Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
20 LOS ANGELES HERAL
The COlOnePs Christmas Pudding
CONTINUED from Page 6D

time since we met, and on tnat occa-
sion it was my duty to get you eight
cen months Imprisonment for fraud
and forgery and robbing your mistress
of money. You obtained a good sit
uation by means of a forged character,
and you are we'll known to the police.
If did the right thing l should have
you detained and searched. OF course,
| know quite well why you are here.
And you are going in this hurry be-
cause you recognized me last night.
may tell you that the recognition is
mutual. Give me your basket"
There is nothing in it but a plum
pudding for my mother" the woman
protested.
invalid mothers don't require plum
puddings" Stanton smiled. "Give me
your basket just as 1t is, and you can
CO."
The basket was handed over with a
sigh. without another word Stanton
marched back to the house with 1t on
his arm. AS he expected, he found
Miss Candwell in the kitchen superin-
tending matters. He opened the
basket casually.
''I took this from your cook" he said
"Unless am greatly mistaken 1t is the
plum pudding for tomorrow's dinner L
noticed last night that there were two
puddngs of greater tonnage than the
rest. and l feel sure that this Is one
of them"
"Ouite right" Miss Candwell smiled.
"I suppose that cook regarded this as
one of her perquisites And you actual
ly took It from her?"
my dear lady. l had an excellent
reason" Stanton said. MY excuse
will be forthcoming tomorrow night at
dinner Now. will you do me special
favor? Will you see that this is the
pudding for Christmas day?"
And Miss Candwell gave the desired
assurance.
It was an excellent dinner, in spite of
the late cooks detection, and MISS
Candwelrs anxious face relaxed on the
appearance of the pudding carried by
two footmen and blazing with gold ana
purple flames. 1t was gravely divided
and handed round to the various
guests.
lone moment" Stanton remarked:
'This. I feel sure is a pudding or
amazing qualities. If ii should con-
tain any foreign substance such as
Look at th's!" a pretty girl on the
far side of the table cried "A neck
lace!"
And here is a ring" another voice
broke in. And l have got pendant
as WELL"
The cries were becoming general now
all along the table. Finger bowls were
broubht into requsition, and pretty
soon a pile of glittering gems lay ny
the side of the colonel's plate. He held
them carefully up to the light
INV poor wifes missing jeWelry,' ne
said. "Mr. Stanton, you are indeed
Sherlock Holmes. Pray tell us how you
managed such marvellous results. 1t
was pretty conceit of yours to
"Only part of the credit is mine, SIR.
stanton said modestly. Then he related
his encounter with the cook.
splendid" the colonel cried. you
are the most remarkable young man l
ever came across. I dr. nix to your good
luck, sir. Everybody will join me- And
if there is any way in which can re-
pay YOU any favor, however great
stanton glanced at Kitty and smiled.
She blushed and colored with delight
An hour or so later, when the sensa-
tion and excitement had somewhat SUD
sided, Stanton turned to remind his
listened quietly.
$50 YOU have met before" he said.
Well-well I suppose l shall have TO
part with Kitty some of these days. and
I may say that | had other plans.
Young men nowadays are so empty
headed so frivolous, so-you under
stand what / mean! But after tonight
l feel that could not refuse you any
thing"
Kitty was in the conservatory, ap-
parently doing nothing. Stanton caught
her to him and kissed her warm red
lips. Outside the moon was shining
on the snow.
what luck!" he said ITS all right
darling And he's rather proud of me-"
"And so am l." Kitty said, fondly
1T was wonderful of you, Hal-won-
derful!'