The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-05-09
.CHORTY'S g
 O CELEBRATION
By Frederiek White
Copyright, 1901. by Frederick White ,..o1o4.olo.O-sOOtO4-ofO+OEOst

known ln certain circles as "a second story man." Ills friends respected him for hls undenlable ability for getting and. what was really quite as impor- tant. for getting away.
 The police respected him. but prin- clpally for the latter gift.
 shorty respected himself sometimes, but not often. After a particularly good piece of work. when his finances would permit. shorty gave himself up to a period Of dull responsibility, a proceeding rather foreign to the dis position of a second story man." For days he would keep to hls room. read ing voraciously every book upon which he could lay his hands. Dickens was his favorite author. and he loved sto- rles of children.
 Shorty was fond of children and never disturbed them more than was necessary when engaged in his busi- ness.
 It was when hls finances thus per mitted him to rest and dip into litera- ture that Shorty came nearest to re- spectlng himself, but unfortunately there always came a day when he was forced to sally forth and again become the hunter and the hunted, usually the central figure. though unknown, In Items of various length In the newspa- pers.
 The residence section of the city was invariably the field of his efforts. A days s.roll would disclose the oppOr- tun,ty. gnI then night and a few nee essary implements of trade enabled hlm to do the rest.
 As he walked briskly up the avenue thls winter afternoon nothing in Shor- tvs appearance would attract particu- lar attention. Plenty of young men were doing the same thing. However, a discerning eye might have noted that when be passed a policeman Shorty seemed suddenly afflicted with a se- we're cold in his head. which necessi- tatcd the use of a large handkerchief. Between policemen Shorty's head seemed to be In Q perfectly normal condition.
 Turning up a side street, be slaeken- cd his pace somewhat, and hls trained eve searched every detail of the houses on either side of the way. Ordinary people might have thought them palm fully alike but shorty knew other wise. Here was a basement window unguarded by the usual iron frame; there a balcony gave promise of shel- ter from passing eyes while the win' dow was being forced.
 At the corner shorty passed a church. He had no designs op the church, but the swell of the organ and the sound of chlldrcns voices came to him through a half open window. They were devotlng an their energies to the Inst verse Of the carol:
 Ring the Joy bells over an the earth.
 Stealing. psaling. lct them tell his birth
 Angel music. lst it fwecily fan,
 Singing. bringing peace and Joy Co al.
 The extra power thrown Into the words 'joy Co all" recalled to Shorty the fact that Sunday schools frequent ly gave celebrations for their faithful scholars. Exactly! These children were having a Christmas tree at the church after exhausting the hollday season at home.
 Suddenly be had a desire to see the real thing if they would let him In. The main door opened around the ave nuc, but the vestry door was at his hand. He'd take a look at lt anyway. Shorty started forward. then stopped. Through a swinging balze door came the murmur of voices. then a strange cracking sound and the cry Fire"
 Shorty was trained to act quickly whatever the emergency. On the cor ner was a red hrebox. and it was the work of only a second to smash the glass and turn in the alarm.
 As he ran from the box the children. pale faced and frightened, were pour Ing through the doors. and above their heads far back In the church be could sec the gayly decorated tree blazing In a cloud of smoke. He saw that the youngsters were being well handled by two young men who stood on either side of the doorway. Then his other nature asserted itself.
 To Shorty and his ilk a fire always means loot. The habit of years was strong upon him. Back to the vestry be ran and crept through the narrow corridor and the baize door. Through an archway he looked Into the smoke filled church. There was no one In sight. The burning tree and the smoke screened hlm from view. He glanced about hastily. and his eye rested on the aims basin. piled high with the ehlldren's annual offering. lt stood on a table near the reading desk. and sparks from the burning tree were fall Ing upon lt
 He rushed forward. snatched it and began to cram the envelopes containing the money Into his oyercoat pockets. He must get away before the fremen arrived on the scene. The silver plate he would button under his overcoat.
 He worked feverlshly. for already the choir stalls were smOldering. He had the money at Inst and. ripping open the coat, was about to conceal the plate when A voice rang through the smoke