The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-04-29
THEIR FIRST CHRISTMAS.

The sparkling Christmas morning o!
1889 saw o strange and early commo-
ton in suburban corner OF the city
OF X. During the night O heavy snow
had fallen as though to obliterate the
dark traces of sin from the earth,
freshly preparing for new life, new
HIGHT, a nobler day. But man had
already frustrated the purpose OF
nature; the black tracks crossing in
every direction seemed like highways
OF crime. In one instance, at least,
they we're so, if the whispers Of groups
gathered about the villa OF Joseph
Hollister were to be believed. These
groups were composed OF all species Of
humanity, from the squalid under
sized girl bearing an diversified baby
with big, pasty face, to the tramps
iurtively watching the knot OF prom
inent citizens discussing the revela.
tlons OF the night. Two policemen
paced to and fro at the front and side
of the villa, Inside its open door
q third officer could be seen,
-Gubmissively listening to an
authoritative soldierly man in
plain clothes Grave gentlemen
conversed in the dining room.
Maids with scared faces fitted up and
down the stairs. When distant doors
were softly opened the deep sobbing
ola woman could momentarily be
heard, and strange, labored sound,
ad If some fine mechanism were slowly
summing down. Both were sounds to
make one shudder.
Two hours earlier, the authority in
plain clothes, hastily summoned, had
gathered thesef facts. Joseph Hollister,
O respected merchant, had been awak-
ened by unusual sounds outside his
door. Springing up to investigate, he
found the gas burning brightly in the
entry, some figures going, catlike,
down the stairs, and q masked man
confronting him, covering the retreat
Of Others with their booty. Towards
Ghis man HOLSTER sprang, unarmed.
In the tussle which ensued, the burg
lar lost his mask. Freeing an arm he
shot his antagonist in the side. As
Hollister fell, u second shot was sent
TO ensure his silence, but he still
lived, though the moments of his life
were briefly numbered, to the regret
OF everyone who knew the upright,
honorable gentleman. The only fault
with him in this practical age was
thus expressed by his close friend,
DR.. Grant "Hollister is q grain too
fine for rough use, but what can you
expect OF o theosophist who believes
that even brutes-and human brutes
have souls2"
DR.. Grant presently came down
stairs with that exaggerated creaking
which attends the efforts OF we'll
meaning persons to walk with UNI
wonted quiet. To him Captain
OF the detective force ad-
dressed himself
GLOW is he Doctor"
"Sinking fast"
"Conscious?"
"His mind clear as q bell!"
"GS@d" Scofield twirled his hat
with satisfaction,
"WhyY"
az think we've got one of the
crowd"
"The man who shot himY"
perhaps"
ain Gods name be quick then.
HOLSTER could still identify him."
"He's here. Prepare your man."
With q conplacent sense of being
beforehand with the doctor, Scofeld
pointed towards the walk. Two de-
tectives with hand-cuifed man be-
tween them had alighted from o close
carriage and were coming towards the
house, accompanied by the noise of
the eager crowd and the taps of their
fellow officers clubs upon the too OBJ
rrusive bodies.
ats Jim Hogan; l suspected his
gang and found Jim at his lodgings,
quiet'enough but too sleepy for a pro-
iiessional thief, abed in wet boots.
The mask about fits him and the job
was worked in his style, but Mr.. Hol-
lister can settle the question.
"0t course" said the doctor,
''you've done sharp work, Scolield.
I'd better be as quick with mine" He
Eetraced his steps. 1t was a melan-
'eholy scene which met his eyes on
opening bedroom door. Accustom.
ed as he was to such, he was sharply
impressed by the opened windows
counting every breath OF the cold
heavens for laboring lungs; the
heavy stagnant odors of drugs,
liniments and dried blood; the
injured man propped high in pill
lows, CHASTITY, drained OF life, but
meeting his questioning look with eyes
as steady as his own. The deepgentle-
ness, the calm serenity OF those eyes,
the firmness of lips drawn by pain,
the hand lovingly laid upon the head
Of a young and beautiful woman who
knelt by the bedside in all the aband-
onment OF grief, were all so many wit
nesses, to HOLSTERS friend of the
magnitude OF the coming loss. At the
foot of the bed woman held fresh,
cooling babe in her arms. The little
enc gurgled at its father, reached out
and struggled to 90 to him. A second
child, splendid boy Of four, his eyes