of the many,
many gifts heaped upon her by ador
ing relatlvea. And It waa not until
afternoon that her mase of Joy began
to take on coherency, and ahe began
to link In her mind the gifta to their
donor*. Then it was that she remem
bered ber sister's former betrothed.
"Did you receive anything.from Jas
per, Margaretf she blurted out Par
tunately they were alone, the rest of
the family having gone to Aunt
Madge's house for a little visit -But
since Callsta had a cold, Margaret
NO. 45
The ridppar of this freighted craft
Was quite a careless sort.
The cargo ha did Dot espy,
TUI he bore into port.
And than upon the portsids bow.
In raptnrea be did kneel.
For Santa Claua 1s no mar* dreara.
And Christina* toys are REALI
— q*mk nmroan
•tayeo at home wltn ner.
Margaret, who had been staring :
with dream-haunted eyes Into vacancy, >
started aa If some white hot bread '
That's Funny."
had touched her. Bat the next mo- i
ment, aa If remembering that thl* 4
searing must be endured, she an
swered sweetly:
"No, dear."
"That's funny." Callsta had noted
th* start and now was taking *by
stock qT her. "I didn't either. Andl
thought he'd give one of u* a Christ
mas present"
Margaret added nothing to prolong
thl* conver*ation, and apparently
Callsta was too Intent upon going ber J
own way In thought to continue it J
perforce, tor silence fell botwooajM
them.
And It was Into this silence thaJpM
the telephone tore vehemently.
"Let me! Let me!" shouted Callsta." ™
And before Margaret could utter a
word of protest she had the receiver.
Then assuming an Important air of a
grown-upness she attended to the af
fair In hand.
"Hello! Yes, this is 4237 J. Tee. ;
this Is Callsta. Oh! Did you like It?
Did you? I—yes.l—yes. 1 thought yoe
would I— *
For a moment The slipped her very
proper telephone manner and became
the eeger little girl. The next she
waa back again doubly dignified at
tone.
"I suppose you didn't give any
Christmas presents this year. Mar
garet says you didn't give her any—l
asked her—and you didn't send me
anything—"
"Callsta!" It was Margaret's voice,
quivering, questioning. "Who!"
Callsta waa Intent on the phone.
"Tea," she was saying, "you saw
them going to Auntie Madge's Tea.
all but Margaret and me. Yes, of
course she'll talk to you—when 1 get
through. Now! You can't wait to
bear ber voice! I moat say Jasper
Hemingway /that you're very rude
end impolite. I wanted to tell you
about all the Christmas present* I
got Yes, I will be mad. I am. But
111 tell her."
Meanwhile a white face waited at
Callsta'* side. From It great tear
washed eyee stared Incredulously.
"Here—" Callsta waa oblivious to
the insistent tide of human emotion
■urging about her, aa she held the
receiver toward Margaret "He say*
to tell you he waa In the wrong and
he's ready to go down on his knees ,
to ask you to forgive him. And he
aays to emphasise the 'down on your
knee*.'"
Margaret put out a hand. It was a
wild yearning geeture with which she
bent to hear that voice. And Callsta. , :
going into the next room, noted the
sudden light that flew to her face>
Incredibly transformed she waa from
th* dream-haunted girl of a few mo- ;i
ments ago. And without really un
deratandlng how she, a little girl, had
made a hot-tempered man ashamed
of himself, Oallsta yet knew that she >||
had tipped the scales of chance.
"I did it" ahe whispered to herself .
"My Chrlatmas preaent made him glad /
SUBSCKIBBFOB |
•h- ' ■ ££ , v •