Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1901-12-14

comm. an then had to send EN- to the
Orphan Asylum over at Wallingford.
Now. this wear calclate Toms goin' to
eat EN- himself"
ITS only two days till Christmas, Ho-
mer said, slowly. You ought to be hear
in from him whether he's comm. III
poin' to the postofIice. I'll see if there's
a letter for YOU"
mo. Homer. don't" said Grandma,
hastily. I'D rather not have it till the
last thing. You know, if he shouldn be
comm won't have anything to look for
ard to, an if he is, my cakes an pies are
all baked, All I've got to do now is 10
shine the andirons over in the settin
room, an put up some greens to make II
seem Chrstmassy. | wouldn't have the
heart to finish Homer, if knew he
wasn't comm" She was still smiling,
but TREMENDOUSLY.
"All right. Gran'ma,' he said, with
great effect of cheeriness in his voice;
but I'm like you, I'm positive Tom $
comm"
Eyes, I'm most sure Wei see him this
time: but if there's letter, Homer. don't
bring it, Peter Crump always brings 1t
up to me as he goes home on Christmas
eve"
Homer climbed into his Gathering old
spring wagon, and with the lines dapplng
loosely on the gray mares back he let her
take her own gait down the long street.
Arriving at the postotlice, he exchanged
greetings with the few loungers gathered
around the stove sat down on cracker
box. cheWed a broom straw, and gazeu
ahstractedly at the dirty floor.
want your mail. Homer" the post
master inquired, when there came luII
in his duties.
Homer got up from the cracker box TO
receive his copy of the Scarborough
Weekly Argus. He held it first in one
hand, then in the other hestating The
last lounger shuflled away from the fire
and out the door. Homer reused to in
slant life.
Say. Got any letters for Gran'ma Dor
kins?" he asked.
"One from Tom. Guess he amt comm
this year, same as ever
Gee whuts" Homer exclaimed-it was
his nearest approach to swearing-"if
Tom Dorkins don't come home this
Chris mas 'twon't be because Homer Fox
amt going to do his best to fetch him."
Toms got to be a reg'lar high-fiyer,"
observed the postmaster. Has his pri-
waite car an all that sort o thing!'
ITO see that poor OF soul hayin' faith
in his comm year in an year out, an
never shown hair nor hide O. himself"'
Homer broke in, excitedly. It's more'n
flesh an blood can stand. Gimme
pasteboard box, Peter Crump, one big
enough to hold these" He unvrapped
the cakes Grandma Dorkins had given
him and laid them on the counter. There
Ii Tom Dorllins has got a piece of heart
hid away anywhere them cakes'll make
him own it"
He writes to her sometimes an sends
her money Peter Crump said, as ne
brought an assortment of boxes.
Huh. What's money to her when she
wants him.? Homer said, with scorn, Sc
Letting a box and trying the cakes, to
see if they would fit. "Lemme have pen
an ink an sheet o paper"
He wasn't much of scribe, and ne
sucked the top of the pen frequently as
ne wrestled with his problem. flhally
It was done, and he held it off at arms
ength, surveying it with pride. Inns Is
what he had written:
Tom Dorkins, for nine years your
mother has baked these cakes for your
Christmas homecoming, because you llk-
ID them when YOU was boy. Has she
got to send them to the W alhngford
Orphan Asylum this year, same as al
ways, on account of your not thinking
enough of her to come!
HOMER FOX"
IF that don't bring Tom Dorkins moth
ny will" he said, conviction in his voice.
His epistle was spread over the cakes.
the lid tied on securely, stamped and ad-
dressed, while Peter Crump winked at so
Aagrant a violation of postal laws under
his very nose.
On the morning of the day before
Christmas, as the general manager of the
Pocomoke and Westhayen Railroad was
leaving his private office his eye was
caught by small package lying unopened
upon his desk.
Nearly forgot that thing again" he
said. 1T came last night, and | went
home without it. Here, Phil" he called
to his secretary, open this package. and
if it requires an answer fix up the polite
thing"
When he returned some hours later the
package was still on his desk, apparently
unopened.
Il thought | told you to open this and
see if it needed an answer. he said.
sharply.
Il did open it, Mr.. Dorkins. hut you
are the proper person to answer it," the
stenographer replied, in a curious tone.
Mr. Dorkins cut the string around the
pasteboard box, a tinge of impotence in
his manner. Lifting the lid, Homer's