The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-12-26

upon cracking paper money. AFTER
that they both went and investigated
the dumb waiter.
1t was a very large dumb waiter,
operated by electricity, and could be
stopped at any floor from below. 10
was meant to carry supplies to the
different tenants of the Bemislawn,
and the janitor was positive that it
could easily sustain a weight of 500
pounds.
1t was a snowy, wind swept Christ
mas eve, and the Adds family were
gathered In the dining room Of their
fat, in accordance with Blake's In
structions The children were aquiver
with anticipation, for Uncle Blake had
limited broadly that Santa Claus would
surely appear in person that evening,
and they expected him to appear via
the fire escape or the transom and
watched accordingly. No one thought
Of the dumb waiter
Down In the basement it was hot
enough and almost unbearable by the
time Blake had buttoned himself into
fur overcoat, adjusted Santa Claus
mask and wig and tied on a lappeted
cap. A well packed sack found place
between his knees when he had crowd.
ed into the dumb waiter.
II hope she won't break down-rn
lose my job If she does" remarked the
janitor cheerfully as he prepared to
start Blake on his strange journey to
the fourth floor
you said 1t would carry 500.
weigh only 19O," protested Blake. 'IR
anything happens. my man
Nothing will happen" assured the
janitor hastily, and without more par
ley he sent the waiter up.
Something did happen and soon
after Blake had started up In the
sitting cage. The dumb waiter came
to a sudden standstill, and there was
no way Of knowing whether he had
reached the fourth floor or not. but
he was sure he had not.
Then a bell tinkled near at hand,
footsteps tripped across the floor, and
the darkness Of his cage was banished
by the sliding back Of a door. He
saw the interior OF a little blue and
white kitchen just like Bessie Adds.
AS he scrambled out into the light
there was a sharp cutlery, and the girl
who had opened the door Of the dumb
waiter fed to the opposite wall and
stared at his strangely appareled form
who are your What do you want9"
she asked in frightened voice.
By this time Blake Preston realized
that he had Numbered into the wrong
fat. But was it the wrong fatf He
continued to stare at the girl with
mingled feelings Of joy and chagrin--
joy because it was none other than his
lost love, Editha Wayne, who stood
before him; chagrin because Of the
ridiculous plight In which he stood.
II have made mistake" he stam-
mered at last. II was to be let of at
the fourth floor. am afraid / cannot
continue my journey on the dumb
waiter and must trouble you to show
me to the corridor"
At the sound Of his voice q rose
color drffted across her face, leaving
1t deadly white.
"Who are your she repeated with
out moving.
Blake's pride prompted him to leave.
but his love would have its way now.
He tore of cap and mask and wig
and looked at her from pleading blue
eyes.
Editha stared at him, drinking in all
the beloved lines of his face. Then
she held out her hands to him.
"Oh, Blake, your coming Is the only
gift l craved. You will not leave me
again7"
''NeverF' cried Blake as he held her
In his arms. Later he said soberly:
II guess love is the basis Of that
Christmas spirit Adds and Bessie were
talking about. am so happy would
endow the whole world with Joy If l
could"
Blake picked up the mask and cap.
''Let us go upstairs and see them and
explain to them that some day there
viii be a Mrs. Santa Claus. Blessed
be fatsp'
Perhaps the janitor OF the Bemis-
lawn was the most surprised Of all.
"And he gave me IS more because
let him of at the wrong floor" he ex-
planned to his amazed wife on Christ
mas morning.