Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-14

me go! I'll come back home when you tell
me to, and-and-"
He paused, perturbed, to look down at the
pleading, childish face, and somehow the
heart of him understood all the sorrows of
her life. I'D like to, he said, desperately
striving to formulate an excuse, and select
ing another hundred-dollar bauble as he
talked; "but, you see-well-you see I've
got long way to go, and | may be gone a
long time. In fact, l might get to do a two
or three-year bit for this, if anyone sees me,
he added, with grim humor of his own.
She rushed frantically to a little side table,
and when he looked around, terrified lest she
had opened the door, she was fussing with
her tiny garments, chubby, rounded, pink
little maiden, unabashed by Santa Claus.
A spasm of pain clutched his heart. God!
Why couldn't he have child like that to
pet and love? She seized flmy thing with
tiny scream of delight, and waded into it,
while he watched and tried to think of some
"Nurse says I'm very smart she jubi-
lated. Il can most dress myself, 'cept for
some buttons on the back.
He dived frantically for more toys. He
must make some excuse. 1t came at last,
when he found an old suitcase and stored it
full, and some paper to wrap round the
larger things to give them the appearance
OF Christmas purchases.
"You just go on dressin',' he said, "and
you needn't be in no hurry. | got lots of
time. I'll take these things downstairs, and
and tell the nurse you re goin with me to
give some presents to-lets play the little
sisters of the poor, he added with an IRON
ical touch. And she wondered why he
paused at the very door to lay his bundles
down, suddenly to reach over and lift her
in his arms, and look with hungry eyes at
her face, then to hug her closely to his breast,
the little Princess of Coal.
take your time-no hurry" he said as he
closed the door, and for the first time in his
life was ashamed of a lie.
7 IGHT footed, professional sneaker, wide
- cared, he slipped rapidly down the stairs
to the hallway where the big clock stood.
His safe hour and a half was almost gone!
At any moment now the missing parents
might return, at any moment the servants
break up their party and pretend duty.
He looked through the hall door, and
started back with heavy scowl on his face.
Leaning against the stone lion at the foot of
the broad steps was quiet figure in a he'll
met, the policeman on the beat, idling away
his watch. Slick Bill estimated his chances
Cold sweat sprang to his forehead, cold tre--
mors shook his body. The bristling hair
lOSc DcIlcdlH lllS cap, llS SICiI IIuSSiCS
stiffened in rebellion. He looked again at
the clock, and thought of the window by
which he had entered. He stole back along
the hallway. Someone had locked the door,
For an instant he stood like a man at bay,
a desperate, murderous, cornered animal,
seeing beyond the bounds of vision the
dreary march of convicts, wandered, en-
vironed, with himself in the procession hold
ing his hands on the shoulders of the man
ahead, and supporting the weight of hands
behind. He could have CRASHED his teeth
and shouted in an excess of desperation.
He could have murdered to avoid the chance
of the visions realizations. He would have
given year of his life for mere piece of
lead pipe foot long.
"You didn't come; SO Il a soft voice
caused him to leap clean from the thickly
carpeted floor.
@S-s-s-sh!' He repeated that warning
whisper, and a desperate resolution seized
him, as he grasped the only open chance.
Il was comm back for you,' he whispered.
"You see, we mustn't let anyone know. I'm
sort of-well- remember! You're goin' to
go with me to leave some presents. Let's
play I'm the butler. The bulls-police, |
mean-would want to talk to me- and | amt
got time if | give the kids presents tonight,
because the's SO many of 'em. Can you re-