Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-07
The Argus Daily Story
Her Santa Claus-By Clarissa Maclie.
Copyrighted 1911. by Associated Literary Bureau

my hands tonight" she walled. "with-
out him falling downstairs and killing
himself"
1T might be cheaper II you'd put
new carpet on those stairs, Mrs. RAM
SELL" said bleached looking woman
In red silk waist.
That carpet was new last spring."
retorted Mrs. Ramsell. quick In defense
Of the tattered furnishing Of the third
floor. HE oughter looked where he
was going"
Has any one sent for q doctorT"
asked Honora quietly.
No. Mary. you telephone to the hos
pital for an ambulancer' screamed
Mrs. Ramsell over the banisters to the
floor below.
why not send for q DOCTOR" urged
Honora, bending over the unconscious
man. She had noted bis evident re-
f1nement, and the quality Of his cloth
ing indicated that he must have known
better days, although his presence in
the cheap boarding house was q mys-
terry. He has a room. Perhaps he
would prefer to be taken care Of here"
Who's going to pay a dollar for q
doctor7" demanded Mrs. RamselL
shrilly. "How do know I'll ever GET
it back from him"
'T'll take the risk" said Honora im-
patiently, and Mary was directed to
telephone for the nearest physician.
Mr.. Ramseii was rooted out Of some
lower basement retreat, and. together
with the stout armed Mary and tbs
lesser efforts Of Honora and q pale
faced youth from the third floor front
room, the stin form Of the no longer
''happy man" was conveyed to his
room on the floor above and laid on the
bed
After that Mrs. Ramsell announced
that she left the case In thu hands Of
Miss Burr, who didn't seem to mind
meddling in other folks aiairs," she
acidly remarked, and at once disap-
peared to attend to the interrupted
supper. The other boarders scattered
to forget the affair In the more alb
sorbing topic Of approaching Christ
mas, and Honora was left alone with
Paul Davis.
The doctor arrived i've minutes aft.
erward and announced that the pa
tient was merely stunned and would
recover under the application of GER
tain restoratives. which, with Honora's
help. he proceeded to employ. Their
efforts were rewarded by the opening
Of pair of dark eyes. followed by a
prolonged stare and dazed questioning.
TITS a miracle that your husband did
not break his neck" said the doctor
genially as he pocketed his fee and
FASTENED away, for it was Christmas
eve, and he was In a hurry.
! Honora blushed crimson and q look
of concern came into Paul Davis face.
I'm under the greatest obligation to
you" he said frankly, "and am sorry
to have been the cause of any embar-
rassment. Please tell me who you are
so that / can realize the situation.
The doctor has ordered me to keep in
| bed till morning, and I feel dizzy
enough to never get upr'
Honora told him briefly that she was
his neighbor on the same floor and that
as she had more leisure than any Of
the other boarders she had merely
undertaken to look out for him until
the doctor came. "The others had 40
many things to do. Tomorrow will be
Christmas, you know" she ended.
''It's Christmas for you, too, isn't lit
he asked sharply.
1T used to be. but 1t isn't any more"
she said sadly.
The pale faced young man thrust his
head in the door to say that he would
sit up all night with Mr.. Davis, and
so Honora, with a warm hand clasp
from the ''happy man." who looked es-
pecially happy whenever he glanced at
her charming face, went back to her
little room to face Christmas alone.
Morning brought delightful sur
prise. From her door handle there
hung all sorts of gifts perhaps pur-
chased in haste that morning, but Sc
lected with taste. Just the presents
that Honora could accept too. A big
box Of roses and a glorious ported aza-
lea, five pound box Of candy, a bas-
ket Of fruit. a book and an envelope
containing couple of matinee tickets.
This should keep you busy on Christ.
mas day." was scrubbed on q blank
card. for the donor was anonymous,
but. Of course, Honora knew who it
was.
1t was happy Christmas for Homo
IA. after all. The dollar she had emp
tied from her scanty purse to pay to
the doctor brought her the happiness
of her life. It developed that Paul Da-
Wis was a newspaper man temporarily
out of a situation, and on Christmas
eve be had been appointed to the stafr
Of great New York daily and, as he
explained afterward to Honora, was
ION Easy street" But he did not leave
Mrs. Ramseil's shabby boarding house,
which had been a refuge for him while
out Of work. He stayed on there and
on until at last Honora could no longer
Withstand bis pleading and so they
were married.
Il call my husband Santa Claus
because he brought me the greatest
happiness ! have ever known" OK.
planned Honora to a friend one day.
And I call Honora Mrs. Santa
Claus for the same reason" ayerred