Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-12-25

rowed into that Klondike / judge that,
with all YOU fippantry, you are not so
Fudge" retorted the other. impa-
tiently. Fudge and flddlesticks. Tn,
serious
Wen change the subject, if it's all
the some to you," said Jones, dryly.
What nave 0 got to offer as a sub
stitute?"
We'll. as you have the advantage Of
ne, you might tell me your name" sug-
Eested the reporter"
Q course I might argued the old
fellow.
why don't you?'
You haven't asked me?" was the re-
tort, and the old man laughed as if he
were enjoying himself immensely.
'Then what is it?" demanded the re-
porter tartly.
Thu queer old fellow obviously found
intense amusement in the young mans
discontinue. He relapsed into another
1T Of mirth, his corpulent body shaking
like a huge chuk of jelly. 1T might
DC Smith," said he, land it might be
Jenkins, but it isn't either of them"
My name is kringle-Kris Kringle,"
continued the patriarchal wag. Some
times they call me Santa Claus and
ten irreverently abbreviated to ST. Nick.
Put I like Kringle best. Just call me
Kris and We'll let it go at that
SO you're the original Kris Kringle,
eh?' queried the reporter. D you ex-
Feet me to believe that: Well, I don't.
I think you're a frossiiized fraud, my
ancient; that's my candle opinion of
you.' Again the old man was con-
vulsed with laughter. LII change your
opinion for you" said he, throwing his
arm suddenly about the shoulders OF
Obejoyful. The next instant the report
CT found himself whisked through the
air, high above the streets, with the old
gcntlemans arm still encircling his
body. They alighted in the tower of the
courthouse building. where, to the inf
E!te surprise Of the newspaper man, he
vas dragged into a sleigh, which stood
waiting there with a score Of immense
reindeer of great beauty in harness and
bells. He observed for the first time,
too, that the snow was falling in big
flakes n the house tops were covered
with more h a foot of the white
mantle. Before he had time to compre-
ll.nd more, his companion had seized
the lines and they were spinning
through the air at a dizzy speed. Pres
O%bejoyful summoned up his courage
enough to stammer in the old mans
ear, Il owe you a thousand apologies,
sir The merry old fellow gave vent
to a roar of laughter that rang out
louder than the chorus of bells that
jungled from the trappings of his fleet
footed steeds. Not one" said he, Il
never expected O to believe me.
Grown folks haven't any faith in me.
anyhow. And yet I often do 'em a good
turn. Now, I knew you We're out for a
story tonight and I took it into my head
to help you. Isn't this jolly good wealth
ef"' he said abruptly, changing the
subject as he pulled off his fur cap and
shook an inch of snow from it.
1T is remarkable weather to say the
least answered Obejoyful. Il saw anly
n sign Of snow half an hour ago and yet
from the appearance of the roof / judge
that it must have been showing hard
for several hours
mot a bit of it, said Mr.. Kringle.
1T only looks that way to you because
you're in my company. While you are
with me, Mr.. Jones, you are privileged
to see many things as 1 see them. For
me to travel ove my circuit without a
foot Of snow on the roofs and more fall
ing would be a sorry breach of etiquette
on my part and contrary to all Yuletide
traditions. So whether you have snow
in the streets or not on Christmas Eve
night is a matter of little moment to
me- 0.. H".a." /" M@N \.
Are you out on business tonight?"
asked Obejoyful.
Turn you head and look at the car
go I've got aboard. DO you think I'd
carry a load like that around if l were
lnOt?' ". .M-. L " III. "..5 -.. 1T
The reporter timidly glanced behind
him, and wondered how the huge noun
tain of good things that rose up from
the sleigh to a height Of twenty feet in
the air could have possibly escaped his
%llotice when he entered the vehicle. But
it was a night of marvels and he vas
beginning to take them as the came,
"ith comparative composure.
The rotund and jovia! Mr.. Kringle
chuckled audibly as he observed the
curiosity his young associate eVinced
In the articles. There We're toys, bon
bons, jewelry, fire arms. ornaments of
rare and costly design. Things of every
description were to be seen in the gi-
gantic store heaped up in the sleigh.
Such a quantity and variety Of articles
calculated to excite the cupidity of lit
tie boys and girls he had never before
dreamed of. "These things" said the
master of the reindeer. pointing his
whip-staff at the pile, are to be dis
tributed in the early hours of the morn
ing, before daybreak. The trip I'm on
GUST now is a idea OF mine. I'm
going to visit the grown folks. That's
Why I've taken you along. for my deal
;nEs with the kids is an old story to the
world" a
On the parapet of a house Mr.. Krin-
gle drew rein and the deer came to a
halt with much champing of bits. The
jolly driver leaped briskly out at the
same moment. w make the first
stop here. 1t is the house of g. lawyer
friend of mine, who hasn't had a case
IN SIX mouths Let me See-WHdlS lail
we give the limb of the law? Aha!
here's the very object" exclaimed Mr..
I>ringle, diving into a hugh chest that
he had dragged from under the seat Of
the vehicle.
What is it?" asked the reporter, who
was now taking a lively interest in
what was going on around him. What
is it?" he queried, r~ubbernecking to get
Il glimpse Of the bundle the c%huckling
Kris had extracted from the chest.
"A suit was the reply Of the mas
ter o. the reindeer, as he leaped nimbly
to the chimney top, executed a pigeon