The Brinkley argus., 1912-12-13

upon a Christmas eve-twenty years ago in the days of his boyhood. and he had carried it with him inceesantly throughout all his wanderings. sIsnp- pose could get the price of . meal and bed from that old ticker" he unused, then his jaw ret. But l wouldn't part with 1t for its wei8ht in greenbacks. It is the last thing. she ever gave me, and I'll hang on 4o 1t if hang for doing 1t. I'll beg starve yes. or help myself when nobody is looking before I'll part with 1t" He showed it deeper into 1ts place and bent forward against the wind.
 Five minutes later he again paused suddenly. By the wayside another light was shining. and with quick glance up and down the read he stood listening. Nothing came to his ears but the low growl of the wind and hs hesitated no longer. 6nsaking into the yard with feet that fell a. softly as the snowfiakes themselves he Onee more peered through a window. There was no laden table here, but instead he saw bed upon which lay white faced boy with a woman close beside him. He put his ear to the pane and listened. It was not long before he learned that the two were alone in the house, and at that good news Hobo Jim smiled approvingly.
 He passed quickly to the Kitchen door and tried the latch. The door was not locked and he entered with the stealth of panther. A spare bed room with door ajar was adjoining, and forming his plans as he sneaked along Jim crept within. Here. in the darkness, he would hide beneath the bed, wait until all was still, and then in the early morning hours i'll his stomach and pockets from the pantry and silently steal away. Instinct told him that the woman would sleep be- side the sick boy and he had little fear of being discovered. And what if he was-with lone woman and . helpless kid as his only bar to escape! Noiselessly he crept beneath his, shelter and lay listening.
 Through the stiffness their voices came to him in murmurs. It had been 8 bad year for the two in the next room, year@of privation and want, and the morrow would be the hollow est mockery of any Christmas that had ever come to them; day when skeleton would preside at their board and hunger be an unwilled guest. Patiently the woman was 0x- blaming to the sufferer, telling him that she feared that this year Santa Claus would pass him by without stopping. But the boy was unbeliev- ing.
 santa Claus does not forget. Hang up my stocking. please" he told her, and Jim heard her sigh as she crossed the room to obey him. Then as the warmth of the house came stealing softly over him Jim's eyellds huttered and closed, the last thing he remembered hearing being the woman's voice as 1t began read ing to the sick one.
 OAS DaSSoCO u 6lto IQ8Q 10 F6s ceive--" But Hobo Jim was now sleeping.
 lie was awakened and raised his mead a trife as he listened. There had been an accident in the room. serious accident as he soon gathered. Tor through some misfortune the clock had been knocked from the mantle and now lay & ruin upon the noor. It was the only timepiece they had, and the woman was worrying over 1t considerably. for she no long. CT had the means of telling when il was time to give the boy his medi. cine, and the proper administratt.sa or the medicine was very imrortant matter to the sick one. That's kind or tough on the kid" thought the hobo from his hiding place. But 1t was no fault of his and anyway he
 mad troubles enough of his own.
 Midnight came, and for the lase a.