The Cairo bulletin., 1910-12-12

Was His Own
Santa Claus
He Gave Gifts to Others
and Found a Prize
For Himself
BY MARIA 6. HAWKINS
Copyright, 1870, by American Press
Association,

= anu lueH $1,000 watching 1t make las
laborious way through the .piing
drifts. The w:ld screamed around The
i little railroad station and tore at the
roof savagely
His married sister had recently gone
to live in this quaint old village, aud
she had planned that 1s first Christ
mas in the country W. to be of the
genuine Old time variety. One of the
chief features Of the Christmas eve
entertainment was to be tree and
the advent Of Santa Claus down one
| OF the wide mouthed chimneys, which
was to be thoroughly cleaned for the
| occasion.
You are to be the Santa Claus"
She had written to her brother the
week before, Frank Is entirely too
stout to come down the chimney, but
an athlete like you should be able to
accomplish 1t without difficulty. We
have had the sitting room chimney
| cleaned-there are four chimneys in
| tLio oitt utuSNt Sou huoN~ 1T ID
so large that by standing in the
hearth one can look up and see the
sky overhead. Frank will rig rope
ladder to help you on your downward
path, and the fire won't be built till
afterward. Now, we want 1t to be u
complete surprise TO the children, so
you might rs well make the descent
as soon as you arrive from the train.
Don't forget to take the $50, Re-
member, | shall expect to see your
feet coming down the chimney at 8
o'clock sharp. Win leave one of
Franks old motor coats on the porch
for you to wear"
Sherman chuckled dellghtedly as he
made his way down the hill How the
youngsters would shout when they saw
the Santa Claus he meant to be, In
his pocket was a merry faced mask
with snowy hair and beard attached,
and in the suit case he carried was Il
small pack stuffed with little toys and
odds and ends he had gathered. His
larger gifts he had sent on by express
the day before TO be placed on the tree
He came upon the house sooner than
he expected. He recognized 1t at once
by the arched gateway around which
a naked wistarla vine ratified in the
wind.
The windows showedA mellow glow
of light as he softly entered the gate
and proceeded up the snowy path to-
ward the low house He turned to the
right ana passed around to the ell
where Marcia had said there would be
a >ladder leaning against the wall
There was ladder here, and he look
ed in the porch for his brother-ln -law's
old fur coat. There was nothing there,
and 1t was evident In the haste of
Christmas preparations the coat had
been forgotten. Sherman felt ruefully
of his own fur coat and then with a
shrug of the shoulders opened the suit
case and adjusted his pack and In the
shelter of the porch put on the mask
and placed bis fur cap on the snowy
hair.
They haven't come into the sitting
room yet, Well, l guess III start my
descent and let them know I'm COM
ing. | shall freeze to death out here"
AS matter of fact Sherman was very
warm and comfortable.
Sherman Bell flung a leg into the
mouth of the chimney and felt about
for the rope ladder that was to be In
side. HisSfoot touched small firm
foundation and rested there. Present
" he was standing inside the chimney
on narrow ledge Of bricks that pro.
jected there. AS lie looked downward
at the black pit beneath there was the
sound of an opening door, and then
light ilumined the hearth where a
neat fire Of logs was laid ready to be
kindled
Nowhere could he see the rope lad
der that his sister had promised should
be there.
He bent his body and braced his feet
on the projecting bricks.
Hello, Marciaw he called In guard
ed whisper.
A faint scream answered his voice,
and the light disappeared for nm In
slant TO be followed by a stronger one
and the tramp of many feet and the
sound OF many voices raised in laugh
ter, alarm or speculation.
Merry Christmas, everybody" roar
ed Sherman Bell down the chimney.
During the petrifed silence that fol-
lowed the brick that supported one
foot gave way and ratified down the
chimney, As matter Of course Mr..
Bell lost his balance and went down
after II. raising suffocating cloud OF
SCOT as he fell The pack of toys
swung over his head, humping him
vigorously all the way down till he
stuck tight In the chimney Just before
he reached the fireplace below.
Too sooty and uncomfortable for ut |
terance, Mr.. Bell maintained digni- |
fed silencauntil his kinspeople should |
see fit to extricate him from his UNI
comfortable position.
What do You suppose II is?" he |
heard a feminine voice inquirng tim
idly
"'It,' my dear girl" scoffed mn iras.
chile old gentleman whose tones Bell |
did not recognize There Is not the |
slightest doubt II IL mana burglar, |
should judge"
"a burglar in crimson silk socksT
~. a A..