The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-12-18
tion to run you in again upon suspi.

tion to run You in again upon suspi.
len. Get out OF here. thief"
But didn't steal that bird
whined the caller. Then he paused
suddenly for once more he was staring
into the mouth Of that same unr!eas-
ant looking revolver On. III go all
right" he added hastily.
Up the road he went hurrying. an
cry. disappointed. hungrier aud cold
err than ever. In the bottom Of a peck
ct where he had plunged hand for
warmth his big. oldfashioned watch
lay ticking and his fingers closed
about 1t fondly. It was his only pos
session Of slightest value. Twenty
years ago it had been given to him
upon Christmas eve--twenty years
ago In the days Of his boyhood. and
he had carried 1t with him necessarily
throughout all his wanderings. II sup
pose I could get the price Of 4 meal
and a bed from that old ticker" he
unused, then his jaw set. "But |
wouldn't part with 1t for it's weight In
grc,nbacks. It Is the last thing she
ever gave me, and I'll hang on to 1t
if hang for doing it. I'll beg, starve
: yes, or help myself when nobody Is
looking before I'll part with It," He
showed il deeper into Its 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
hut the low prowl Of the wind and he
hesitated no longer. Snraking into
the yard with feet that fell as softly
as the snOWllakrs themselves he once
more pcercd through a window. There
was no laden table here. but Instead
he saw a bed upon which lay white
faced boy with woman close beside
him. lie put his ear 10 the pane and
listened. It was not long before he
learned that the two We're alone
in the house. ard al that good news
Hobo jim smiled arprovingly.
He passed quickly to the kitchen
door and tried the latch. The door
was not locked and he entered with
the stealth OF a 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 pantr,
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 i
he was-with lone woman and I
helpless kid as his only bar to escape
Noiselessly he crept beneath hi
shelter and lay listening.
Through the stiffness their voice,
came to him In murmiEs. 1t hac beef
bad year for the two In the mex
room, year OF privation and want
and the morrow would be the hollow
est mockery of any Christmas tina
had ever come to them: day whel
skeleton would preside at thei
board and hunger be an unwille
guest Patiently the woman was e,
planning to the sufferer, telling hir
that she feared that this year SAINT
Claus would pass him by withou
stopping. But the boy was unbelie'
| ing.
Santa Claus does not forge
Hang up my stocking. please" b
told her, and Jim heard her sigh 9
she crossed the room to obey hir
Then as the warmth Of the hous
came stealing softly over him Jim
eyelids fluttered and closed, the la
. thing he remembered hearing beir
the wOman's voice as it began rea
ing to the sick one.
] More blessed to give than to I
ceive-" But Hobo Jim was nc
sleeping.
He was awakened and raised
] head trif1e as he listened. The
had been an accident In the ROOM
serious accident as he soon gathere
4 for through some misfortune I
!. clock had been knocked from I
mantle and now lay a ruin upon I
Q floor. It was the only timepiece tn
q had, and the woman was worry
: over 1t considerably. for she no lor
e er had the means Of telling when
was time to give the boy his me