The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1910-12-02
VOL Cv--NC. as

? crowed softly as he slipped II In Dr.
cie's stocking.
II got couple OF handkerchiefs
: that I've never used" said frankie
|, suddenly IN give one TO Ducie and
one to somebody else. Let's get bus
boys"
They got busy and searched their
trunks and their pockets for treasures
ihnt might 60 to flll comrades stock.
ing Pocketknives, handkerchief, o
watch chain. key ring, neck handker.
CARS, patent pencil, matchboxes-all
changed hands dcftly from pockets to
one or another Of tho yawnlng stock
ings. When tho little store Of articles
gave out they had recourse to the
magazine md lavished all sorts Of
autographed gifts upon ench other.
They NIL entered into the spirit OF
the thing with nm abandonment that
was pathetic when ono considered the
barrenness of the ground upon which
they tried to graft Christmas What
ever ehe the occasion lacked, tho
Yuictide spirit was there
When Ducie Case emerged from the
kitchen with tho thoroughly cowed
Sam Huh In his train they were laden
with plates of red apples and yellow
oranges, plates Of crisp cakes fresh
from their paper boxes and u large
dish OF candy, which Ducie placed In
the middle of the table.
Bring In tho coffee. Sam. when
holler," said Ducio tremendously.
Then ho turned TO tho grlnnlng cow
punchers surrounding tho fire. Let's
see what SANITY Claus has got for us,
sh, boyaf"
"Yuu first, Duclc!" they insisted. and
they watched him delightedly M he
brought forth from tho stocking a pa
per OF his favoritc tobacco. which
StOrrs also carried. and silver watch
chain.
"Fhnt was great idea Of mine,"
chucklcd DuclG after he Ind Identified
tho givers and thanked them warmly.
II have Il feeling that this here Ia to bo
kind Of merry Christmas. even II
tho mail don't get in"
After that there was no end 10 tho
fun. Each man found several surpris.
ing gifts In his stockings. and there
was much mcrrmcnt In identifying tho
glvers and more interchange OF good
feeling thnn the Double Star had known
IN some time.
Presently sam Huh brought In pot
Of steaming coffee. and they gathered
about tho board md ate Of the refresh.
ments and toasted Mr.. Ducie 10 tho
stimulating black liquid with much
hattery.
When the meal was concluded Ray
mond Storrs sang n song In his nne
tenor voice. II was Christmas carol,
one that they oil knew. and they Joined
In the chorus with vim. Frankie de-
livcred nm Amusing monologue, and tho
taciturn Miller give an absurdly funny
imitation OF II fashionable Indy buying
q hat There were other songs anu
recitations and the qunillng Of weird
ly constructed bowl Of punch TINT sam
Huh had laboriously put together from
several c0okb and unlimited nd
vice from tho different members of the
party.
whats tho matter with this Christ
mas3" demanded Frankie excliedly ns
II o'clock was struck on the tall clock
In the corner.
'Its all right! It's been n bully onel
Couldn't DO better! Up to US to thank
Ducier" were some Of the comments
on the occasion.
There was the sound Of h00fs pound
Ing In the snow outside and loud
shout. Every man was on his feet
with Interested faces.
"The mail ut last" cried Miller or.
citedly. "N0w wen zee what's whati"
They crowded nbout the door M Mr..
West came over from the big house to
open tho mnil bng. II Ind stopped
showing, md the stars were blnzlng In
a cold, clear. dark sky.
"Icttcr for you, md you and you,'
ratified Mr.. West M he tossed letters
here md there nmong his employees.
They Rruspcd them eagcrly aud then
tucked them nway for private poruanl.
II happened TINT each ono received Mt
least ono letter, and Raymond siorrS
received several with Ban Fr''hcisco
pOstmnrk, ms well NJ wooden chse
that was dumped on tho noor Gro IN"
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