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

Nay DC NOH ever come Dack, he
threatened.
The boys eyes looked over Mr.. Snee's
Shoulder and he wriggled in his anxiety
to get at his stocking.
"Now, see here" whispered Mr.. Snee.
sternly. You kids can't look at those
things, see? Cause if you do I'll take
them away, see? and then what viii -
do"
The little girls face crimped into posi-
tion for wall.
shut up If you cry III take every
thing and never come here again"
The little girl swallowed her cry. and
contented herself with looking at her
stocking from distance
/ ''What did YOU bring mamma and
papa 2" asked the boy in so sibilant a
tone that it sounded like policeman's
whistle to the perturbed Mr.. Snee
''Didn't you bring them anything? Saw.
you never brought the patrol wagon that
! / wrote you for"
That's funny" responded Mr.. Snee
sYou see. / don't like them myself
Maybe" he added, grimly, 1T will get
here before | leave"
"What 700 dot for mamma? ?" asked the
little girl. rs all 90 dot in dat?" She
pointed to the bag. is dat for lots of
little dirls an little boys? Don't nobody
div 90 any sing?"
"Oh, yes. | got year once-latelv.
Everybody IS mighty glad to give me
good times" whispered Mr. Snee, with a
grin.
Nice SANITY Claus" cooed the little
girl, Il love 90" She put her soft cheek
to his, her arms about his neck in a tight.
impulsive hug.
Gee said the man, almost inaudiblv.
"but you're a sweet little kidl'
Il love you, too" hoarsely whispered
the boy, 'and so does mamma. Didn't
you bring her anything?"
Mr. Snee shifted his eyes anxiously
about the room and meditated
Say" he began, will you let me put
you in bed and will you keep quiet if |
let you take mammals and pa pas present
out of that bag?"
Mr.. Snee's balance was seriously in
commoded as the two children Jumped
|ecstatically in his arms.
Straight goods and no bluff" he con
tinued You'll 60 right to bed and YOU
won't say a word. Honest?"
Honest" said the boy.
Ess,' lisped the girl
Mr.. Snee released them. then held the
top of the bag open. Into it the eager
little hands Owed
That's right" he softly commented.
NO, that belongs to the lady down the
street, but this is mammals and this
papa's, and, say, let's put them up here.
That's right. amt it pow-ail along in a
nice row. There we are. Hold on, here's
watch" He had run across the dainty
bit of enamel and gold and after dan
Cling it a moment on his finger held it
to the girls curl-covered ear She put
her head on one side and listened, patting
her hands.
Div Elsie dat. Elsie wants it," she
said aloud, and clutehed at the trinket of
time with firm grasp. The cold per-
splration broke out over Mr.. Snee's body,
and he stood suddenly erect. The very
manner Of the man was so urgent and in
tent that the children were statues of
mingled fear and listening. After long
pause, the boy whispered:
Did you think they were running
away?"
"What?" asked Mr.. snee, relaxing his
attitude.
why, the RENDERS on the roof. l
thought l heard them running. too"
"Oh!" said the man. "Well, l ought to
see to them. Now, let's go to bed"
Il want dat" repeated the girl. as he
loosened her fingers from the watch. Mr..
Snee looked waveringly from the eager.
pretty child, with her plump, tiny arms,
upstretched, to the pretty, tiny toy. He
hesitated, half inclined to give the child
her desire
ho ST.
at the watch, and used diplomacy. "You
see, gotter take this to some one else. /
1t amt really mine to give away care
less like, and if the other girl saw it she
might know it was hers. and take it
away. See? Next Crismus I'll see that
you get one, if you are good and 90 right
to bed. Where do you sleep? In there?"
He jerked his head toward the alcove that !
opened on the parlor
The boy nodded Mr. Snee lifted the |
two children easily.
Gee! this has been a funny hold-up |
all around" he said appreciatively as he
carried them nOiselessly into their room |
and placed them on the bed. With awk-
ward but SOLICITORS hands he drew the |
covers over them, tucking them in WELL !
Give Santa Claus a kiss" he whis- |
pered.
They caught him on either side Of the
neck with the vigorous ardor of children
Let up. pass, you've got the stran-
gler's grip on me, all right" he chuckled |
under his breath, and pressing their heads
down ON the pillow with a firm hand, |
added softly, Go ter sleep, kiddies."
When he took up his sack in the front |
room he had the look of a man that had |
been made radiant with the spirit of
peace on earth, good will to man. His
Eyes were bright, steady and direct His
plump, rosy figure shook in silent mirth.
He was Santa Claus
As he passed through the dining room
.he expression flickered. and then faded
rom his face in almost the same instant
IS he cast the thin rays of the lantern on
he table silver. He stretched out hand
oward the cream pitcher weighed it ten