Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-09-18


and them suddenly uncaspng his tiny hand, thrust into
the smooth palm of the judge certain small coins.
"Why, what's this for?" asked the
Its to pay for Bily-what he stole, stammered the
boy.
Who is Billy? And what did he stea?"
Blys my bruvver He stole strap longside your
hitching post don't blieve he knew it bonged to you
We lives in the house back of your stable"
Oh-h, said the Judge beginning understand
" and did Billy give you the money to give to me ~
No; it is my money buy Christmas presents wifi.
Is there enough money
Yes said the Judge slowly; e more than enough.
So you going TO buy Christmas presents you?
And whom you going to buy them for:
One for wifi the cents; for Billy wifi
the five one for the twins wifi the apiece,
and one for Miss Simpson wifi the other cent
Much to Arthur's surprise, but his consterna-
tionfor the touch OF the great had kindness in it
the judge stopped down. and gathering him up his
down in the big chair with him. Then he rang
bell, and when servant in answer, said
Ask Miss Corad to come here"
When the had gone the man turned his at
tention again to the boy in his lap
But if you pay all this money for Billy maybe you
will not have any to buy gifts with"
The little fellow shook his head and his lips trembed
All the bright dreams of the past months seemed to flash
before him and to go out in darkness
(Which OF them all would you rather give
present to if you had some money left?"
"My muvver, because she works SO hard and never
has anything NICE
and what would you get herr"
"A nice pink handkchf that looks like silk but you
buy for cents, cause she hasn't got anything
pretty at all"
Just then Arthur was conscious that beautiful young
woman standing beside them. Judge Corad
planned something to her in very long words and she
smiled down at the little boy.
WE'LL, said the judge taking ten cents and handing
it back to Arthur The other money will be enough
pay for the strap Billy took. When you go home You
tell him it is all settled But there are five DAYS yet
before Christmas and shouldn't wonder if YOU might
be able to little money in that time have
been looking for little boy OF about your size
over some magazines and pile them up for Now if
you would like work for about hour every day,
shouldn't wonder if you could much money
you had before maybe a little more Will you
do it,"
Yes said Arthur. His heart very light
What beautiful room that library was! He wondered
why 1t had seemed dark and gloomy when he first
came in. What pleasant the Judge was! He
wondered why he had ever been afraid of him. Miss
Corad, too. certainly the most beautiful he
had
well, them said the judge, its bargain. Sup
pose You up tomorrow, about o'clock. 1 won't
be home myself, but my little girl here will Arthur
wondered why he called her his little girl" and she
will show YOU what to do And say" he added as the
little fellow about to 60, let's make secret of
it, will you Don't tell your folks that YOU earning
money and then my little girl and will go and help you
buy the presents. and we'll surprise them all What do
you say? VIII YOU do it"
YES" said Arthur. A surprise had been part of
his plan with Miss Simpson too
The great department were certainly very
derful Arthur had much OF their wonder before
through the windows but he had been inside and
he had expected buy his Christmas presents i'll
them Miss Simpson had planned to buy from much
smaller and as lar as Arthurs experience went better
known of the neighborhood The holiday goods
which these little stores displayed were perhaps tawdry
and mean but they had seemed quite wonderful in his
eyes Now hustled and jostled by surgng crowd of
men, women and other children cnging in desperation.
Miss Corads hand and to her skirt his little
mind bewidered, and his sensations rather
those of who making martyr of himself for the
good of those whom he loves, than of child Sghsee
ing in fairyland of toys There many beau
tiful beautiful things; so many things that he would
have gone into ecsasies could he have considered
them at tme many things that he knew would
rejoice the heart of Billy and of his mother and of the
twins. that he lost all appreciation of them and could
not feel that they were real.
Miss Corad was buying great deal and from time to
time she asked Arthur questions concerning this and
that, wondered if Billy would like certain mutieT or
if his mother would like dress from certain piece of
cloth; but the little boys had begun to grow so
vague that she last contented herself with her
judgment Arthur knew that she buying his gifts for
him. ind he had dull of being wronged; for he
could tell in the number of other things which she
bought, just what had been purchased with the money
he had earned from Judge Corad could he tell for
whom the things intended
He very tired and very bewldered when they
through at last and glad TO get into the dusk
OF the Christmas 1t pleasantly cold out OF
doors. and the beginning shine up the
SKY aid to light up the in very Christmasy way
Bc5des the numerous bundles which were carried out
and put i, the carriage had of delightful nyser,
about them; and once Miss Corad and he were out O.
the great hustle of the store he could feel ertan