Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-12-21

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Rs AID WalIingford been any
kESAgY thing but a wealthy bach
SA# eior and accustomed to hav-
A%@J ing everything he wanted,
F% the circumstances would
IL sssASll have seemed less Of a
Vz calamity.
n.y. He had been on his way
to San Francisco to spend Christmas
with his favorite married sister; and
midway, IN the most barren desert of
the country, q bridge had been swept
away by winter gales. His destina-
tion could not possibly be reached un-
til Christmas was well over.
Wallingford cast a glance out over
the wide stretch of rolling plains with
only a few scattered shacks to break
their endless waste; and then he
looked back to his bullying suit case.
The latest and most wonderful toys
he could find in the city shops were
crowded into that bag, for his sisters
only boy. Then, not caring whether
or not a highwayman might be looking
in at the window of the parlor car,
he took a small box from his waist
coat pocket and looked sorrowfully
at a ring from which three exquisite
diamonds flashed back at him.
Wallingford leaned back in his
chair and in imagination pictured his
sisters joy when slipping that ring
on her finger. He could hear her
scold him for his extravaganza and
chaff him for having no one else for
whom to buy such baubles. He sighed
and returned 1t to his pocket much
as-he might have cast it to the depths
of the sea; it would do him as much
good there as 1t would in his pocket
under the present circumstances.
Wallingford was reconeiled to a
Christmas dinner " a lunch u
ter when his eye caught the name OF
Yankyille. Yankville probably boast
ed a near-thousand inhabitant, yet
Yankville also suggested the name of
Everly-Jack Everly. When WalIing
ford had last heard Of Jack EVERY
the latter was located in Yankvifle.
That WAS some eighteen months be-
fore, but there was no reason why he
should not be there~still.
It seemed that everyone in Yank-
vile knew the Everly homestead. It
was the only one of any proportions
in the village.
The red glow from an open fire
within cheered Wallingford's numbed
faculties as he rang tAs bsll al The
EVERY door.
On the face of her who opened the
door, surprise was the principal ex-
preston. For, Wallingfofd, his six
feet-two encased In q great fur coat
all dangling with g~listening now
beads and his handsome glowing face
looking frankly into her own, was a
surprise for any eyes.
She did not wait for him to explain
his errand but with the matron'a priv
ilege of hospitality invited him into
the warmth of the house.
1T was too cold to stand outside"
she explained and waited for his
question.
Il am Bob Wallingford.s he began
meeting the easy cordial expression
of her blue eye II am one Of the
belated passengers of the bridge tie
up and decided to run Overland see II
Jack EVERY would take pity ON an
old friend and
"Jack EVERY left Yankville," a
smile played about her lips at men
tion or the illustrious village, some
six or seven months ago"
Embarrassment. disappointment and
surprise mingled equally in Walling-
ford'g face and did not escape the
eyes of Sylvia VaSs. She spoke with
ready tact.
Take OFF that greet coat, nyway
and come into the fr&yide. It's no
night to be out"
Wallingford followed the slim gray
clad figure In q decidedly chaotic
state of mind. Mingled with his en-
barrassment at having walkel into.
an absolute strangers house, WAS the
sudden attraction he1feIt for this girl
witt the sun-lit hair. Something-the
combination perhaps-was making him
feel like q tongue-tied schoolboy. Tt
raj a most unusual state of mind for
Bob Waliingford.
There was a patter of iittls feet
and a tiny boy of three years threw
himself into Wallingford's arms.
~Ohshi Are you Santa ciaus?s ne
cried gieefully. Il heard your sleigh
bells and saw your big fuzzy coat
Mamma, isn't he Santa Clausga
The child's mother would have
spoken but wallingford's eyes plead
ed for silence.
you young rascal You caught
old SANITY this time. didn't your And
he came especially to find out what
you wanted him TO bring down the
chimney
"Wallingfordf How in the name OF
all that's possible did you get here?s'
Dick Eikins, an old chum Of New
York days. stood I'm the doorway and
bold out a glad hand of welcome.
A weight OF relief fell from Walling-
ford'a shoulders He was no longer a
msrmmwar ia b strange h0umA. and aid