Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1896-12-26
CHRISTMAS MONEY.
By MARTHA X'CU.IoCH WILLIAMS.


l IVY NAHots Ac<Na " NNt AutuoI.l
] A dozen heads turned to look as Bet
~ went mp the street TO Lawyer West
6sld's oface. Though il was coming on
60 neon OF bright December day there
was still q biting touch in tie air. The
critical loungers rugged the sunny side
Of the gtreet-aDd even there the wind
made them shivor--thorgh to one in
rapid motion the day was q delight.
Some OF it's frosty vitality seemed TO
radiste from the girl.
Steps pretty high. considerin," one
OF those who watched her said 20 his
gossip as she slim shape, 1.-the for all its
huddled shawl. passed out of earshot
The girl had looked neither to right nor
left. Her cheek wore habitunlly the fine
red IL now sbewed. but the most casual
glance saw q hardening Of the lines
about che mouth and below the eyes.
Yes. considerin most Of all that she's
got ter walk back the seven miles
home" third man said. coming up to
abe two. He had lurohed down the street
IN Betty's wake-further, he was her
close neighbor, John Burnley, known to
g his intimates as Toad.
'Now mind whut you say, Toad,
che first speaker admonished- miss
betty she don't bar you no mighty good
win. an solid as she is with her lawyers
you better mind how you cut your notch
-, else you might git yourself an the
rest o. Us in er label suit. -
q saw, go long, you Doc Green. We
all know you'd be skeered out o. seben
Hsars' growth eff she Jest looked hard at
1ou." Toad returned with great GUT
faw.s II amt like you. know whit
I'm talkin erbout, an shores you're
knee high to er grasshopper that gal has
done sold Lightfoot an her cyart an
steers too.
''Wh-e-ee-wl That every hoof o. stock
thar Il on the Walton place, Doc said,
digging his hands deep in his trousers
pockets cit must be she's goin ter quit
khe ranch. -
"You hush," some one whispered
violently, clutching at Docs coat and
nodding toward another who came
swinging along the pavement. He was
rail-. with broad shoulders and level
Cooking eyes that did not fall to the
kaces about. though he gave the group a
comprehensive good morning He had =
Ane ear too. 1t had caught the import
OF their talk, but he made no pause for
further speech.
: "Ain't he IN er swivel this mornin?''
Doc Green asked sarcastically. Toad
nodded assent. The third man, lobe
Pellew, said with judicial half clos
ing OF eyelids:
b s'Shet up. you fellers That's young
Lawyer Westfield, an he'd have you ter
understand the Westfields amt got no
us fer common folks, except round
Election times, when they want our
votes -
! ''Be 'shamed o. yourselves, you ALL
lXor know as well as can tell you thar
nin't nobody o clearer grit ner less
stuck up than Ned Westfield. Look how
he fought an hung on fer pore Sam Wal
ton, an KNOWN all the time he was
bound ter have his trouble fer his
palms." Uncle Billy Trotter said severe
ly-
The ripple of sarcastic laughter hush-
ed itself to y sudden quick shame. Toad
shifted uneasily upon his feet and said
alphabetically behind his hand:
HE did that Pore Sam, faint a
yesr yit sence he went erwsy. an I'm
hinkin this u - ar turrible Chris mus
Ger him Whatever else he done Sam
thought heap o. his children an give
'sm Christmas money"
eyes, he did. Pore old Saml They
had er dead open an shet case on him,
bat nobody can make me believe he wus
sober enough ter know whut he wus do
An when he took that critter. Doc re-
turned in Toad's key, studying the pave
ment as he spoke.
''He never took it," Uncle Billy said
with emphasis. ''Whisky don't make
men mean. / tell you it Jest let's loose