The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1912-12-20

side a gIlmmer or light that twinETed
before his eyes like n great star OF
hope and he paused with his gaze fast.
ened wlstfully upon Il.
With a caution grown OF long eK
perienoe no passed quietly to the back
OF the building and peered through u
window. He could see into tho dining
room from here. and az he gazed and
shifted az "A crack deep Within him his
stomach began clamoring lik" u fam
ished wolf pack, for within u dozen
feet of him wal a table piled high with
good things to ent. while about II the
gorged family still SAT nibbling.
There Is enough lnrt for n dozen
lunches, and still things 10 throw
away" he muttered ~ his eyes roved
over the board Much encouraged BY
the sight he stretched forth his
knucklrs IN a timid tap. then putting
on his most w~oebeFone face stood
awaiting his fate with a heart that
huttered %anXiously.
The door opened and a man stood
before 1t ]peering into the darkness,
And rs the lamp Hight from within fell
upon the hoho's bringing form, tho
taoe OF the one upon the threshold
darkened until II matched the night
50 II il y~ou-sneaking around here
and looking for NOR" OF my turkeys
he said threateningly. 81 have a no
tion 10 run you in again upon suspi.
cion. Get out OF here, thief"
tgD,,N 7 VtAntt atAn tInt LI.S -
whined tho caller. Then he paused
suddenly. for once more he was staring
into the mouth OF that same unpleas-
ant looking revolver. "Oh, III go all
right" he added hastily.
Up the road he went hurrying, an
FRY. disappointed, hungrier and cold.
er than ever. In the bottom OF II pock.
ct where he had plunged n hand for
warmth his big. old.fnshioned watch
lay ticking and hls fingers closed
about II tondly. II was his only pos
session OF slightest value. Twenty
years " II had been given TO him
upon a Christmas ove-twenty years
ago in the days or hls boyhood, and
he had carried II with him necessarily
~ ANNb AAbhA az ~ NAiNd'A NhNNs NAB
pose | could get tho price OF u meal
and u bed from that old ticker" he
unused. then his jaw set. But |
wouldn't part With il for its weight ia
~greenbsoks. II is the last thing she
ever gave me, and III hang on to It.
n | hang for doing Il, I'll beg. staryo
yes, or help myself whom nobody Is
looking before I'll part with It." He
showed 1t deeper into It's place and
bent forward against the wind.
Five minutes later he again paused
suddenly. BY the wayside another
light was shining. and with a quick
glance up and down the road he stood
listening. Nothing came TO his ears
but the low growl Of the wind and he
hesitated no longer: S%neakiug into
the yard with feet that fell as softly
as the snownakes themselves he once
more peered through a window. There
was no laden table here, but instead
he saw a bed Upon which lay a white
faced boy with n woman close beside
him. lie put his car TO the pane and
listened. II WAS not long before no
learned that the two were alone
In the house. and at that good news
Hobo Jim smiled approvingly.
He passed quickly 10 tho kitchen
door and tried the latch. The door
was not locked and he entered with
tho stealth OF & panther. A spare bed
room with door ajar Nas adjoining,
and forming his plans rs he sneaked
along Jim Crept within. Here, I'm the
darkness. he would hide beneath tho
bed, wait until All was SIN, aud then
In the early morning hours MI his
stomach and pockets from the pantry
aud silently steal away. instinct told
aim that tho woman would sleep be-
side the sick boy and he had little
fear OF being discovered. And what II
he wns-with a lone woman and a
helpless Kid as his only bar 10 escape!
N~olselcssly he crept beneath his
shelter and lay listening.
Through the stiffness their voices
came TO him in IN II had been
a bad year for the two In the next
room, IA year OF prlvation and want
and the morrow would be the hollow
est mockery OF any Christmas thai
had ever come to them; a day WHOM
4 a skeleton would preside at their
board and hunger be an unwilleC
guest. Patiently the woman was eX
planning to the sufferer. telling hin
that she feared that this year Santt
Claus would pass him by withou'
stopping But the boy vas unbelley
ing.
= Santa Claus does not forget
o Hang up my stocking. please" HI
n told her. and jim heard her sigh q
X abe crossed the room to obey him
, Then al the warmth OF the hous,
! came stealing softly over him JIM