The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-12-20

away lar enough TO nlde mySelf IN
certain little hotel in the little town,
and there I waited and watched-did
as slick detective work as I ever did
in my life, even in big city on the
biggest robbery I ever had.
Christmas eve found me. not in the
colonel's home, but out in the cold,
frosty air, looking into the window of
9 little cottage. The cottage was the
end one in a row of wooden houses
each with grass plot around it, 1t
belonged to William Winter, private
secretary to Colonel Payne; and in the
cottage lived Winter and his wife and
Winters wife's mother; also six little
Winters varying in age all the way
from four to twelve years.
Il never saw anything so lovely in
all my life, papa" the oldest Winter
girl was saying as I pressed my nose
against the glass and peered in through
the narrow strip between the window
sash and the easement.
There inside of the room stood a
little Christmas tree upon a big box,
and upon the tree and all around the
foot of it stood dozens of beautiful
Christmas gifts. Such Christmas
tree you never saw! There were little
things in silver-spoons, forks, after
dinner coffees and knives, and there
was a rocking chair, also several little
footstoo1s and little articles of bric-a.
brac, all newly covered with cheap
chintz. And there were toys. Oh, so
many toys! And upon the table at
the side of the tree stood the best
of wines and Christmas fruits.
"How sweet of you, Will" Winters
pretty wife said as she threw her arms
around his neck and kissed him. How
did you ever guess that I wanted all
those silver things for the table?''
And did any one ever see such
son-in-law?" cried the old lady as her
eyes fell upon the table with the wine
and fruits.
Il have got the goodast papa in the
world" yelled the six year old, while
the others chimed in "Yeth" as they
made a dive for the toys:
II could sit in this rocking chair for
a week." murmured Winters wife,
rocking herself back and forth with
her foot on the gayly covered footstool,
IF it wasn't that I felt as if l wanted
to get up and kiss you again." she
said to Winter for the twentieth time
as she looked around.
Nov go to bed. all of you." cried
Winter land something extra for the
one who starts first. Don't let me
hear a word from you again until to-
morrow morning at breakfast and then
We'll have Christmas all day."
He hustled them out of the room,
and when I tapped on the door there
was no one left downstairs to open
it but he.
'Well, what are you going to do
about it?' I asked, stepping into the
room and pointing to all the Christmas
things.
Il don't know" said he, dropping
down by the table and hiding his face
in his hands. Il don't know, I am
sure. It will kill her if you tell
her"
What made you take them?" I
asked.
because he's got so much he doesn't
know what to do with it," said Win
ter. so took them all easy like and
thought it would blow over in a few
days. You see, we have so many ba-
bies in our family" he added, that
there wasn't much left this year for
Christmas, and the children have been
talking about it every day for the
last three months. It broke my heart
to think I'd have to disappoint them,
so I did the best I could for them"
You watched the house all night
for the colonel did Won ."
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; DON'T" he repeated.
1T will kill her if you tell her.
DO you want me to arrest you to-
night, or will you wait until morning"
"Christmas day!" he exclaimed,
breaking down and beginning to cry
like a baby. II know I'm a wretch.
Only kill me-do anything; but don't
tell her."
It 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 a
stronger influence than they should
have had over detectives heart. But
I said to him, well. bundle up the
things and come along with me, and
We'll see what we can do about it,
We looked like two Santa Clauses