The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-01-06
" as His Own
Santa Claus
He Gave Gifts to Others
and Found a Prize
For Himself
By MARIA G. HAWKINS
By MARIA G. HAWKINS
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.

1870 $1,000 ASNAA uAOPPNu AAOih Inv ~ aii
and then stood watching 1t make its
laborious way through the piling
drifts. The wind screamed around the
little railroad station and tore at the
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
Of 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 he able to
accomplish it without difficulty. We
have had the sitting room chimney
cleaned-there are four chmneys 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 rope
ladder to help you on your downward
path, and the fire won't be built till
afterward. Now, we want it to be
complete surprise to the children, so
you might as well make the descent
nc nc art.iVn from thn in
Don't forget 10 take the 6:3Q. Re-
member, shall expect to see your
feet coming down the chimney at s
o'clock sharp. VIII leave one Of
Franks old motor coats on the porch
for you to wear
Sherman chuclled delightedly as be
made his way down the hill. How tie
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 n
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 it at once
by the arched gateway around which
a naked wistaria vine ratified in the
wind.
The windows showed 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 eli
where Marcia had said there would be
a 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 it was evident in the haste of
Christmas preparations the coat had
been forgotten. Sherman felt ruefully
OF 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, guess I'll start my
Ing. | 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
for the rope ladder that was to be in
side. His foot touched small firm
foundation and rested there. Present
~ he was standing inside the chimney
on narrow ledge of bricks that pro-
jected there. AS he looked downward
at the black pit beneath there was the
sound Of an opening door, and then a
light illumlned the hearth where a
neat fire of logs was laid ready to be
kindled.
Nowhere could he see the rope lad
der that his sister had promised should
be there.
He bent his body and braced his feet
on the projecting bricks.
Hello Marcial" he called in q guard
ed whisper
faint scream answered his voice,
and the light disappeared for an in
slant to be followed by a stronger one
and the tramp Of many feet and the
sound Of many voices raised I'm laugh
ter, alarm or speculation.
Merry Christmas, everybody" roar
ed Sherman Bell down the chimney.
During the petrifled silence that fol-
lowed the brick that supported one
foot gave way and ratified down the
chimney. AS a matter of course Mr..
Bell lost his balance and went down
after It, raising a suffocating cloud of
SCOT as he fell. The pack Of toys
swung over his head, humping him
all the way down till he
stuck tight in the chimney just before
he reached the fireplace below.
Too sooty and uncomfortable for ut
terance, Mr.. Bell maintained a dlgni-
fed silence until his kinspeople should
see fit to extricate him from his I'M
position.
What do you suppose 1t ISL? he
heard feminine voice inquiring tim
idly.
"Tt,' my dear GIRL" scoffed an iras-
chile old gentleman whose tones Bell
did not recognize. There Is not the
slightest doubt IL Is mana burglar,
/ should Judge"
"a burglar I'm crimson silk socks?"
Bell hated the youth who jeered thus
\