The Lamar register., 1912-02-14
MISS SANTA
CLAUS
By Geraldine May Hall

Qren, SdlQ mlB8 k1Oimeb, as utliHB
finish to her Christmas promises to
Little Turtle school.
He never comes this way, teacher"
piped up Batty Briggs. the youngest
hope of the shaky o. outfit. We're
too far from the main line. Pop says.
and travels bad in winter time"
We'll. he'll come this year. Batty."
Paula's gray eyes snapped with some
thing more than resolution. She
looked down at the meager school.
only nine child1on culled from far
scattered ranches in the Little Turtle
valley. Some of them rode miles on
ponies to reach the log house. some of
them had to ford the river three miles
away. and still. dny after day. through
the long golden fnll. and early winter
with its singing frost and wild winds.
the faithful nine had arrived. right
side up. 80 to aDsak. at the school
house. with . composite smile for
teacher"
There had nSV0e been a Christmas
celebration At The Little Turtle
school. Indeed there had been pre-
cious little schooe there except at fitful
intervals whom . new teacher would
appear and tTy 10 wrestle with the
problems of the position.
Paula Holmes from Omaha had held
out better than my Of the others. She
was little and pay eyed and set in
her ways" a. "a Pop Briggs said.
She boarded 1t he shaky o.. SO Pop
had plenty Of opportunity to notice
those ways. 30 had other members
Of the Briggs fAmily. especially the
eldest. And aftsg nearly four months
Of counting, Don Briggs had stumbled
into the holidays without a ray Of hope
or good cheer % far as Paula was con-
esrnsd. She would not speak to him.
He could not ~ TO school with her.
The notes that Batty surreptitiousiy
lsft on her dssk were burned unread
whore Batty miSAt see their fate. and
bear the news hnns to the sender.
The quarrel - risen out of the
Christmas cslsbsak1on for the children.
Paula said she would give one. and In
vits everybody n the valley.
You won't ~ me there II the
Crossbens Gomez Don had said datly.
with all the arsosanoe of twenty-five.
Il don't run Win any sheep steerers.
a stonebscks - ever our range last
summer. and - II bare As Moses
curse Of grasshadDses. got one good
shot at him"
You what. IN Brisss?" saspsd
Paula, horr1doA
Got . good aAot at him. and left .
hole In his hat, 100. Caught him up
around our watsR hole. and I'll bet he
had something bot to dope It up with.
too"
WELL" said Teacher" decidedly.
I'm glad I found out what sort of a
person you are n time. Mr.. Briggs"
in time foe vhatf" Don laughed
down at her. ~ blue eyes dancing
with fun at havaAg caught her. You
know you like ne. Paula. Anyhow.
you said you didconcs."
Never mind nat. now" Paula
pushed back hSv curls that would
come straying own in a way insult.
I'd to q staid schoolma'am. Il want
to understand ~ situation clearly.
Mr.. Briggs. Ye9 Will not come to be
Santa Claus Y invite the Cross
bensf"
No. ma'am,. DON replied. firmly
And you'll anA you can't have a
celebration sithss, because half the
valley won't speAk to the other half
now over the tE01ble with the sheep
and cattle usi1g the same water
holes and range II you get us all up
there. thereu ~ . shooting up time.
Pop will start n With old Sam Cross
bens. and I'll An11A It up with Check
ers."
You needn't lpsak to me again.
Mr.. Briggs" sa31 Paula. coldly 81
don't like to associate with such per-
sons as you"
I'm glad 20 well acquainted with
you first" smi1e1 Don again. "Oh.
we've met. and wlo'vs loved. and we've
parted. all ON sbseount of Checkers"
Il think youbc
Don't say II JAala. dear This will
blow over"
But Paula 10 walked away with
out answering. ~ had kept her word
She would not apsak to Don again.
and she fatty Woald hold the Christ
mas celebratioa anA invite all the val
ley ranchers. whs9Asr cattle or sheep.
But she had ~ warning from the
children Themselves. The mothers
might come. and some of the big sis