Evening star., 1898-12-24
THE BURGLAR SANTA CLAUS.
He Was Caught by the Wntchful Lit
tie One.

He Was Caught by the Wntchful Lit
tie One.
Love filled the tiny heart of little Ruth
Dennison and inspired nearly every act of
her childish life. Fearless in infancy with
the courage that comes from an unsullied
heart nature, she would spring into any
arms outstretched to her if a kind word or
friendly smile persuaded.
No grim face sour look ever discon-
certed this merry little maid She bore
herself in the house, in the street in pub
lie, with the air of a queen unconscious of
any breath of disloyalty. All men and all
women, and color and station, made no diff
ference, were alike regarded to be en-
deared. Little wonder that she went
through her infant years gladsome and
gladdenng, trustful of every one, and, if
proving the law of love- receiving from all
the royal tribute of true affection. Her
father, Mr.. John Dennison, a rich, reserved
man, often feared in his heart that danger
iurked for such nature, but when he
heard his wife sowing wise words of admo-
milton in the fruitful little soul his appre-
tensions queted. Natural, then, and ex-
pressive of the impulses that ruled her, was
the last question she whispered to her
mother on Christmas eve Mrs. Dennison
always saw her child to bed after bathing
her little body and Strengthening her un-
fo-dlng character with a sweet prayer that
NGIltu WIN the DAY. Inc near approach
of the mysterious time when Santa Claus
was to reward or punish her for past doings
feVered her cheeks and kept her tongue
prattling beyond the time she should have
been sleeping.
The mother knew and sympathiZed with
the childish curiosity, and the father, busy
with the boys in the room beyond could
not find words to still the eager flow of
questions.
Dearest" said Mrs Dennison. finally.
unclasping the little hands from around her
neck, Santa Claus will not come if you Go
not go to sleep. II you keep him away from
through before daylight and you wouldn't
want him to go away without giving every
little child in the world something"
He can come just now. See. I'm asleep"
penltcntly cried the child closing her eve
IDS, but not stilling the nervous movement
OF the eyes beneath.
Goodnight. dearest; he'll soon come"
smllingly said the mother, kissing each
'Oh, darling, if he came and kissed him,
would he mind?" Wide open stretched the
eyes and down went the clothes as Ruth
sat upright in bed.
mo. lie loves little girls but he will NOT
come II you do not go to Sleep Mrs. Den
nIson softly put her baby upon the pillow
again and quickly went away. What a
whirl of thoughts kept that little mind
a-l1utter for full twenty minutes. From one
side OF the snowy bed to the other she toss
ed, but soon the half darkness and stiffness
OF the room quoted her and then sleep
snatched her into the land of nod AS mid
night drew near Mr.. and Mrs Dennison
softly entered the room, screened the angel
ic stilied face from the upturned light and
silently fulfilled their mission of giving. The
tlny stockings on the child's rocker under
the mantel were made receptacles for pref
ty candies and on the floor around were
the offerings of all those in Ruth's circle
or near and dear ones. Unconsciously and
unknown to the other prayer formed on
the lips of each as the last look of the sleep
ing child was taken. The wife's hand crept
with warm, strong clasp into her husbands
chamber.
When the policeman outside turned in
MS hourly report at l o'clock in the morn
ing from the box on the corner opposit @
ne saw that the great white mansion of
Mr.. Dennison was dark and still. Then he
strobe slowly away to find his accustomed
shelter, for the after midnight hours were
cold and raw and the night inspector he
knew, was not apt to be prowling around
so late so early.
Past and then past 3 o'clock the hand
OF Time pointed and then inside the house
a dark form, with two cleaning ewes peering
through the rough and black cloth across
the face, crept stealthily from room to room
A large sack acrcss the mans back grew
bigger and heavier as he stole, as silent as
the stiffness of the dark, through the
house. He had chosen the place and time
with the cunning and experience of a bur
glar who looks for large returns with little
FISK. HIS reward lay IN the sllVerWare,
jewery, fine curiOs and valuable trinkets
carefully wrapped in cloth to keep from
clinking, that filled the sack and bent his
back Long minutes ago he had felt that
ne had enough for one niSht-even Christ
mas eve nights haul-but the knowledge
that the police were not alert and the de-
sire to get all he could led him on Per-
haps, too, some intelligence outside his
own, unseen but all-potent. moved him to
do its will. Long years of this work had
trained his sense of hearing and his facul-
ties of observation to the fineness Of a
cats and he felt that he was as secure in
his delay as he had ever been in his life
STILL should he be interrupted or attacked
there were weapons sure and deadly within
reach. AT last, passing through the room
of Mr.. and Mrs. Dennson who were deep
In the sleep that follows a long day, he
stood in the dimly lighted chamber Of the
child.
Noiselessly he turned the key in the lock,
precautiCn always taken, and then creep
ing to the other door. opened it, and found
1t led into the wide hallway he knew Sat-
isfied, he was about to turn out the gas and
use only the tallow candle inside his hat
when his eyes caught the heap of toys and
presents under the mantel. He stopped to
pick up dolls house. made in imitation Of
a modern mansion, when a low exclama-
tion of delight and a patter of little feet on
the carpet almost caused him to fall A
tiny figure in white, with flushed cheeks
at his side
Dearest Santa Claus. I'm Ruthie," cried
the little voice its owner trembling with
the eagerness Of desire, seeing the array on
the carpet.
"Hush!' hoarsely whispered the burglar
He would have seized the girl-baby in his
giant grasp and killed her voice by blow or
choking-he had done it before-but her
confidence and fearlessness awaked some.
thing new within him. Uncertain, he hesi-
tated
"I'll whisper. know. Mamma and papa