The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-20
Butte.

"The boy is honest, he wouln,t sell ye;
twas his fathers doin'. That's the safest
way, and home by East Lisbon. Hurry on!
hurry on" =
She waved her skeleton arm as he turned
and drove noiselessly down again to the
travelled road, keeping sharp watch, and
then on until an opening in the trees
| showed him a road to the left. Into this
a quarter mile, then blanketinQ his mules,
back on foot to shovel oyerthe trail = ways,
n on once more half uneasy, looking on
every side for a pitfall. Then after wearisome
| miles of unbroken road into a clearing.
| where the lonely little house stood and
| where a child with a big black dog was wait
ing his approach with q curiously frightened
| face, her large eyes like those of a dreamer
ing. N. WAL
He reined in his exhausted mules before
| the door. looking down on the child from
his high seat. "Who are you out this time
o night?" he asked, with a dog a soaring
| folkses teams?"
| children is all abed an is hung up their
| stockin's, but do you know ! never really
believed you'd come, though I told 'em all
| about you." .@ -
'.Crazy as a loon.'' muttered the old man,
must be French Genes young one;w where's
your pa. missy?'
Him an ma an the baby is to granma's
to East Lisbon, an I'm takin' care Of the
house cause Pm to be trusted"
II hope SO" said Jack, slowly, ''.for these
ere mules is beat out. There amt no one
expected, is there. which You was address,
ing fur me?"
II never expected you" she said, brightly,
f'but now you're come. amt IL splendid;
l guess Lonzo'H b'lieve me now"
"And how old might Ionic be2" asked
Jack, cautiously.
Jus 10; am DO you come down the
| ohto,llap and hova vpu unt nraannta in fhQt
sleigh, an be you goin' to fill our stockin's
when I'm asleep?"
1t flashed through Jacks mind then who
the child expectsa; they had been having
+! Christmas cheer at the inn, and he had in
| his sleigh two rare dolls for his little neices'
been 80 DELAYED.
II have got presents for good children as
is QUIET he said slowly. "an' for them as
could hold their tongues bout me bein'
here. want to put up these mules some
hours, git warm, an eat some lunch l have.
You see, bad people is trying to drive me OIL
the earth cause they don't want their chill
dren to believe in me, 80 / come this way"
He half hesitated, she looked SO earnest,
and he could see what an imaginative child
she was--"but / know you children is al
right. So you go in and tuck yourself IN
bed whilst i put up my team for q time.
Afore l 90 I'll come down the chimbley like
a piotur and leave somethin' for Ill or ye.
How many be there?"
"pa, ma, baby nm Lonzo-he's a boy
an Melia, an Lisbeth Ann."
'If there amt huff to go round you kin
leave mo out. cause I'd ruther Lonzo an
them got things on account OF me tellin'
bout you. l thought them fairy horses
never got tired, but ii yourn'e boat out, up
there's the barn an only two COWS in it, nm
two empty stalls an good hay. I'll go right
in to be sure to be sound asleep. wunt
peek Il mite"
Good night, missy, an thank yo," he
said heartily. He smiled later when be
came in and found Il freshly kindied fire
and u plate Of d%oughnuts on the table.
Tho dog. quite friendly now, sat by his side
and sharing his feast, while the cat ambled
about the room, purring loudly. He looked
at the three little fat stockings on the back
of a chair and one long. lean one that must
DO iIobelia's hid modestly behind the table
as If she hesitated to put II out at all.
When dawn, cold and gray, stole into the
chill room Jack reused himself from a com
Portable nap and went for his team. 1leay-
ing them harnessed, he stole back to tho
house, filled the ANAL stockings ana loft
mysterious bundles beside each.
I'm sure the one with the holes Ia the
boys" he muttered; 1.-THE thin ono ia know
'mongst q thousand such plpe.stefl. legs,
but a queer old brain the little missy has
He closed the door softly and went TO Ms
team; they were fresh and willing after the
rest. When the red sun rose over the tree
tops Jack was far on his way through. east
Lisbon and safe from tho revenue officers.
Ionic, full of disbelief, oven scornful