The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1907-12-13

one. he SdlQ.
But we never break a pair!" Dor
othy exclaimed, with some amuse-
ment. "Oh," she added, sympathet-
ically, as the boys face fell, was it
was 1t for some one with only one
leg?"
IT'S for my partner He's got two
legs, but he's crippled-just been let
out of the hospital And I'm going to
give him Christmas.
"Oh!" said Dorothy. comprehend
ingly. And you wanted the stock.
ing to hang up? I'm sorry. but
watt" she cried suddenly, as the boy
was gathering up his money in disap-
pointment. Il can let you have it,
think. Cash! Cash."
The little girl who came in re-
Spouse to the summons nodded to the
boy, and then sped away to the desk
with the quarter that Dorothy substi-
tuted for the dime and three pen.
MES.
When the customer had departed,
carrying his package, Dorothy contem'
plated the odd stocking which had
come into her possession.
murmured why didn't / give him
both of them? But of course he
wouldn't have taken them-as long as
he was paying for one"
She called the little cash girl again.
DO you know the boy that was here
little while ago. she asked. Il
thought ! saw you nod to him."
Barney Flynn. He lives on the
floor above u.s." Cash" answered,
with Billy; and Billy got run down
by 'lectric. Barney sees to him."
Customers claimed Dorothy's atten-
ton, and for awhile she was all hurry
and hustle. During the afternoon,
however, when the neighboring sales
woman volunteered to watch over her
counter for her, she slipped down the
aisle to the shirt waists, says Youths
Companion. She was quite excited
for fear that the particular shirt
waist should be gone. There was that
woman with the bargain counter hab-
it. Dorothy had seen her dallying at
the counter.
She rummaged moment in pile
of shirt waists; then she looked trag-
ically at her friend behind the con-
ter.
20 Peggy. it's gone! ! knew it.
knew it! ! saw it in that bargain WON.
ans eye!"
She had waited so patiently for that
waist to be marked down. 1t would
have suited her complexion it had
just the. right warm, rosy tints
Peggy, why did you let it go?" she
cried, reproachfully.
Had to. my dear. I did my best
put it at the very bottom of the pile.
but she fished it out
Dorothy went back slowly to her
counter.
Dick would have liked it, too" she
thought, disconsolately And now
he'll have to see me in just my shah
by old one"
1t occurred to her that other peo-
pie probably had Christmas disappoint-
ments; and then she thought of Bar
ney Flynn and his partner.
Hes going to hang up the stocking
for Billy-and l don't believe he ever
had a Christmas for himself in his
life," Dorothy meditated. II know
what l bought the odd stocking for
so long as l can't buy myself that
lovely waist"
And she felt a glow of enthusiasm
as plans Logan to take shape in her
mind. 1t was almost closing-time
when the little cash-girl came darting
up with message from Peggy.
shes brought it back-the shirt
waist--sleeves too short. If you want
it, better hurry.
Dorothy hesitated. mo, I've changed
my mind she said resolutely. Tell
Peggy i'm much obliged" And she
added to herself: Now if Dick doesn't
like me in my old plaid waist, /
guess We'll have to quarrel.
When Dorothy returned to the store
the morning after Christmas, the lit
tie cash girl came running up to her,
and cried:
II got 1t in for you all right, Miss
Winslow! worked 1t fine. l creep
in in the dark, when Billy and Bar
ney were asleep; you couldn't have
heard me with an ear trumpet. And
] felt for Billy's stocking, and hung
yours alongside. And then l filed
'em both with all the things you'd
given me-"
WELL" said Dorothy, eagerly; land
what happened?"
20 my, sakes,". said the child "All
of us on the floor below was walked
up that early Christmas mornin'
Such yellin' and stompin'! You'd
like to have thought they'd never had
Christmas"
Dorothy turned away to hide a
smile.
And Dick was glad to see me just
as ! was" she thought, contentedly.