The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1912-12-19

ton % run yon IN AGAIN upon suspi
cion. Get out OF here. thief"
but ! didn't steal that bird
whlned the cniler. Than no paused
suddenly, for once moro he was staring
into the mouth OF that same nnpiens'
ant looking revolver "Oh. IN 30 all
right" BIO added hastily.
Up the road he went hurrylng. an
cry, disappointed. hungrior and cold.
or than ever. In the bottom OF a peck.
et where he had plunged hand for
warmth his Big. old.fashlonod watch
lay ticking and his fingers closed
about IL iondly. Il was his only pos
sesgion OF slightest value. Twenty
years ago u had been given 10 him
upon a Christmas eve-twenty years
ago In the days Of HIS boyhood. and
he had carried II with him necessarily
throughout all his wanderings. Il sup
pose ! could get the price OF meal
and n bed from that old ticker" he
unused. then his jaw set. "But !
wouldn't part with II for its weight In
greonbacks. II IL the last thing she
ever gave me. and I'll hang on to II
II hang for doing II. I'll beg. starve
yes. or help myself when nobody IL
looking before I'll part with H." He
showed Il deeper into It's place and
bent forward against the wind.
Five minutes later he again paused
suddenly. ny the wnyslde 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
hcsitated no longer. Sneaking into
the yard with feet that fell az softly
ms the snownakes themselves he once
more peered through window. There
was no laden table here, but instead
he saw a bed upon which lay white
faced boy with woman close beside
him. He put his ear TO the pane and
listened. II was not long before he
learned that the two we're alone
In the house. and at that good news
Hobo Jim smiled approvingly.
He passed quickly 70 the kitchen
door and tried the latch The door
wns not locked and he entered with
the stealth OF panther. A spare bed
room with door aiar 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 stlll. and then
In the early morning hours oil his
stomach aud pockets from tho pantry
and silently steal away Instinct told
him that the woman would sleep be-
side the sick boy and he bad little
fear OF being discovered And what n
he was--wlth lone woman and
helpless Kid rs his only bar TO ESCAPED
Nolselessly he crept beneath his
shelter and lay listening.
Through the stiffness their voices
came 10 him I'm murmurs. II had been
a bad year for the two in the next
room. a year OF prlvntlon and want,
and the morrow would be the hollow.
est mockery OF any Christmas that
had ever come 10 them; a day whom
a skeleton would preside at their
board and hunger be an unwillcd
guest Patiently the woman was ex-
planning 10 tho 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" be !
told her, and Jim heard her sigh as
she crossed the room 10 obey him,
Then as the warmth OF the house |
came stealing softly over him Jim's |
yields fiuttered and closed. the last
hing he remembered hearing being /
he woman's voice as II began rend-
ng 10 the sick one.
More blessed 10 give than 10 re-
'eive--" But Hobo Jim was now
ileeping.
lie was awakened and raised his
read trlne as he listened. There
lad been an accident In the room, a
Ierious accident as he aoon gathered,
or through some misfortune the
lock had been knocked from the
mantle and now lay ruin upon the
loor. II was the only timopioce they
lad. and the woman was worrying
'ver II considerably. for she no long.
n had the means OF telling when II
vas time to give the boy his medi.