Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1902-12-20
Winters varying in age all the way


little Christmas tree ui'ou Il big Eox.
and upon the tree and all around the
foot OF Ii stood dozens of beautiful
Christmas Gifts. Such Il Christmas
tree you never saw. There We're little
things In s!lver-sIoonS. forks. after
dinner coffecs and knives. and there
WAS Il rocking chair. also several little
fOotStOois and little articles of bric-a-
brac. all newly covered with cheap
"hintZ. And there We're toys Oh, so
many toys. And upon the table at the
side OF tie tree stood the best OF wines
and Christmas fruits.
How sweet ,f you, Willr' Winters .
pretty wife said as she threw her arms
Ground his neck and kissed him. How
DID you ever guess that | wanted all
those silver things for the table,
And did any one ever see such a
-On-in-lnw:" cried the old lady rs her
eyes fell upon the table with I've wine
and fruits.
II have got the goodcSt paps in the
world" yelled the six year old while
the others chimed in "lcth" AS they
made n dive Tor the toys.
Il could sit in this rocking chair for
Il week. v,uriiursd Winters wife,
rocking herself Lack and forth with
her foot "a the Eayly covered f"otstool.
III ii wasn't that | felt ~ ii | wanted
to get up and kiss you a%ain." she
said to Winter for the twentieth time
as she looked around.
had all Of infl
Winter ''aud something extra for the
on" who starts first, Dent irt me
hear wor1 from you ;:.nin Cniil to-
morrow mC.ning al breakfast. nnd
then we'iI have christmas all day.
He hustled ;;lci:i out of the room and
when tapped on the dcnr there was
no one left downstairs to open 1t but
lie.
Well what are you @ong to ho
about IT," | asked. stepping: into the
room and pOntiag to all the Christmas
things.
Il don't know" said he. dropping
down by the table ard hiding his face
i'm his hands Il don't know. ann sure.
1t will kill her if you tell her.
What made you take thcm:" !
asked
''Hecatlse he's got so much he doesn't
know what to do with it" said Winter.
$50 took them al easy Ike and
thought il would blow over In Il few
days You gee we have so many ba.
bieS in our family" he added. that
there wasn't much left this year for
4 a., I,;l. L.,
talking about 1t every day for the last
three months. 1t broke my heart to
think I'd have to disappoint them. NO
did the best could for them
"You watched the house all night for
the colonel. did yOu?"
Yes. except for about an hour; long
enough to slip over here with an arm
full"
well what are you going to do
about it,
God knows: l don't" he repeated.
1T will Kill her II you tell her"
"Do you want me to arrest you to-
night. or will you wait until morning."
"Christnias day he exclaimed.
breaking down and beginning to cry
Only kill mr--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 Il
stronger influence than they should
have had over Il detectives heart. But
| said 10 him. We'll. bundle up the
things and come along with me. and
We'll see what we can ,lo about it,"
We looked like two Santa Clauses
ourselves as we slipped along the
streets. choosing bylancs and cross
paths to the Payne residence.
We got into the Triangular lawn by II
rear path and stole softly up TO the
house. There was the dining room
brilliantly lighted and in the middle
stood tree all bare and waiting for
gifts. Just as | told the colonel to ar
range II.
There was no one in the room. and
after | had pricd up the sash we stole
in together. There was only just time
to drop our packages OH the floor at the
foot OF the tree and to rush AWAY again
before the coloncls daughter came in.
"Oh. papa" she cried. here are
some presents for us.
But | heard no more just then. for
was busy helping poor Winter ret
away. An hour later rang the
coloncIs front door bell. He opened
the door himself.
Come right ill.," said he Il guess
you are II wizard tonight. Just after
we got the Christmas tree set up and
while we We're upstairs getting our
presents together to hang on the tree
the thief came back and left the Christ
mas presents
"Everythhig thcrc:" asked.
"Evrrything." said he. down TO the
st teaspoOn. We have counted them
all Poor fellow. he must have had
guilty conscience. and when il came
Christmas eve he squared il with him
self by sending back all he had stolen.
strange" said |.
VERY strange" said the colonel. I'D
like. il | knew who the thief was. to
send him something for II Christmas
present. just ns Il re- 1nrd for his CON
science Az II is | ask you. detective.
not to look him up. lie has evidently
turned over n new leaf this Christmas
eve
'Evi,'c,t.y." said !.
New. detective" said the colonel. Il
nm ioin. to ask you to stay with US