Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-11-29

she and Blake might meet. Who
knows?' Adds smiled.
Blake Preston's preparations for
Christmas were many and varied, for
he had planned to enact the part of
Santa Claus and demonstrate to his
self satisfied relatives the fact that IL
good old st. Nicholas was deprived
of his legitimate mode of entry, the
chimney, there had been provided an
other and more modern entrance. He
would surprise them by arriving on the
dumb waiter.
This daring scheme involved a long
interview with the janitor Of the Benz.
iSlawn, who was converted from scorn
full skepticism Of the scheme to be-
come a warm adherent to Blake's plan.
OF course this conversion was accom-
panied by an interesting rantomime
between the two men, Blakes hand 60
ing back and forth to his well filed
wallet and the janitor's palm closing
upon cracking paper money. After
that they both went and investigated
the dumb waiter.
1t was a very large dumb waiter.
operated by electricity, and could be
stopped at any floor from below. 1t
was meant to carry supplies to the
different tenants of the Bemislawn,
and the janitor was positive that it
could easily sustain a weight Of 800
pounds.
1t was a snowy, wind swept Christ
mas eve, and the Adds family were
gathered in the dining room of their
fat, In accordance with Blake's In
structions. The children were aquiver
with anticipation. for Uncle Blake had
limited broadly that Santa Claus would
surely appear in person that evening.
and they expected him to appear via
the fire escape or the transom and
watched accordingly. No one thought
of the dumb waiter.
Down in the basement It was hot
enough and almost unbearable by the
time Blake had buttoned himself into
fur overcoat, adjusted Santa Claus
mask and wig and tied on a lappeted
cap. A well packed sack found place
between his knees when he had crowd.
ed into the dumb waiter.
T hope she won't break down-I'll
lOSc NY Jul IL sue uOCSy kcludEhcu tlC
| janitor cheerfully as he prepared to
start Blake on his strange journey to
the fourth floor.
You said it would carry 500.
weigh only $780," protested Blake. "If
anything happens. my man
Nothing will happen" assured the
| janitor hastily, and without more par
ley he sent the waiter up.
Something did happen and soon
after Blake had started up in the
sitting cage. The dumb waiter came
to sudden standsdll, and there was
no way Of knowing whether he had
reached the fourth floor or not, but
he was sure he had not.
Then a bell tinkled near at hand,
footsteps tripped across the floor, and
the darkness of his cage was banished
by the sliding back of a door. He
saw the interior of a little blue and
white kitchen just like Bessie Adds.
AS he scrambled out into the light
there was sharp outcry, and the girl
who had opened the door of the dumb
waiter fed to the opposite wall and
stared at his strangely appareled form.
w nc uIe NOu! w lldL no you whit
she asked in frightened voice.
By this time Blake Preston realized
that he had blundered into the wrong
fiat. But was it the wrong fat? He
continued to stare at the girl with
mingled feelings of joy and chagrin-
joy because 1t was none other than his
lost love, Editha Wayne, who stood
before him; chagrin because of the
ridiculous plight in which he stood.
II have made a mistake" he STAN
mered at last. 81 was to be let off at
the fourth floor. 1 am afraid 1 cannot
continue my journey on the dumb
waiter and must trouble you to show
me to the corridor"
At the sound of his voice a rose
color drifted across her face, leaving
1t deadly white.
"Who are your" she repeated with
out moving.
Blake's pride prompted him to leave.
| but his love would have its way now.
He tore off cap and mask and wig
and looked at her from pleading blue
eyes.
Editha stared at him. drinking In all
inc DelONeu INES OF MS race. linen
she held out her hands to him.
. 'Oh, Blake, your coming is the only
gift l craved. You viii not leave me
againp'
"Neverv' cried Blake as he held her
in his arms. Later he said soberly:
81 guess love is the basis Of that
Christmas spirit Adds and Bessie were
talking about. I am so happy i would
; endow the whole world with joy IL
could"
Blake picked % the mask and cap.
Let US go upstairs and see them and
explain to them that some day there
will be Mrs. Santa Claus Blessed
be fats"
! Perhaps the janitor of the Bemis-
lawn was the most surprised Of all.
"And he gave me IS more because I
let him off at the wrong door," he ex-
planned to his amazed wife on Christ
: mas morning.