The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-12-24

//1N>6 far as Ted was COncerned:
WM| G2 Dear Ted: If you can
Slaaa4as manage to come on to
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
we're about to be married, but as long
as Meg and Bob really like you they
can't object. Come in the morning if
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 a fake Santa Claus for
them, she just hasn't time to listen,
and brother Bob Is such a. tease l
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 if 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
Nov, vorl, 1yoc fo,,rtoor hourc awav
Ted rang for a 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, Il want you to go out and
buy "a wedding ring. Tomorrow
being Christmas the stores will be
closed and can't get it then. All
the stores are open tonight. And
bring it to the W. & P. railroad sta.
ton on the eastbound platform.
Here's a dollar for you If you get it
there by the eight-three- and be sure
and buy the best one the jeweler has"
What size, sir?" asked the boy.
grinning.
That's so-they come in different
sizes" responded Ted, excitedly wad-
ding handful of cravats into his
suitcase. ooh, medium size, any size,
only hurry. And if 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-dollar bills.
The next morning, after night in
sleeping car, Ted Beverly was still
breathless as he hurried-laden 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
and Amy lived with him and Bob's
wife, Meg, and little Bobbie and
Peggy.
Mrs. Saunders-Meg- met him at
the door.
How do you do?" she said in the
most matter-of-fact tone, just as If she
had seen him the day before. do
come in out of the cold Bob will be
SO glad you've come. If those per-
fectly 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
lege who would help friend out Of
a tight place the way you would. l
expected the butcher boy would do 1t.
but he's gone to one of those awful
Observation-Disclosures that Island I
had offered him 81 to do it.. Now
listen-Oh, here comes Amy and the
children, and told her to be sure
to keep them out for two hours. II
wonder why she came back so soon.
Come, hurry upstairs before they see
you, and bring your suitcase, please"
Ted. although he didn't know whether |
he was intended to get the butcher
boy away from a barbecue or simply |
W COuCSdl ulS pTcScuCe ITOM IuO Culle l
dren, followed his hostess up to q |
third story guest room.
Now, I will tell you,' said Meg,
closing the door and locking it be-
hind her. "See, brought your hat
and gloves because l knew the chill
dren would suspect something If they
saw them. was expecting the butch
er's boy hes just about your build
to play Santa for the children. What
you have to do Is to dress up IN these
things this red suit. It's very thin.
made 1t myself out Of red cotton
flannel SO, think you can slip It
On right over, your coat, don't you!
And this false face and this nice
white beard and these galoshes.
They may be hard to walk In, but
hey look more like Santa than regu-
lar shoes. Anyhow, think they are
lust nice for Santa Claus"
10 Amy well?'' asked Ted rather
pointlessly. 81
y Me- sgxnxav, nnI1dasa har hoaA n Cha