Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1911-12-14

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WV elor and accustomed to hav-
ing everything he wanted,
EH4$J the circumstances would
u ESlSD3y have seemed less Of a
s Isasssy calamity
<SSE He had been on his way
with his favorite married sister; and
midway, in the most barren desert of
the country bridge had been swept
away by winter gales. His destina-
ton could not possibly be reached un-
til Christmas was we'll over.
Wallingford cast glance out over
the wide stretch of rolling plains with
only 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 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
chaR him for having no one else for
whom to buy such baubles. He sighed
and returned it 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 it would in his pocket
under the present circumstances.
AS events tumbled themselves about
in his brain, Wallingford pictured
himself sitting alone and friendless
eating his Christmas dinner in some
flfth-rate hotel of the prairies. There
would be innumerable little boat
shaped sidedishes circling his plate
and in each there would be scant
portion of watery vegetable. Per-
haps on the outside of this array-if
he was lucky-there would be an ex-
ira saucer graced by piece of
canned plum pudding. Wallingford
sighed again-canned plum pudding
to take the place of the oldfashioned
one he dreamed of from year to year,
and which his sister never failed to
make for him. He shuddered in con-
temptation and determined that such
would not be his lot even if he had
TO go from door to door and beg to
be taken in for dinner.
The shack of a station Mt which
their train had stopped held not the
slightest possibility. Wallingford had
sent telegram to his sister inform
ing her of the delay and regretting
that he must turn and 90 back east
without seeing her. Business had
given him a short leisure
Wallingford was reconciled to
Christmas dinner over lunch coun
ter when his eye caught the name OF
Yankville. Yankville probably boast
ed a nearthousand inhabitant, yet
Everly-,Jack Everly. When Walling-
ford had last heard of Jack Eyerly
the latter was located in Yankville.
That was some eighteen months be-
lore, but there was no reason why he
should not be there still.
1t seemed that everyone in Yank-
vile knew the Everly homestead. 1t
was the only one Of any proportions
i'll the village
The red glow from an open fire
within cheered Wallingford's numbed
faculties as he rang the bell at the
Everly door
On the face of her who opened the
door. surprise was the principal ex.
preston. For, Wallingford, his six
feettwo encased in great fur coat
all dangling with glistening snow
beads and his handsome glowing face
looking frankly into her own, was
surprise for any eyes
She did not wait for him to explain
his errand but with the matron's 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.
4 am Bob Wallingford. he began
meeting the easy cordial expression
of her blue eyes. Il am one of the
belated passengers of the bridge tie
up and decided to run over and see If
Jack EVERY would take pity on an
old friend and"
Jack Everly left Yankyille." a
smile played about her lips at men
ton of the illustrious village some
six or seven months ago"
Embarrassment, disappointment and
surprise mingled equally in Walling.
ford's face and did not escape the
eyes OF Sylvia Vale. She spoke with
ready tact
Take off that great coat. anyway,
and come into the treside. It's no
night to be out"
Wallingford followed the slim gray
clad figure i'll decidedly chaotic
state of mind. Mingled with his EN-.
barrassment at having walked into
an absolute strangers house. was the
sudden attraction he felt for this girl
with the sun-lit hair. Something-the
combination perhaps was making him
feel like tongue-tied schoo!boy. II
was most unusual state of mind for
Bob Wallingford
There was a patter of little feet
and tiny boy of three years threw
himself into Wallingford's arms.
"Oh-h! Are you Santa CLAUSE" he
cried gleefully. q heard your sleigh
bells and saw your big fuzzy coat.
Mamma. isn't he Santa Claus"
The child's mother would have