Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-12-26
.CHRISTMAS MONEY.
By MARTHA M0ULlo0H WILLIAMS.
ICopyIiqht. 1890, by tho Author. i

iN1tI q Aa44t5 4N"Nl ny t4il 1AUtiQi+
 4 dozen heads turned to look as Bet ty went up the street to Lawyer Vest field office Though it was coming on to noon of a bright December day there was still 2 biting touch in the air The critical loungers hugged the sunny side of tic street-and even there the wind made them shiver-though to one in rapid motion the day was delight
 Some of it's frosty vitality seemed to radiate from the girl.
 Steps pretty high. oonsiderin, one of those who watched her said to his gossip as the slim shape, 1.-the for all it's huddled shawl, passed out of earshot The girl had looked neither to right nor left. Her cheek wore habitually the fine red 1t now showed, but the most casual glance saw hardening of the lines about the mouth and below the eyes.
 Yes, eonsiderin most of all that she s got ter walk back the seven miles home, q third man said, coming up to the two. He had lurohed down the street in Betty's wake--further he was her close neighbor, John Burley, known to his intimates as Toad
 Now mind whut you say, Toad, D the first speaker admonished. Miss Betty she don't ar you no mighty good will, an solid as she is with her lawyers you better mind how you cut your notch es, else you might git yourself an tho rest O us in CT label suit. ?
 "Aw, go long, you Doc Green. We all know you'd be skeered out O seben years growth ef she jest looked hard at you, Toad returned with a great gulf flaw. "I ain't like you, I know whut I'm talkin erbout, an shore's you re knee high to CT grasshopper that gal has done sold Lightfoot an her eyart an steers too.
 "Wh-e-ee-wI That every hoof O stock thar is on the Walton place, ? Doc said, digging his hands deep in his trousers pockets. It must be she's goin ter quit the ranch.
 "You hush, some one whispered violently, clutching at Doc's coat and nodding toward another who came swinging along the pavement. He was tall, with broad shoulders and level looking eyes that did not fall to the faces about, though he gave the group a comprehensive good morning. He had a fine ear too. It had caught the import of their tal but he made no pause for further spec h.
 "Ain't he ill CT swivel this mornin?" Doc Green asked sareastically. Toad nodded as 1t The third man, Tobe Pellew, sa with a judicial half clos ing of eyel !:
 eShet uF you fellers That's young Lawyer " field, an he'd have you ter understand he Westfelds aint got no uso fer eoAmon folks, except round lection times, when they want our votes. D
 Be 'shamed O yourselves, you all. Ton know as well as I can tell you thar ain,t nobody O clearer grit Ter less stuck up than Ned Westde1d Look how he fought an hung on fer pore Sam Wal. ton, an kn3win all the time he wus bound ter have his trouble fer his pains" Uncle Billy Trotter said severe
 Tie ripple of sarcastic laughter hush c,l itself t9 a sudden quick shame Toad shifted uneasily upon lis feet and said apolQgetiealiy behind his hand:
 tie did that. Pore Sam, tain t q year yit sence he went erway, an m thinkin this'll be CT tur1iblo Chris mus fer him. Whuteyer else he done Sam thought 8 heap O his childem an give 'em Chris'mus money
 Yes, he did Pore old San They had CT dead open an shet case on him, but nobody can make me believe he wus sober enough ter know whut he wus do- in when he took that critter, Doc re- turned in To3d's key, studying the pave- ment as he spoke
 'IIe never teok it, /" Uncle Billy said with emphasis Whisky don't make mon mean l tell you it jest lets loose tine natchul mean in CT fellow. Now, while Sam wa'n5 no saint, neither cut out, an called fer no missionary, he ney- CT had CT mean way erbOut him, her nare drap O low down thief's blood ill him. l told his lawyer so, an wanted ter git on the jury, but the state's attorney wouldn't have it. I'm glad now he wouldn't That thar mutton headed judge rum up country hilt 'em down so fer the law an the fao's they eouldn t do nothin but fetch in CT verdict O guilty But in spite O everything I couldn't sleep O nights of I'd had any hand ill makin of them Walton chil dren heap worse'n orphans "
 But see here, Uncle Billy" Tobe Pellew protested, "now jest look at them fao's. Three witnesses that didn t wanter do it had ter sw ar they seen Sam CT his ghost onhitoh that critter frum the rack, mount an ride off; then he Wus found with the beast an bis own that want wuth nigh as much right vhar he'd been seen ter leave it in the mornin. I know he told CT lame tale erbout CT strange man oyertakin him, banterin him fer CT swap, an when thoy had traded gallonin back the way he had come, but though Ned Vest field raked the county with CT fine tooth comb he couIdn find nare mother soul that lad saw the other man.
 'Still Sam Walton ain't no horse thief. Tnele Billy said stoutly Pel- Iow twiddieG ms fingers anu sa1a reGUa- lively;
 seThat ain't neither here ner thar, Say vol1 all. it's jest two weeks tell