The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-05-11

I Sherman Bell dropped from the trail
and then stood watching it make it
) laborious way through the pilin,
drifts. The wind screamed around tn,
. little railroad station and tore at tn,
roof savagely.
His married sister had recently gone
to live in this quaint old village. and
she had planned that this first Christ
mas in the country was 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
or 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
this old house, you know-and 1t is
so large that by standing In the
hearth one can look up and see the
sky overhead. Frank will rig a rope
ladder to help you on your downward
path, and the fire won't be built till
afterward. Now, we want 1t to be
complete surprise to the children, SO
you might as well make the descent
as soon as you arrive from the train.
Don't forget to take the $50. Re-
member, I shall expect to see your
feet coming down the chimney at 8
o'clock sharp. VIII leave one Of
Franks old motor coats on the porch
for you to wear"
Sherman chuckled delightedly 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 merry faced mask
with snowy hair and beard attached.
and In the suit case he carried was a
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
naked wistaria vine ratified In the
wind.
The windows showed a 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 and passed around to the ell
where Marcia had said there would be
ladder leaning against the wall.
There was ladder here, and he look
ed In the porch for his brother-in.law's
old fur coat. There was nothing there.
and 1t was evident In the haste of |
christmas preparations the coat had |
Deen forgotten. Sherman felt ruefully
or 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 his fur cap on the snowy
hair.
They haven't come into the sitting
room yet Well, l guess I'll start nv
descent and let them know I'm com.
ing. l 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
Tor the rope ladder that was to be In
SIDE. His foot touched small firm
.oundation and rested there. Present
y he was standing inside the chimney
IN narrow ledge Of bricks that pro.
ected there. AS he looked downward
1t the black pit beneath there was the
'ound OF an opening door, and then a
lght illumined the hearth where a
leat fire of logs was laid ready to be
,indled.
Nowhere could he see the rope lad.
Ter that his sister had promised should
e there.
He bent his body and braced his feet
n the projecting bricks.
Hello, Marcia" he called In guard
d whisper. :
A faint scream answered his voice. Z
nd the light disappeared for an in. :
tant to be followed by stronger one
nd the tramp Of many feet and the r
ound Of many voices raised In laugh =
er, alarm or speculation. :
Merry Christmas, everybody roar r
Sherman Bell down the chimney.
'uring the petrihed silence that fol. :
wed the brick that supported one
'ot gave way and ratified down the a
1imney. AS matter of course MFR. b
ell lost his balance and went down q
rter It, raising suffocating cloud OF
'ot as he fell. The pack of TOYS r
"ung over his head, humping him
gorously all the way down till he :,
uck tight in the chimney Just before . :,
reached the fireplace below.
TOO sooty and uncomfortable for ut. n
rance, Mr.. Bell maintained a digni. h
"a silence until his kinspeople should ;,
e fit to extricate him from his un-
position. :,
What do you suppose 1t Isl" he
'ard a feminine voice inquiring tim. ,r
ly. -
" Tt my dear GIRL" scoffed an iras.
Bile old gentleman whose tones Bell @,
d not recognize. There is not the
ghtest doubt 1t is a mana burglar IL
should Judge" ~
"A burglar in crimson silk socks ?"
'u hated the youth who teered thus AZ
him md IrtoIyad ~