Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1908-12-11

and shouted to the crowd: "Jtmmy's
goin' to give yer . toy each. Jim.
my"
The big boy went spraying before
the crowd that swayed and struggled
in. and Jimmy was driven back to the
counter
Women came In to plead tor 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 lnhabitant
of the alley.
Then Jimmy tried to go to bed.
but was so weak and giddy that he
could not climb the stairs. So ho
sat In the armchair instead. He
felt strange as we'll a. poorly. The
chairs. the fre-irons. the coa).scuttle.
the table-cover. everything. seemed to
turn into fantastic figures. and long
tailed demons were running up the
blinds Santa Claus on the mantel.
piece was scowling and sneertns 1t
him.
Jimmy got into 4 sudden rage with
Santa Claus and struck him with bis
fist
Santa Claus tottered on the man
telpiece. but righted himself. He was
more solid and weighty than Jimmy
had imagined, and there was clink-
ing sound as he swayed-a sound OF
clinking money The truth flashed
upon Jimmy as he sank back exhaust
ed in the armchair. The long
stocking" was in Santa Claus. and he
could not get to it, and he never
would, because he was going to die.
He saw Santa Claus -leering2 at him
when he woke, and in his dreams.
and when he dozed Then be sudden
ly looked frightened. Some one was
knocking loudly at the door. That was
what frightened him. Jimmy woke
completely just as the knocking
, ceased There was a grating noise
! outside the window-the noise Of
some one slipping knife through
the frame to press back the catch.
! Jimmy struggled to move. but his
; limbs only wriggled little. He
IL leu " oAOOI. UuL III SOAuu Sd"0.
| The shutters came open with q
crash, and Bill Black stepped within.
Jimmy closed his eyes to escape
| the sight of the knife, but he felt
; Black looking at him. Then. to his
! surprise, he went away into the
! shop. Jimmy heard a noise OF un-
barring and unlocking. Then he felt
cool hand on his pulse
Collapse" pleasant voice said.
"lt's lucky we weren't an hour later"
Jimmy opened his eyes, and saw
the doctor and Black bending over
him.
I've been playtn' at Santa Claus.
matey," Black said. I'VE judged yer
was pretty bad not to answer the
knockin', so I got in Rare nice toys
them was yer gave my young 'uns.
Judged yer was pretty bad, 50
fetched EN-"
Bill Black looked at the fire
thoughtfully. and repeated to himself:
Rare nice toys" Then be carried
Jimmy upstairs and helped the doc.
tor put him to bed. He was wonder.
fully gentle in handling Jimmy
Three weeks later Jimmy came
downstairs to the shop parlor. and
the first thing he noticed was that
Santa Claus was gone from the man.
telpiece. He was very weak. and be
could not help a few tears coming
to his eyes; but he had brushed them
away before Bill came in.
Feel all right. boy?" Bill asked.
Yes. BILL" Jimmy said. Pretty
fair"
Seems strange down here, don't
IT."
"A little strange" Jimmy agreed.
Bill cut some hard tobacco In the
palm of his hand. and whistled soft.
" and filled his pipe. Notice any.
thing pertickler stranger" he sug.
gested. His eyes were on the man.
telpiece. where Santa Claus wasn't,
and so were Jimmys.
NO." said Jimmy, bravely. mo.
Bill"
mot on the mantelshelf?"
| JIuuy pIeSSeu lis uO8Sr-u8I0
against his palms. There was a
sort OF figure there" he said. WASH:
there's Bill? II s'pose it got broke
1t doesn't matter Bill lit wasn't
worth nothink.''
Bill laughed and slapped his leg
With his hand. Eyer amt no Judge
Of figures. matey. can see. That
ere was curious old piece Of stuff.
an valerble, or l amt no Judge. I
took the notion o lockin' i'm away
upstairs. Jimmy" Bill put his
J great hand on the boys shoulder.
1.-THE long stockin' were inside him!
Over a thousand dollars. I took the
liberty Of usin' the odd money in tho
bush for yer, but the thousand 10
there An it's lucky fer yer, matey,
rs yer was dealin' with an honest
man-wot might have been diffrint
II you hadn't given the kids them
toys"
! For there is honor among-Pa1ton
alley; and Paxton alley extends to
!