Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-03

Bring in the. coffee, Sam, when !
boiler" said Ducie tremendously.
Then he turned to the grilning cow
punchers surrounding the fire. Lets
see what Sanity Claus has got for us,
eh. boys?"
You first Ducier' they insisted. ard
they watched him delightedly as he
brought forth from the stocking a pa
per of his favorite tobacco. which
Storrs also carried. and a silver watch
chain.
THAT was great idea of NINE"
chuckled Ducie after ne had identified
the givers and thanked them warmly.
at have feeling that this here is TO be
a kind of a merry Christmas, even If
the mail don't get in"
After that there was no end TO the
fun. Each man found several surpris-
ing gifts in his stockings. and there
was much merriment in identifying the
givers and more interchange Of good
feeling than the Double Star had known
in some time.
Presently Sam Huh brought in a pot
of steaming coffee, and they gathered
about the board and ate of the refresh
ments and toasted Mr.. Ducie in the
stimulating black liquid with much
fattery.
When the meal was concluded Ray
mond Storrs sang a song in his fine
tenor voice 1t was Christmas carol.
one that they all knew. and they Joined
in the chorus with Il vim. frankie de-
Hvered an Amusing monologue, and the
taciturn Miller gave an absurdly funny
imitation of a fashionable lady buying
q hat. There were other songs and
recitations and the quaffing of weird
" constructed bowl Of punch that Sam
Huh had laboriously put together from
several cookbooks and unlimited ad-
vice from the different members of the
party.
''What's the matter with this Christ
mas?" demanded frankie excitedly as
II o'clock was struck on the tall clock
in the corner.
ITS all right. It's been bully one!
Couldn't be better! Up to us to thank
Ducier' were some of the comments
on the occasion.
There was the sound of hoofs pound
ing in the snow outside and a loud
shout. Every man was on his feet
with interested faces.
citedlv. Now we'll see what's what!
They crowded about the door MS Mr..
West came over from the big house TO
open the mail bag. 1t had stopped
showing. and the stars were blazing in
a cold. clear, dark sky.
Letter for you, and you, and you,
ratified Mr. West as be tossed letters
here and there among his employees.
They grasped them eagerly and then
tucked them away for private perusal.
1t happened that each one received at
/ least one letter. and Raymond Storrs
( received several with a San Francisco
postInark, as well as a wooden case
! that was dumped on the floor ere the
! letter carrier drove away.
Storrs ripped off the cover while they
hung breathlessly over him. From nu-
merous careful wrappings he drew
( forth a large phonograph with morn
ing glory horn and a collection OF wax
music rolls. Deity Storrs fitted the
parts together and placed the machine
on the table and wound it up. There
was n cylinder in the machine. as If
his sweetheart. who had sent il. had
/ left it there that he might hear the
continuation Of a melody she had been
singing.
/ There was a low. buzzing sound, and
( then there came forth from that in
strument of wood and metal sweet
soprano voice singing with a delicate
! violin accompaniment:
ooh, holy night, peaceful night"
! AS the hymn rang out every hat was
J
/ bareheaded in the open doorway look
| ing out at the same brilliant stars that
I had shone down over Bethlehem that
! long ago holy night when the first
( Christmas was sung over one who
brought peace and good will into the
world.
Afterward. as they followed Mr..
West across the yard toward the big
house where he said n feast awaited
them, frankie nudGed DuCie Case with
a raZor-like elbow.
y learned one thing tonight" admit
ted frankie graciousIy, land that was
you can have Christmas cheer most
anywhere. provided you've got the in
gradients I'm your heartfelt"
Ducie nodded. Everybody has got
the ingredients 10 make n happy
Christmas in their hearts. only they
don't stir 'em together TO make EN-
work properly Haven't they. Nor
man?' He shot this question at the
tall young man walking beside him
with radiant face upturned to the
stars.
Storrs pressed the photograph that
had registered the singing voice Of his
sweetheart close under his arm and
smiled contentedly
You betr, he cried emphaticaliy.