New-York tribune., 1905-12-24

hair nor hide of the milk"
'Wa-a-a-a a-a-a-ahi" 1amented Winfield II
Yes | know little tike," condoled Bill reduer.
his voice to a husky. bumblebee pitch But .-
COW must ave jumped over the moon"
We feed our baby prepared food said VIM
field l. irritably.
Il guess he S teethin amt he?" pursued Bill
Footsteps approached They seemed to r..
turning in With a muttered oath Of disgust Il
man on guard abruptly dashed for the porti res and
disappeared. But the footsteps passed.
1t was only an instant's work for Winfield
to lunge for drawer in the bookcase, jerk thence
the family revolver trusted and unoaded1, and
precipitate himself into the other room
Now, by the pOwers!" he exclaimed, with
weapon 1eveled. prepared to do battle for his own
dignity and the welfare of his child, and garing
amid the confines rent by the laments OF Winfield H.
Wat als you2" demanded Bill in injured tone.
Don't go Pointin' that thing at me! l amt done
nothin | amt hurting the kid
"Wa-a-a-a-a a-a-a-a-a-ahl' " lamented Winfield II
Hush, Winfield" bade Winfield / " Papa here
Yes; your daddy's here" supplemented Bill
where's Tim? he asked
That's all right where Tim IS responded Win
field l. firmly You march out into the front
room and sit just where l was sitting. Sharp, nov.
I've got you covered. And you'll sit there until
l can telephone and give you in charge"
"Aw, sayI That amt no fair deaI.' complained
Bill slowly moving 4 amt done nothn-"
You were going to rob me, weren't YOU:
accused his captor, closely following.
But l didn't did l. replied Bill He pumped
down disconsolatey and threw his sack TO the floor
This is hard luck on Christmas Eve"
And YOU were going to take Christmas presents,
which makes it worse, ~ rebuked Winfield l.
Il guess other people like Christmas, besides you
rich ones" mumbled Bill.
That's so; | don't doubt that's So said Win
field /, slightly lowering the revolver. Although
l know very well that you weren't gathering
Christmas presents to give away again. You simply
picked this a good night in which to burgle-
Il could have cleaned out the stuff an been
away long ago, if l hadn't stopped to ten to the
kid" " grumbled Bill. An this is wat get for it:
Christmas in the prison cell, wen my own KIDS
II be wantn me-"
Winfield l. lowered his revolver still farther.
" How many children have you, Bill: he inquired
thoughtfully.
Only seven-but the year amt ended yet.
informed Bill, with a grin
Well, Bill, it's Christmas Eve. Here" and
Winfield l. suddenly checked himself. But
YOU or YOUR pardner haven nt-ah-commltted any
depredations elsewhere in the house, have you.
IS help mel" vowed Bill earnestly. Prove 1t
by me sack"
Then here here's ten dollars; dollar apiece for
the children and one to go on and dollar for YOU
and for your wife. Merry Christmas You can
go now. l won't keep YOU.
Nov, 1ookeel" blurted Bill, accepting the two
greenbacks and scrutinizng them. That's wat
l call handsome! I'll give them kids an my OF
woman a bang-up Christmas, l tell you! This
burglarin' amt my reg1er business, he aPoogized,
stuffing the money into pocket. But a man
has to do somethin'.
He rose and picked up his sack and moved toward
the hall His late captor escorted, behind Farther
behind lamented Winfield ii.
Bill opened the front door, but the threshold he
paused and faced in. Say he demonstrated, with