Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-01-05
A PREDATORY SANTA CLAUS.

As Billy Snee found that the day be
fore Christmas opened a prospect of dry
= and cold holiday season he felt that the
circumstances warranted an abrogatlon OF
his specialty-an expert second story
man-to the most immediate relief for
his impecunous state He Joined the
crowd that was in front of the acreage
of plate glass windows of a big depart
ment store, though keeping iudiciously on
its outskirts Almost every pair of adult
arms in the throng upheld q squealing,
bouncing, delighted child so that the re-
volying procession of wonderful dolls and
toys in a hundred devices of fancy and
Ireality might be fully in view.
Mr.. Snee had purely a business inter
est in the laXly held purses and chate-
laine bags, of which he intended to start
a seasonable collection. He moved nearer
70 the wearer of sealskin coat whose
arms were so overtaxed with an excited
little boy that silver chain bag dangled
| precariously on a stiflly crooked first fin
| ger. Just as Mr. Snee was about to make
4 deXterous lift" of the bag he became
aware of hand in his own pocket. and
peculiarly painful stamping on his fifth
| toe, which always makes up in sensitive
ness what it lacks in girth and strength.
Mr. Snee turned with profane intent bub-
bling on his lips.
oh, won't you please lift me up.
can't see a bit. | want to see,'' cried
small boy to Mr. Snee hanging as he
| spoke onto that honest mans pockets
and keeping up an unremitting dance on
his toes.
"Garvin," the lady in sealskin said. Sc
verely Il am ashamed of you. You act
| like baby. See how quiet Bobby is"
! He can see-I can't" walled Garvin.
oh, please let me see. | don't care if
am a baby"
Partly to relieve his feet from the tu-
multuous bombardment of Garvin's heels
and partly from generous pity for the
childish anxiety, Mr.. Snee put Garvin on
his shoulder
Thank you" said the lady, gently
'Now sit quiet, Garvin, and don't kick
the gentleman.
The ACCOMPLISHMENT was as necessary as
it proved Intellectual Yet for some emo
ton of good fellowship Mr. Snee found
the situation rather attractive. Within
the windows the scenes of fairyland
passed. On their heels came the Christ
star of Bethlehem above an exterior
view of the holy birth place, and then
to the COOS of childish delight was shown
monster bisque Santa Claus perched
ON a ladder holding to a bibulous nose a
! fat gloved forefinger.
"O-0-O-0H! Look at Santa Claus on
the fire escape, mamma" Garyin called
excitedly. Then to Mr.. Snee he added
/ l. i
rest Santa Claus when he comes down
the fire escape. There was-was-" he
swallowed and wagged his little head
with the ponderous import of his tale
"was Il buglar on our fire escape, and
they came and--came and rested him
cause he-he come down the ladder.
But" with heel tattoo of iubilancy, you
bet they won't dare to rest Santa Claus
tonight. Hen come down the ladder an
open the dining room window an brine
everything | writ him for, an if thew tvy
to catch him-well they better last look
out"
Come, Garvin, we must 90 now.
Thank the gentleman for holding YOU so
long
All, no! mamma; dom wan to 90"
You are very good. | hope he hasn't
tired YOU continued the lady windino
the chain handle of her bag twice about
heN wrist, and with a firm grasp on the
reluctant hands led her children away.
MIR. Snee, after mechanically Gftino
his hat, turned abruptly ont of the
crowd and walked hriskly in the opposite
direction with the intent look of one Who
is thinking hard and fast. You bet thev
won t arrest Santa Claus when he comes
a