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

swinging it on his back with grunt went
with feline step to the rear of the roof
crossed the dividing parapet to an adj
/ Joining house, and softly swung himself
over the edge onto the ladder of the fire
escape The pause ON the platform of
the top fiat showed that the rooms were
empty At the fourth floor the window
was considerably raised two inches The
Santa Claus noiselessly lifted it to its
| full height, slid gingerly through and
stood on the floor of the kitchen, listen
ing There was absolute silence. The
Santa Claus brought forth small dark
lantern and flashed the ray over the room
until it showed the hallway door. After
listening intently the lantern was dark
ened, and the Saint went cautiously
through the hall, opened the door at the
end. and swept aside the heavy curtain.
Under a green shaded drop light,
around round dining room table, coat
less, immobile, and with piles of red,
white and blue disks in front of them, sat
five men.
Raise WHAT The dev--" began
one man opposite the door, lifting his
eyes just as the Santa Claus pulled back
the cur tain.
The Others turned, stared and two rose
from their seats.
Merry Christmas!" said Santa Claus
in a curious. breathless fashion.
"Why!" said one man. recovering
quickly, its Santa Claus. Hope you've
got ten thousand year for me in that
bag, old man."
Give him drum. He needs it in his
trade" suggested another.
How did you get in?" asked one of
the men standing up
BY the fire escape window" answered
Santa Claus. Il must have"
That's it" interrupted the questioner.
you've struck the wrong fiat. It's on
the floor below on the other side that the
children are. | suppose it ratified you
climbing down the ladders
It's this way" began the apparition,
in embarrassed voice; Il was to surprise
the kids, and"
"Of course" broke in a man. who put
on his coat as he spoke and, turning to
the other men, added, apoogetically,
You boys won't care if / quit. To tell
the truth, / forgot it was Christmas, and
well, guess l ought to 90 home to my
wife and the Dabies"
so should H. said another. awkwardly.
Il promised to be home to fill the boys
stockings
4 guess I've spoilt your game,' said
the Santa Claus, regetfully, as he
backed out. Pm sorry. It's a mistake.
was more surprised than you We're"
Come back" they called after him.
"You must have a drink on u.s.
He came back to the room, took the
glass, and waited while four Of the men
struggled into their topcoats Then, as
all stood with filled glasses, the Spirit of
Christmas glanced with twinkling eyes at
the five faces, and said, heartily:
Here's to Christmas, the kids and the
missis. God bless 'em Amen.'
Good night" they called after him as
he slipped through the door Good luck
and happy New Year"
Santa Claus stopped long enough in the
kitchen to pick up some spoons that lay
on the stationary tubs He heard their
good-byes to their host, mingling with
the latter's expostulations at being de-
serted, Then st. Nick slipped out of the
window, closed it, and climbed down the
ladder to the third floor with something
of a sardonic smile making crows feet
about his shifty eyes.
TO the expert touch, which obviously
belongs to st. Nicholas and his clerks,
there is not the least difficulty in making
an entrance to fiat. Moreover. owing to
the objections that apartment house own
ers sustain to pet dogs, the chances of de-
lection are beautifully lessened. 1t was
evident that the third floor west had
amply repaid the Investigations which
the nasque of Christmas had instituted
with thoroughness and dispatch, for as he |
reappeared on the fire escape the sack was
lifted with perceptible effort to his Shout /!
der and he hesitated as if undecided over
carrying his researches to the floor be- |
low.
What lay" he whispered in medita |
tive admiration. THE best ever And
what bit of luck from doing a turn for |
a KID! He'll get the happy thought from
b. Snee every time all right, all right"
BY which it may be seen that the inno- |
cent words of little child had lifted a |
thief's heart and raised him from the /
degradation Of picking pockets to the
proper If nlauded height of his ancient
profession.
Many things haS gone into the BAG
done up in scarlet and white tissue paper I
happily decorated with holly and ribbon. |
because time had been lacking to undo
Wrappings, and coyness on Mr.. Snee's
part forbade an exhibition of his receptive
pleasure to prying curiosity. 1t was.
perhaps, with the belief that some of the
parcels would fall short in practical uses
that decided him to take a look" at least
at the second floor underneath.
Ills method of procedure in the pre-
V,ous Hats was mtainted by any origin,
alty IN this one. He flashed his lantern
over the kitchen. darkened it in the han,
cautiously unveiled its CLEANS on the cut
&I@Is ana silver settings of the breakfast
table, and, like Capt. Cutie. "wbnn fonnd
made a note of it." Then he STOLE
through into the parIor. where the eas
burned IN a blue bead for a night LIGHT.
| ndcr the mantel hung two short Die.
thonc ~tockings-lumpy and expanded
out OF all kinship with their kind in tho
o,T,ef"eenmg generosity of the season
4.l .