The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1908-01-23

There was Wild chorus Of recOg.
milton when he appeared between the
dingy green curtains that slid along
rail. JIMMY" Jimmy" Want
any one 10 run your errins. JImmy?"
Yer might give us somethink, Jim
my?" He heard all these greetings
and dozen more.
He shook his head and returned TO
his scat. lie certainly did feel III,
and he seemed 20 lose things for a
few minutes, until Bill Black came
In for three little toys. Bill was
looked up to in the alley as man
who did big Jobs" and the Blacks
were generally reckoned wellto-do: |:
but Bilrs transactions hadp't been
very profitable lately. and he had to
be careful. because he knew that the
were hard up. like the rest.
Found the long stockin', Jimmy"
he asked. casually. when he had
taken the toys.
NO" said Jimmy. And n had
II 'u'd be at the lawyers. Bill. an
don't yer make no mistake"
Bill growlcd under his breath. III
yer didn't look half dead I'd knock
yer lead orr. yer young hound" he
said. "inslnywaitin' ag'inst an honest
man. Coin to offer To do anythlnk
fer yer. the missus was. wot I'll soon
put-a stop To now"
He gave Jimmy ferocioug scowl
as he went out. and Jimmy resolved
that II he found the stocking he
would take Il TO the lawyer at once.
lie went to the door and faced a
crowd OF excited faces that ranged
In rows from the front of the shop
right across the alley.
Jimmy" they cried. Give us
somethink! Yer might, Jimmy!"
Jimmy always said afterward that
he only did 1t because he thought he
was dying. and the toys would be no
uso to him. and the pains In his
heart "drawed him out OF himself" I"
lie tried to speak. but his voice was
only whisper. SO he beckoned ia
big boy and whispered To him: and
the boy stood up on the doorstep.
and shouted to the crowd: "Jimmy's 3
goin' To give yer n toy each. Jim.
my"
The big boy went sprawling before
the crowd that swayed and struggled
In. and Jimmy was driven back to the
counter.
Women came In to plead for their
babies at home Boys and girls
came In to remind him OF their broth.
ers and sisters. by nine o'clock he
had given TO every small inhabltant
OF the alley.
Then Jimmy tried to go TO bed
but was so weak and giddy that he
could not climb the stairs. So he
sat In the armchair instead. He
felt strange as well as poorly. The
chairs, the ilre.irons, tho coal.scuttle,
the table'cover, everything. seemed 20
turn into fantastic figures, and long
tailed demons were running up the
J blinds Santa Claus on the mantel.
piece was scowling and sncering at
him.
Jimmy got into sudden rage with
| Santa Claus and struck him with his
| lst.
| Santa Claus tottered on the man.
telplece. but righted himself. He was
moro solid and weighty than Jimmy
had imagined. and there was clink.
Ing sound as he swayed--a sound of
clinklng money. The truth flashed
upon Jimmy as he sank back exhaust.
ed In the armchair Tho long
stocking" was In Santa Claus, and he
could not get 10 Il. and he never
would. because he was going TO die
He saw Santa Claus lcering at him
when he woke, and In his dreams
and when he dozed. Then he sudden
l,ly looked frightened, Some one was
knocking loudly at the door, That was
what frightened him. Jimmy woke
completely just as the knocking
ceased. He must have beon aslee.
long time, he thought, because the
fire was low; and he supposed hs
had been what they called light