The Alaska citizen., 1910-12-26
B. Tho mas L. Mason

ing before her CheNal lCeDerE HIT TOT. in the unpretentious but cosy apartment occupied by the Santa Clauses trying on a new fur robe that her husband had just presented 10 her. Always about this time Of the year. be gave her something nice all for herself. and hitherto she had accepted it with unfeigned pleasure But recently Mrs. Santa had been reading in the North Pole Yellow BOrealis taud other repre- hensible journals that the hired help took of the great number of di- vorces and marital troubles which were taking place, most of them ap- parently due to the men. The women, indeed. were all beautiful, and all vronged. and somehow the atmos- phere of this troublous condition had been getting on Mrs. Santa Claus's s nerves. So it happened that when her husband came bouncing in in his usual jolly manner. she turned around, with couple of hairpins in her mouth, and said:
 Well. suppose you are up to the same old game this year."
 What game, dear heart?"
 Well. l notice that you usually begin about the first Cf November to shut yourself up in your work shop. and then about this time you always make me nice present. just 10 keep me good natured, suppose. But"
 She look d at him severelq.
 T should like to know what you do every year when you go away one afternoon and stay away over night?'
 Santa Claus slapped his hand on his thigh. After all their years of mutual confidence this seemed to him the best joke he had ever heard. I'll be eternally frapped." he ex- claimed. You don't mean to say that you suspect me-afJer all this time? You know perfectly well what l do when l stay out over night"
 T know what you say you do. but how do l know it's the truth?'
 Santa Claus didn't know that his wife had been reading the yellow journals. and had therefore imbibed the idea that every woman was a blond angel, and every man a crim inal. and so he was at a loss to understand her suspicious.
 
 claimed Here for years and years l have been going out every Christ mas eve pursuing my fayorite hobby a man must have some recreation, you know-of giving away toys. and now, without the slightest warning you accuse me of deCeiying you. Now, if l was really q gambler, or dip somaniac, or in the habit of sneak inc off trif would be different; but to accuse me of deCeiying you-this is too much. " That's all right" said Mrs. Santa Clause, in a hard. cold. yellow jour nal voice. I've heard that kind of talk before-I mean I've read about it-and l don't take any stock in it. You are altogether tCo cheerful. Along about the first of December you are feeling altogether too good. Something is bound to happen when man feels that way. And l notice when you come home the day after Christmas you are all tired out Oh, you cant fool me"
 Santa Claus, as was natural un- der these trying circumstances. al most went to pieces at this sud den attitude on his wifes part Not ' but the thought of so much at stake made him lose for moment his self-possession.
 No such thing" he exclaimed. You don't know anything about it. I don't like to boast, but if you had the remotest conception of my fame If you knew that I was the best known character in the whole wide oil ,1rith h.. slightest attempt al advertising. done. indeed, because l love my fellow manor, rather, boy-you wouldn't be so heartless with your suspicious. But, it's always that way No man Is ever appreciated in his own home l have Cnly this to say, madam You may thing as you please; l must go out and to my work"
 Hold on! Wait moment"
 Mrs. santa Claus turned on him almost savagely.
 What are you going to do?"
 I'm getting ready for my even- ing, as usual"
 You are not going"
 Not going! Um! 1 guess l am."
 No, you are rOt-at least not as long as I am running this house. . that this is the age of woman, and if you think l am going to sit calm ly by and any longer and let you do as you please, you are very much mistaken"
 But" stammered Santa Claus, those boys and girls! simply can't disappoint them. It would be a terrible thing!"
 You needn't worry. They won't be disappointed-tha is, if what you say is true if you haven't been deceiving me. And I shall soon know. You can hitch up those rein deers and I'll go myself"
 What. take my place? Climb down ch.mneys; slide over roofs?"
 That's all right. There isn't a thing a man can do that woman can't. Where's your route?"
 She grabbed out a paper and fourished it over him.
 ''Pll find out whether your telling me the truth or not" she exclaimed. I'll go to these places mentioned here and, in the meantime you can be loading up for me, and prepare to stay home, and do all the house, work while I'm gone"
 And Santa Claus, as he went out to the stable, dropped frozen tear on the hard snow finish and signing softly to himself said:
 Pm innocent, all right, but what will happen to all my old friends.