Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-12-21

mhtntf, not n worn.
Mrs. Lawson was 80 excited that she
could only humble out her promise 70
regard wins wishes. ON the way home
she remarked:
"will. I nm that upset ] wish you
would not go 10 the Christmas eve join.
fcailon down nj District school No. q"
"Oh. I couldn't dlsappoint them. I've
promised. and | must be there. he
sides. ! took $40 81 the money | got
from the ticket and bought few little
presents for the youngsters. And then,
too. you know II don't go therell 10
no Santa Claus"
The building belonging 90 District
No. was the typical country school
house. II was painted red and con-
tanned two rooms-one Tor the more
advanced scholars and one for the ''pri-
marics" There was an entrance for
each section. one Of fese little vesti-
bnlcs had beer transformed for the &C.
casian into a dressing room for Santa
Claus. IN the middle Of the primary
department. which was the larger d.
vision ~ the building n short but
broad spreading Christmas tree had
been placed. II bore a fairiv generous
Yield ~ tinselod gifts VIII added the
presents he had bought aud then. be-
fore the children began 90 arrive. r.
tired 10 the ,cstlhulc TO make up 40
Santa Claus
The room soon fllled and. 20 the ac-
commitment ~ the music ~ tin and
hrnss horns. Santa Claus entered. The
children gnzcd upon the wcirdly built
up 81 Nicholas with feelings u awe
mingled with admiration. santa
stepped up 20 the tree, bowling 10 the
little folks az b. went Clumsily he
selected the drst present and called
out the name Inscribed thereon:
Jimmie Brown
A youngstcr about seven years ~
age, with his hair plastcrcd down into
a cowllck on bis forehead. promptly
stepped forward from the front row.
looked around aud. seeing that be was
the only person out OF line. stuck bis
finger Into his cheek. began 10 bluhber
and abruptly rushed back 20 the shell
ter OF the crowd He was quoted and
made his way haltlngly To the tree.
where St Nicholas handed him
mauve colorcd sheep which emitted a
plalntlve "Ba.a.aw when Il was
pressed. As Jimmie moved jerkily
backward toward his original position
the door opened. Every one looked
around. aud all were asionished TO OBJ
serve that the two men who entered
were strangers one OF the newcomers
asked II VIII Lawson was there.
The school trustee went over TO the
man and explained that VIII was
Santa Claus and that Il would not do
10 let the children hnd out that their
idol was but a man Of clay. The TEL
low walked over toward the tree,
placed his hand upon Wits shoulder
aud gruiiiy remarked:
"will Lawson. you are my prisoner
VIII was dumfoundcd. but his sur
prise was as nothing compared 10 thar
OF the children. who then learned what
they had never even suspccted-that
their santa Clag was only man
The festivities broke up In a hurry, but
the man. who was an officer from New
York. never left wins side.
VIII had been arrested Tor murder
and all because Of that lottery ticket.
Lawyer Clapp came IN by and by all
Of a hustle. and the four-Will aud the
lawvcr and the two strangers-weni
down 10 Mrs. IawsOn's house. The
poor woman tainted away when she
heard that VIII had been arrested. and
ran In as soon az heard OF Il. When
GOT there. the fence IN front Of thu
cottage was all lined with prying faces
when Mrs. Lawson came TO- VIII
told her not TO worry. that he had done
nothing to be arrested Tor and that i
would all come out right In time
I've got TO go away with these mer
tonight" be said. but IN be back IL
a few days. And Lawyer Clapp Is so
lng with the. aud you can hear from
me through him. But. whatever hap
pens. YOU must always believe that
told you the truth about that ticket
They went on that night The FOL
lowing day was Christmas. and VIVA
a Christmas II was for poor Mrs Law
sorfsnd mel Lawyer Clapp came baei
the day after Christmas He told n
that the man who bought lottery ucke
2 Ne. 0s.5G7 had been stabbed TO dealt
IN the street on tho very night WI
bought his new clothes and not IA
= from the place where he bought them
lie was n stranger IN the city, onl,
( one man knowing anything about hin
: and that man his roommate at a chea
= hotel
But this roommate had seen N
u ticket. lie remembered the numbe
z aud thought II strange Il wasn't foun
9 on the dead mans body. He told Oh
J police about II. and so when the tickc
Q was cashed Tor Lawyer Clapp IN Ne'
8 York Il was traced back and prompt
landed VIII Lawson I'm prison. hear
9 that the broker who bought the tlck'
= came very near being arrested for th
q murder and only escaped by givin
y wins name and address. II the tick'
y hadn't drawn that prize. II would ne'
o or have been heard os again. and WI
- wouldn't have been arrested.
"a win stuck 20 the story he 1rst tol
D, about the ticket. and Lawyer Clap
u didn't believe Il.