Putnam patriot., 1911-12-22

question.
 q am Bob Wallingford," he began meeting the easy cordial expression of her blue eyes. "I am one of the belated passengers of the bridge tie up and decided to run over and see if Jack Everly would take pity on an old friend and"
 Jack Everly left Yankville," a smile played about her lips at men ten of the illustrious village, some six or seven months ago"
 Embarrassment, disappointment and surprise mingled equally in Walling- lords 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 fireside It's no night to be out
 Wallingford followed the slim gray clad figure in a decidedly chaotic state of mind Mingled with his em- 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 a tongue-tied schoolboy It was most unusual state of mind for Bob Wallingford.
 There was a batter of little feet and tiny boy of three years threw himself into Wallingford's arms.
 "Oh-h, Are you Santa Claus?" 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 spoken but Wallingford's eyes plead ed for silence.
 You young rascal You caught old Santy this time, didn't you? And he came especially to find out what you wanted him to bring down the chimney"
 "Wallingford! How in the name of all that's possible did you get here?"
 Dick Elkins, an old chum of New York days, stood in the doorway and held out a glad hand of welcome
 A weight of relief fell from Walling- lords shoulders. He was no longer a stranger in a strange house And did he imagine it, or did a glad light come also into the eyes of the woman?
 How about yourself?" he asked when they had shaken hands.
 This is my own house and my own sister" laughed Elkins. But where in the world did you and Mrs. Vale strike up an acquaintance? He cast an interrogative glance at his sisetr. Sis, you never told me-
 Sylvia glanced quickly at Walling- ford and a deep blush mingled with the glow from the fire in her cheeks. She explained tbe circumstances and Nallingford was quit ky made to feel that he had come to the right house.
 will stay under one condition only" he said finally, and that is that you all will accept, without protest, the Christmas gifts which l brought for my sister and her family-with- out question"
 There was a moments silence and the promise was made. laughingly.
 But We will have to return the fa- vor," brother and sister spoke as one voice.
 So it was decided.
 Too bad Vale couldn't get here" remarked Elxins. later in the evening when, the small boy having been tucked into bed, the three sat about the blazing fire.
 Yes-we would have made a jolly quartet, said Sylvia.
 Wallingford was almost guilty of a gasp The calm, unconcerned way in which she remarked that her husband would have completed a quartet on ChristE'as eve had he been able to get there, was rather disconeerting.
 Dick Elkins arose and left the room to get the boys toys.
 Bring down the suitcase in my room- cried Wallingford. He was as excited as boy.