The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-12-13

which the lowered gas jet threw
faint light | could see II childs crib. !
went on tiptoe TO the open door aud
recognized the child I had seen lea wing
I the house that same afternoon,
! He looked mighty pretty lying
| asleep. one arm under his cheek aud
his chubby little fists doubled up, Al
J the other end OF the room was bed. IN
which. supposed. his nurse was sleep
ing One Christmas present had been
given him. and he had taken II TO bed
with him IL was tin horn. IL made
me vince, for II he should wake up
and catch sight OF me IL would be
| fiue medium with which 10 arouse the
house
Suddenly a clock without began 10
! strike. and bells all over the city were
ringing in Christmas day. ] should
have thought of my critical position
but Instead | was impressed with the
! ringing Of the bells The most solemn
thing IN the world is n tolliDg bell, and
! the most gladstone Is the sound OF
bells ringing for some joyful event
! I was standing listening TO the merry
iangle when the hoy began 10 stir in
! his crib. opened his eyes and listened
| intently. He bad evidently been arous'
ed by the bells Then he sal up aud.
seiziug his horn. began Ia blow blast
that should have caused me To beat
! hasty retreat. But il didn't The bells
without and the horn within were so
4 OF christmas that i'm INV an
probation Of the usbering in of the
day forgot that | stood, rs II were.
! at the door OF prison cell. heard
/ chuckle in one Of the rooms and
man's voice call out,
! Merry Christmas. Benny. Now. go
/ 10 sleep again aud give Santa Claus
chance TO come down the chimney
and oil your stocking.
But the boys mother couldn't keep
| away from him. aud the first thing |
knew woman in her nightdress
came through the hall started down
stairs. but was too late She gave the
alarm A mau sprang iuto the hall aud
before | had reached the lower story
seized me He was big aud strong,
while l. weak from want Of food, was
| unable 10 resist
The horror OF my situation did not
affect ne as one would suppose 1t
would A Jail hasn't the terror for
one who cannot feed himself that II
has for one who doesn't know dcpriva-
ton resigned myself 10 my fate.
The man, seeing that there was little
TO fear from me, took me into his
library and turned on the lights, Then
he stood looking nj me. The Christ
mas bells We're still ringing without,
and H. seemed TO me that they were
a lettering influence upon my captor
to turning a fellow being on this bless
ed morning over TO the police. How
ever. he mastered his repugnance and
started to q telephone when in walked
Benny In his nightie. He stood look
ing at me for O moment, then said:
"Oh, thought you was Santa Claus.
Run back upstairs, sonny. said the
man
"who is he, papa"
"One who stole into the house 10 take
your Christmas gifts from YOU
The little fellow looked very sober.
What are you going 10 do with him"
he asked of bis father.
Send him 10 jail,
and he won't have any Cbristmast'
NO. Wicked persons don't deserve 10
have any Christmas"
I've never had a Christmas ! said
despairingly, but thus far I've never
spent one in Jail. | am starving and
came in here 10 get something ! could
sell so that | might buy y meal
The man looked at me inquiringly
Perhaps there was sincerity In my face
that moved him.
"Your first burglary" he asked
II have never stolen penny in my
life"
No great time had thus far passed
since ] was discovered, and the bells
were still ringing. They were beating
against this mans heart,
You can GO" he said presently,
And. papa put in Benny. cant
give him some OF my Christmas giftsT
Time enough for that tomorrow,
|, | Tepilfu INV lututls 'uNH w ihV' -
, you'll come here about noon III have
a talk with you aud see II can dc
anything 10 help you
Cant he have a part of our Christ
, mas dinner asked Benny.
10 this the father paid no attention
but opening the front door, told me to
go forth, saying to me rs ! passed out
l"If you're sincere you'll come back to-
q morrow; if you're II hardened criminal
r | shall probably never see YOU again
: Go before those bells stop ringing"
+ "Goodby" cried Benny Come 10
dinner"
p did return 10 diuner, aud | found q
D friend. He dared not at once trust me
/ in his house, but he gave me position
. rs porter in his place Of business. II
b was not long before he discovered that
possessed q gift more enduring than
n any that could be given at Christmas
1 my artistic faculty-and he sent me tc
p. an art school 10 study. That was years
[ ago. and ! am now prominent in my
r profession. Benny is young man anC
\ comes often To my studio. We are
A strong friends. Tell him that he saved