The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-12-23

before him: Could II III possible thai
II was real money. II SO. 1t was MI.
Gorden's. What q surprise IL would b
to him! Mr.. Gorden was always talk
ing Of his poverty. How long could the
money have been there undiscovered?
Mr.. Gordon could buy turkeys now. and
cakes and pies! In his delight as his
friends good fortune he forgot his Inn
mediate purpose. Then he heard a step
behind him. and a hand grasped his
Sl,oulder.
What are yoh doing there?" asked
= voice, and Tim recognised Mr.. Gordon.
"Oh, see-see what I've foundl" ex-
claimed the boy, wildly; ST vas looking
for n of you stockings to Ill for
Christmas, and, when / found one. it
was filled with gold. Oh, isn't 1t great
luckl You can buy turkeys and every.
thing you want"
The little pile Of gold seemed like .
fortune to the poor cripple.
"a nice thing to steal Into my house
and through my things whe n I was
away!" exclaimed the old man, In an
ger. You young rascal. II you were
only well and strong, I would thrash
you"
Tim looked surprised.
Aren't you glad / found it for you?"
he questioned; you never would have
known 1t was there but for me. Oh,
I'm so glad! You won't be poor any
more, and you can buy plenty OF good
things to eat"
"Humph!" said the old man.
From the boys 1t was evil
dent he meant everything he said. and
Mr.. Gordon was nonplussed for IN an
swer.
asked shiEply.
"Becau1e l like you, and / want you
to have lot OF nice things, and now
you can have them. I'll tell ma: she'll
be glad, To-"
Don't till one living soul in the VIII
tell your ina or any one else, do you
hear? Iswbn't make no fuss about your
prowling If you promise this"
"Of course I won't. II o say So" re-
piled the child. but aren't you glad?"
Don't ask me no questions said his
friend, but you 90 right home and
keep quiet. I don't want my affairs
talked around"
Tim promised.
Won't you come to dinner with US
any way?" he asked. at won't mat
ter II you are rich now"
The old man looked him full in the
face for some time.
you so home" he said again, land
hold your tongue"
It was past nine o'clock, and Mrs.
Brown vas standing before the fireplace.
filling the children's stockings. There
they hung five in a row! She had very
little to fill them, it was very hard to
give even that. A little candy, some
apples, a few cakes, and q cheap toy
apiece. When she came to the last
stocking. she hesitated a while. and
tears am to her eyes. It was such q
small. thin stocking, and she thought Of
the poor little limb it covered. Poor,
crippled Tim! How she wished she
could have something a little better to
put In his stocking! Would her child
children did; must he carry q crutch
forever?
While she was thinking, there came
a knock at the door, and a man entered.
He threw his coat on a chair, and came
over toward the fire. 1t was Mr.. Cor
den. Perhaps he was Ill, and needed
something? For her boys sake she
would be kin to him.
so you're filling the stockings" he
said, after a pausei well, I have some-
thing to put in one. Don't look sur
prised.'' he continued, for Mrs. Brown
was staring at him In amazement. ut
is the money to send Tim to New York
and have his leg mended. I'm not 30
poor; I can give it to him. I've been q
miser, but l love that young one, I do"
And tears came to his eyes and rolled
down his old. hardened face.
He approached the astonished woman,
and held out a handful of gold.
It's for Tim" he said; take It,"
Mrs. Brown was scarcely able to
speak. The magnitude of the thing
seemed incredible. The money would
make her boy well; he would be able to
run n play, as other children.
God bless you'll" was all she could
say, but 1t meant volumes.
The old man took her hand and gave
1t a hearty squeeze and then. going over
TO the little stocking. ne slipped In the
lpld pieces, one by one. Then he turn
ed to the floor.
You may put an extra plate on 70.
dinner. you may have company"