The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-19

was saying as l pressed my nose against
the glass and peered in through the mar
row strip between the window sash and
the easement.
There inside of the room, stood a little
Christmas tree upon a big box, and upon
the tree and all around the foot of it
stood dozens of beautiful Christmas gifts.
Such a Christmas tree you never saWi
There were little things in silver-spoons.
forks after dinner cofees and knives, ana
there was a rocking chair also several
little foot stools and little articles of brio
a-brac all newly covered with cheap
chintz. And there were toys. on so
many toys and upon the table at the side
of the tree stood the best Of wines and
Christmas fruits
How sweet of you, Winr' Winters
pretty wife said, as she threw her arms
around his neck and kissed him. ''How
did you ever guess that 1 wanted all those
silver things for the table,
And did any one ever see such a SON
in-law?" cried the old lady, as her eyes
fell upon the table with the wine and
fruits.
Il have got the coolest papa in the
world" yelled the 6-year-old while the
others chimed in "Yeth," as they made
a dive for the toys
q could sit in this rocking chair for a
week" murmured Winters wife, rocking
herself back and forth with her feet on
the gaily covered foot stool, ''if it WASH
that l felt as If 1 wanted to get up and
kiss you-again," she said to Winter for
the twentieth time as she looked around.
Now, go to bed, all of you" cried Win
ter, land something extra for the enc
who starts first. Don't let me hear a
word from you again until tomorrow
morning at breakfast, and then Wen have
Christmas all day"
He hustled them out of the room and
when l tapped on the door there was no
one left downstairs to open it but he
''Wen, what are you going to do about
it?" l asked stepping into the room and
pointing to all the Christmas things.
Il don't know" said he, dropping down
by the table and hiding his face in his
hands. "I don't know ! am sure. 1t Will
kin her if you tell her"
what made you take them?" I asked.
Because he's got SO much he don't know
what to do with it," said Winter, so
took them all easy like, and thought it
would all blow over in a few days. You
see we have had so many babies in our
family" he added that there wasn't
much left this year for Christmas; and
the children have been talking about it
every day, for the last three months. 1t
broke my heart to think I'd have TO dis
appoint en- so 1 did the pest 1 could for
'em."
1T was a poor best" said, but tell me
why you took the things out of the Colo
out of the hail window the next nght?"
That's easy" he said, with a wan
smile. "The Colonel moved his sleeping
room to the other side of the house after
the first robbery, and l was afraid he
might get up in the night and look out of
his window"
you watched the house all night for
him did you?"
Yes, except for about an hour long
enough TO slip over here with an armful."
''Well what are you going to do about
it?"
"God knows. don't" he repeated, 1T
viii kill her if you tell her"
do you want me to arrest you tonight,
or will you wait until morning."
christmas day." he exclaimed, break
ing down and beginning 10 cry like a baby
You are about the simplest fellow l ever
saw" 1 said, shaking him roughly by the
shoulder Hanging is too good for you.
and electrocution wouldn't serve you half
right. How dare you rob good employ
err"
Don't don't say anything more" he
cried. Il know / am a wretch-only kill
me-do anything, but don't tell her"
1t might have been that the spirit of
Christmas was in the air. Perhaps the
thought of those six little children and that
sweet faced wife had stronger influence
than they should have had over detec-
tive's heart. But ! said to him, ''Wer. bun
die up the things and come along with me.
and We'll see what we can do about it,"
We looked like two Santa Clauses our
selves as we slipped along the streets,
choosing by lanes and cross paths to the
Payne residence There it lay in the moon
light, and the snow around it was white
and untainted, not black and besmirged
like our souls
We got into the triangular lawn by
rear path and stole softly up to the house
O. arne hg At1fg
lighted and in the middle stood a tree all
bare and waiting for gifts just as l told
| The Colonel to arrange It.
There was no one in the room: and af-
ter had pried up the sash. we stole in
| together There was only just time to drop
! our packages on the floor at the foot OF
the tree and to rush away again before
| the Coloners daughter came ina.
'Oh! papa, she cried. Here are some
! more presents for us"
But heard no more just then, for 1 was