The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-16

New York for Christmas and
have the courage to break the
news to brother Bob, all right.
haven't even been able to explain that
we are engaged. much less that we
were about to be married, but as long
as Meg and Bob really like you they
can't object. Come in the morning II
you can manage, and stop on your
way from the station and ask old
Doctor Good to drop In for the great
event in the afternoon-that will be
better than going to his house. tried
to explain to Meg, but you know how
excitable she is, and with Christmas
coming, and the children's presents.
and getting fake Santa Claus for
them, she just hasn't time to listen,
and brother Bob Is such tease
haven't the nerve to tell him."
Great hat!" gasped Ted, jumping
up from the dining table, where he
had been reading his last letter from
Amy over his solitary meal Hastily
paying the waiter, he darted with all
speed through the hotel corridor, up
to his room. He had written to Amy
asking IL she couldn't manage to be
married during the holidays, but he
hadn't supposed she would consent.
Now there was no time to be lost, for
New York was fourteen hours away.
Ted rang for q messenger boy, tele-
phoned to the office, and when the
messenger boy arrived was throwing
his necessary belongings into a suit
case.
Say. boy" he said to the liveried
messenger. II want you to 60 out and
buy IA wedding ring. Tomorrow
being Christmas the stores will be
closed and can't get it then. All
the stores are open tonight. And
bring 1t to the w. & p. railroad sta
ton oa the eastbound platform.
Here's dollar for you If you get it
there by the eight-three-a be sure
apa buy the best one the jeweler has"
"Wha. size. sir?" asked the bog.
grinning.
That's so--they come In different
sizes" responded Ted. excitedly wad-
ding q handful of crayats into his
suitcase. "oh, medium size, any size.
only hurry. And IL you have time,
get some jumping monkeys, and toy
balloons, and tin kitchens and things
anything kids will like" he said,
handing the boy two ten-d6llar bills.
The next morning. after night in
q sleeping car. Ted Beverly was still
bfaafhle5a as he hurried-iaden with
half-wrapped tin Kitchens and various
| other toys and suit case-from his
taxi up the unpretentious brownstone
front of the home OF his friend Bob
Saunders. Bob was Amy's brother
| ana Amy lived with him and Bob's
vile, Meg and little Bobbie and
Peggy.
Mrs. aunders-Meg-met him at
the door.
"How do you do?" she said in the
most matter-oi-fact tone. just as IL she
had seen him the day before. do
| come In out OF the cold. Bob will be
so glad you've come. II those per.
fectIy lovely things are for my chill
dren do let me hide them behind the
piano. Oh. by the way" she added
whispering. "you have Just come In
time. was almost distracted. You
always were so obliging. Bob often
says that there wasn't man In col
iegc who would help q friend oat Of
q Tight place the way you would. I:
expected the butcher boy would do It..
but he's gone to one OF those awful
Observation-Disclosures that is--and I
had offered him SO TO do it. Now
l!sten--Oh, here comes Amy sud the
children, and told her to be sure
to keep them out for two hours. I
wonder why she came back so :aoon.,
Come, hurry upstairs before tse, see.
you. and bring your suitcase, please"
Ted, although he didn't know whether
he was intended to set the butcher
bog away from a barbecue or sj-~piy
to conceal his presence from the @hil-,
dren. followed his hostess mp to al
third story guest room.
"Now, win tell you,- said Neg
closing the door and locking It be-
hind her. "See, brought your hat
and gloves because knew. the chill
dren would suspect something if they
! eaw them. I was expecting the butch
er,s boy-he's lust shout your BUILD
90 play Santa for the children. What|
you have 70 do ia 10 dress up In these
thinss--this red suit. It's very thin,
! made It myself out OF red cotton
flannel 30 ! think you can slip itI
on risht over your coat. don't yoa7l
And this false face and this nice
white beard and these galoshes.
They may be HARD 70 walk In. but
they look more like santa than. ragu-i
lar shoes, Anyhow, / think they ere
lust nice for Santa Clens.a
IS Amy weliis askad Ted rathari
lpointlassly. ]
Neg siapiy nodded her hssd Ia sne