Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-24

ceiling fed the lamp Upon the table
were books and magazines and a small bowl-like
ing-basket. Upon the floor sprawling news
paper, disheveled and abandoned and shameless. In
the lap of Winfield Saunders Jones l. resting
relaxed a magazine like everything else evidently
having partaken deep of the somnolent atmosphere.
Winfield Saunders Jones l. had thick black hair,
parted in the middle Winfield Saunders Jones H.
had sparse yellowish hair, parted any old place.
Winfield l. had a mustache; Winfield II. had none.
Winfield l. had two of teeth; Winfield II. had
only two teeth all told. But it was the consensus
of opinion that Winfield H. was the very image
of Winfield |. In the glow of the red lamp Winfield
l. mildly gurged; in the reflected glow from the room
itself Winfield II. slumbered gurgleless The
clock upon the mantel the ornamental fire.
place struck a soft nine-a nine of Christmas Eve.
The house was still.
The floor of the hall creaked slightly, and between
the porteres yelling hallway from red-1ghted room
peered unshaven face. 1t was joined by second.
After an instant of accommodating, man slipped
through. He roughly dressed but he
smoothly shod, for his steps were noiseless. He
wore cloth cap. In his right hand he carried
revolver of bued metal, poised if on the alert
for sudden orders. He posted himself before
Winfield l. and quizzically surveyed him
Come on" he summoned hoarsely with bluff
gesture, speaking to somebody upon the other side.
Another man entered He also was roughly
no revolver, only a black ol-cloth sack
Winfield L.. sensing a disturbing element amid
his unprotected Lares and Penates opened an eye
The fronting him with the revolver began
to grin Howdy." he said anniably.
Winfield I. opened the other eye and stared with
snap. He sat bolt upright, and his magazine slid
to the floor to lie paralyzed by the rude awakening
Now, you stop right therei' babe the
to Winfield l. Go ahead, Bill Try in yonder."
The man with the sack crossed diagonaly and
disappeared in the contiguous, the apart
ment of Winfield II.
You've got your nerve with you," grumbled
Winfield l. with a restless glance about if medi-
tating change of position What do you think
you'll fnd?"
You set still That's best for gent jest wakin
up-to set STILL" vouchsafed the man. Don't
you bother Sanity Claus or he's liable to go an not
leave you blessed thing" The speaker chuckled
How you comm, Bill?" he said hoarsely,
"Why-say Here's bloomn baby!' announced
Bill from the adjoining room.
Wat do we carer" retorted the guardian of
Winfield l. Indignantly. "Gwan an do busness!"
Purtiest kid you ever see! Hi-he's wakn
up!" continued Bill delightedly.
"Gwan!" growled the other man. much incensed.
This amt no baby showl Amt you goin' to fill
that sack?'
BY Heavens! If either of you touches that
child" exclaimed Winfield l., starting forward
Now, now; jest take it easy" soothed his guard
ian, with mock solictude, pressing him back into
the chair. We amt goin' to harm the kid. You
be good, an when we've filed Sanity Claus's sack
We'll light out. How you comm Bill? You want to
get way down to the bottom of the drawers This
is the season when folks hide things, you know"
How can | do anything when this here kids
pipin me off? chuckled Bill
Lookee here, blast your skin! you let that kid
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