La Junta tribune., 1912-12-14

ciou. Get out Of here. thisi."
~But didn't steal that bird"
~hined the caller. Then be paused
suddenly. for once more he vas staring
Into the mouth OF that same unpleas-
ant looking revolver. "Oh. Ill 20 all
right" he added hastily.
Up the road he went hurrying, an
cry. disappointed. hungrier and cold.
er than ever. In the bottom OF a pock.
st where he had plunged . hand for
warmth his big. old.fashioned watch
lay ticking and his fingers closed
about Il fondly. II was his only pos
session Of slightest value. Twenty
years ago Il had been given to him
upon . Christmas eve-t~enty yearp
ago In the days OF his boyhood. and
he had carried II with him necessarily
throughout all his ~anderings. Il sup
pose ] could get the price Of . meal
and . bed from that old ticker" be
unused. then his jaw set. But
wouldn't part with IL for its weigh, in
xreenbacks. II 10 the last thing she
ever gave me. and I'll hang on to II
II hang for doing IT, III beg. stsrvs
yes. or help myself when nobody 10
looking before I'll part with it." He
showed II 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 . quick
glance up and down the road he stood
listening. Nothing came to his ears
but the low gro~l OF the wind and he
hesitatcd no longer. Sneaking into
the yard with feet that fell As softly
as the sno~hakes themselves he once
more peered through a window. There
was no laden table here but instead
he saw bed upon which lay a white
faced boy with woman close beside
listened. II was not long before h.
learned that the two were alone
In the house. and at that good news
Hobo Jim smiled approvinrly.
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 MI 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 II
he ~as-with a lone woman and
helpless Md 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. 1t had been
. bad year for the two in tn. next
room. n year OF privation and want.
and the morrow would be IN. hollow.
est mockery of any Christmas that
had ever come to them: n day when
4 skeleton would preside 1T their
board and hunger be an un~ilied
guest. Patiently the woman was .x.
planning 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 hs
told her. and Jim heard her sigh a.
she crossed the room to obey him
Then ms the warmth OF the houss
cam. stealing softly over him Jim's
eyelids ruttered and cios.d. the last
thing he remembered hearing be,na
the woman's voice as It began read
Ing TO the sick one.
More blessed 10 give than TO re-
ceiye-" But Hobo Jim was nov
sleeping.
He was awakened and raised hi.
head tribe as he li,t.ned. Their.
had been an accident In the room. n
serious accident as h. soon gathered
for through rom. mis'or,un. tn.
clock had been knocked from tn.
man,l. and now lay ruin upon the
floor. II Was the only timepiece they
had. and IN. woman was worrying
over II considerably. for she no long.
sr had the means OF telling when II
was time 10 civ. the boy his medi