Arizona republican., 1902-04-17
Blessed to
 Give
Copyright. 1902. by Daily Story
 Publishing Co)
BY CLYDE A. MANN
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Christmas eye, and the swirlng snow was d halo about the Bugie building, aSlCW from it's basement pressroom to the big composing room d the top. One window of the upper TOW was dark, anA within d querulogs sounder clattered an unanswered call. It was q little, dingy room; the door was open crack into the big composing room, where clanking. singing linotypes and rumt ling turtles drowned the howl of tte storm. and il the twilight mice were scam, m,-''-~- va, +c:' ci'--f--Jr e. 0.ll Cla1k's last nidni- ht lunch.
 Bill Clark. rad-haired. jovial giant. seemed oddly cut of place taking news reports. Geftly lingering the keys of his typewriter. as he had done in the Bugle office seven nights in every week for almost dozen years. Rarely in the gray years Of night work had the first tap of the sounder been unanswered. but the fo:eman's clock crawled twenty-five minutes past the hour, while Clark's den was still dark An | impa tisEt sender in the Associated Press office. with 2 taHGle Of market | figures. Crowled.
 Under tha long train shed where thrcngs hurried with Christmos bun dies Bill Clark waited for the limited from the west. His wife and children were to cone come again. The STOW was sold wall of white at the far end of the train shed where the headlights glared at the storm. Clark strained his eyes. and in the swirling flakes saw the waving handkarchiefs of three sturdy lads rolling away from him l three long months before. Clark was | 1 cuss' around the Bugle office. The | Christmas mefriment around him 1 stirred the trait and the time worried him. The bulletin, Limited. iate.' was posted.
 i How late?"
 Don't know, Bill" was the depot masters reply to his question. Mum i Der Twos in a little smash. Not l word moro''
 Eat" Pierce. a tall, worldly-wise 1 frcckled reporter who made the trains" for the Bugle. heard the ques- tion and answer. instantly divined the troutla and, skipping his notebook shut was at Bill Clark'a side in a moment ! 1 jiffy later Bat was at the superin- tendent's desk and sherburne looked up with a glum scowl. "HulIo. Eat. what you bctherin' round about now?"
 "Bad?" qUeried Bat.
 Two sleepers ditched and burned. Don't get yellow, now. If you want to do down. Jim ACton's goin' with some doctors. New clear out and-be de- cent"
 Bat and Bill Clarl: paused outside. Nov don't you worry about your folks, Bill. I have a hunch they are all right. Pm goin' down-tell Clarkson." " \ grip of their hands and a look straight into each others eyes and Bat was gone.
 Sleeping cars ditched and burned. sleeping cars Gitched and burned. = rung in Bill Clark's ears as he truGgel through the snowy. Christmasy streets, where sleigh bells jingled like those on the three boys sleds waiting al hone. The words still stopped his ears as he clicked off his tardy answer and tried to unravel the Phillips code that came with q rush.
 Tn a house in a suburb the lamps were all lighted. the stoves glowed 2 supper was set and all was scrupu- lousiy reat with a mans neatnesS Three little night dresses hung CT tn chairs. Years of wandering had mad home doubly dear to Clark Tnel were stray facts known of an aGVen- tuTous young manhood that had car ried him 10 the Texas ranges to -:l.i- zona to carry chain, to Dakota. where all his cattle had frozen in a dire biz 2ard. He had turned his back OF a col lege education, and when h4 mar. Jed ha put to use the tetegrarhy ha lsarred when fascinated by the clatter in th5 depot office in lIs hcmc town. up ir Maine. Year s-fter year q trip to the Vffe's sister had been Geferre1 Of re- cessity, and at last tha mother and the hoys bad gone. but Were to ba at home at Christmas sure
 For t''e tenth time t,la lunch b.s1la, was tried for diversion for t::. i..7pa- tience Of three boys in q ,t:.y co2ci, nl the Limited, rushing throuE.3 tAe 3,iad- ing storm.
 Wont dada like our present though." exclaimed the eldest. oyein,. q box.
 They had had their choice of q sleep ing car or q present fo. dad3a.
 They neared the Jim valley and Mrs Clark drifted off into collections ot the day they had brought Bill home when he had refused the masked men'e order 10 ditch No. g.
 Crash!
 screamed in fright and passengers rushed down the aisle Mrs. Clark : knew there had been a wreck and soon