Arizona republican., 1891-12-20

see the end of this thing"
 lie threw off his dressing gown, hur,
 ried into his shoes, overcoat and hat, and
 followed the boots out of the street door
 winch had opened at their approach.
 Down the steps they tripped gayly and
 turned toward the brilliantly lighted
 avenue. The still, starlit night was bit.
 teriy cold, and Lawyer Flint shivered as
 he buttoned his heavy coat close up
 around his neck. Up the street he has,
 tened, following the empty boots, which slipped sideways at every other step and damned their heels into the trodden snow. but made their way rapidly, never theless.
 Around the corner, into the avenue, in and out among the throngs of Christmas eve pedestrians, lodging here and there, stepping on toes, stopping in front of show windows, kicking themselves to- gether and stamping on the ground thus went the old boots, and after them followed the excited lawyer.
 They turned into big store. "Now," thought Lawyer Flint, as he entered the door, "some one will be sure to see them" but strange to say, the boots were entirely unnoticed by the buzzing, laughing, happy people who thronged the store.
 The lawyer leaned against the toy counter and watched the boots as they shutfied around on the floor. ''Something for the little ones?"
 The question was asked by pretty salesgirl, and it was addressed to Har- ders Flint. He started and for the first time realized that he was in rather peculiar position. Why was he standing around there, the people would ask, if he did not wish to buy? How long would he be obliged to remain? He couldn't tell. Should he say that he was waiting for those old boots? No, no; he didn't wish on any account to call attention to the ridiculous perform ance they were going through.
 Yes" he said, coloring, something for the little ones;" and then he went about selecting tin horns, and silver bells, and woolly dogs, and wooden monkeys, and trumpets, and checkers, and dominoes, growing white and red by turns as he thought of the fearful extravaganza, and, glancing furtively, with increasing impatience and anger, at the boots, which seemed livelier than ever as his purchases increased.
 "Seven dollars and forty cents. please" said the salesgirl.
 Into the silver ball went good ten dollar bill! click, click, it shot upward and slid across the cashiers desk, while the lawyer groaned and waited for his change.
 Rattle-te-tat-te, rattle-te-tat-te, rattle te-tat-te, rat-ta-tat! went the old boots close by his side. Several people looked at him with smiles of amusement. Happy time, isn't it:' said jolly little fat man, glancing at the lawyers big bundle. "l feel like dancing myself"
 Change, sir; thank you. Merry Christmas!"
 The exasperated lawyer grasped his bundle and hurried after the boots, which now seemed anxious to get away from the store. When he struck the cold air and again drew his coat around him he seemed somehow to feel less annoy- aLce. The excitement of the chase had warmed his blood. It was a curious feeling that began now to steal over him, ths like of which he had never experi- | eEced before, or at least not for many years, he sail to himself, as he stopped | before candy store and followed the | boots inside.
 Candy for Christmas?" He smiled | almost to think that he. Harders Flint, | should hear such question addressed to | himself, and more astounding yet was the fact that he did want to buy some | candy for Christmas, and that he really | stood there, pocketbook in hand, wait ing for it.
 Rattle-te-tat, te-tat-te-tat!
 A smile broke over the salesgirls face l as she handed him the package of candy, | and away went the lawyer, after the | boots, which seemed determined to give | him lively chase before the evening | was over. Again he was in the biting air, but the warm blood coursed through ! every vein in his body as he hurried | along. Again and again they stopped, until the lawyers purse was nearly | empty and his arms more than full. The old boots seemed fairly wild with de- light, and Lawyer Flint could not, to save his life, help laughing at them as they skipped and slipped and danced along the sidewalk.
 Away they led him. out of the avenue, down the dark side streets, until he heard the sound of children singing. In this direction the old boots hastened and stopped before the house from whence the singing came. Up the steps they went; the door opened, and somehow the lawyer, too much flustered and con- fused to know how it was exactly, found himself in a room filled with children, and lovely lady was saying to him; "Ah! you're in time, sir. Thank you so much. We haven't distributed the pres ents ySs. You will make good many little hearts glad tonight, sir" And ali around him was warmth and light and music and clattering of happy tongues, and altogether such joyous atmosphere us he would not have believed could. pos. siblv exist anywhere.
 Good night! Merry Christmas" The sound rang in his ears as he followed the lively old boots out of the door and back through the dark streets into the avenue.
 "I wonder where they'll take me now?" he said, chucllling and laughing softly. "Gad" he continued, "l had
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