The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-12-02

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the ear. Mr.. Biddle Immediately lost all
interest in everything in general and most
things in particular, and just kept still
Five minutes later Mr.. Smith emerged
from the alley Mr. Biddle did not. He
lay we'll within the shadow. After num-
Der of hours, he revived and went home
heavy and disconsolate with disappoint-
ment. He was glad now that he had said
nothing about the secret He said to HIM
self that before the next Christmas he
might save up a little more, take another
little flyer and then-have the Christmas
he was after
Strong Arm Smith stopped under con-
venient lamppost and examined the wallet
he had filched. 1t contained several of
the private papers of Mr. Biddle, among
them his broker letter, his list of proposed
purchases, and-more than all-his $500.
Mr.. Smith whistled ''That duck didn't
look as though he had 500 cents. He
didn now, and that's fact But what
the devil this?''
1t was nothing but printed programme
OF a Christmas entertainment to be held
| that evening in the brick church. Serb
bled across it in woman's hand were
these words: "NIr. Biddle, we rely upon
you to be our Santa Claus as usual Don't
fail us, will you?
Mr. Smith investigation had been too
protracted As he finished it, he heard a
noise, and, looking up, saw two plain
clothes men bearning down upon him.
They had recognized him, and it was their
purpose to arrest him on general princi-
pies.
He took to his heels They followed
him. Smith was a slick article, but so
were they. But Smith knew that the
longer the chase kept up the worse for
him; for there are such things as tele-
phones; and they could head him off by
sending word out to the whole force. He
was we'll nigh spent, when his eye caught
sight of black and gilt sign. On it were
the words: ''Brick Presbyterian Church. -
His brain moved rapidly. "By Georger'
he muttered breathlessly, ''the very
thing" He crept to the back of the
church, and, finding a window that could
be forced, he looked in. He saw small
and unoccupied room. Thrown across the
back of Il chair was a mysterious conglom
Grafton of red and white; of cloth and hair
and cotton. 1t was nothing less than the
Santa Claus costume to be worn by Mr..
Biddle
The two police officers followed closely
on his heels. They were quite sure from
his persistency in eluding them, that he
had been up to trick or two. The trail,
however, stopped short at Brick Church.
The officer at one end Of the block had
seen him pass (without knowing him, of
| course) the officer at the other end had not
seen him; nor had anybody else. The two
men ransacked the neighborhood. Then
they entered the church. The entertain
ment was in full blast. A Santa Claus
was on hand who was making things hum.
He kept the children in roar of laughter.
George Biddle is outdoing himself to-
night" remarked the adults in the room.
He was, more than they knew. For this
was Mr.. Smiths first attendance at such
an entertainment He enjoyed it. He
was Santa Claus incarnate, for wherever
he saw small youngster whose shoes were
old, or whose jacket and trousers did not
quite meet in the waist line, he surrepti-
tiously doled out to him dollar Of the
fifty which he had tucked way. ''Poor
little chaps" he said to himself. When
he finished his $50 was all gone. Sud-
denly he became aware of the presence of
the two plain clothes men. So he raised his
hand to command silence. "Now, little
children" he exclaimed, "you'll
have the greatest treat of all. Wait till
Santa Claus comes back" He crossed to
his dressing room, closed the door and has
tily disrobing dressed himself in his own
clothes again.
He never came back. The plain clothes
men spent some little time in the church
irving to spot Strong Arm Smith. Fin
ally they gave it up. When they had
done so, Strong Arm Smith was far away.
But there was something the matter with
him; something he didn' understand. His
recent experience among the youngsters
| had made MN sentimental lhe OnlLSlH'o
spirit was upon him.
"Hang itr' said Strong-Arm Smith to
himself, as he sped toward New York by
rail- II hadn't oughter took the stuff
often that duck. Maybe it was all he had.
hadn't oughter done it. .
Again he reviewed the contents of the
purse. Forty minutes later Strong Arm
Smith was standing at the counter Of
New York department store. 81 got
whole lot of bang-up things he said to
the girl, "that | got to get. just pick me
out the very best you've got in that line
will you?'' He mentioned the first thing
on the list which Mr. Biddle had made
out. He bought it and paid for it.
"Tn tell you, young woman" he went
on, II wish you just write me card to
90 with that" The girl nodded. "What
Shall I put on it?'' she inquired. Smith
consulted his list.
"Just write on that he answered,
without quiver of an eyelid, "Mamma,
from George.
The girl dissolved in exuberant laughter.
But Strong Arm Smith kept on. Steadily
he worked his way down the list. He
ordered everything sent out to Biddle's
house, threating dire punishment if it did
not reach there just on time. He even
secured the theater tickets noted by Bid
die on the list, and sent them out by mail
he had Biddle' address, of course, from
Biddle's cards. While he had ransacked
the wallet he had come upon two letters
signed by the name of peggy They
were letters of an unmistakable kind.
cit ism t on the list, said Smith, "but,
by George, I'll do it!'' He visited Fifth
avenue jewelry store and picked out a
handsome solitaire. "Just put a card in
that will you," he said, "and say, just
mark it, Sweet Peggy, if you got time.
1 don't know her, but 1 bet she's sweet
all right, all right.
"And now, by Georger' he finally re-
marked, "Tm through through, and
just about cleaned out. But it s all right,
all right And now for Christmas for my
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