The Ely miner., 1914-12-11


the nrst time the square boards that
Santa Claus was wearing.
what are you wearing those
boards for, Mr.. Santa CLAUSE" he
asked.
II the lad had looked closely enough,
he would have seen very unhappy
look come into the old mans face;
but there was nothing OF 1t In his
answer
"Oh, those are my new-fangled
back and chest protectors, my lad"
he replied. Sometimes we have bit.
ter winds blowing at Christmas, and
I have to be ready for them. 1t would
mt do for Santa Claus to come down
with the sneezes at Christmas time,
you know-no, stree! This board in
front keeps the wind of my chest, and
the one behind keeps me from get
ting rheumatism in my back. They
are great protection against the
weather"
you've got letters printed there"
said the boy, peering around in front
of his companion. What do they
spell? You know I haven't learned
to read yet"
Merry Christmas to Everybody
said Santa Claus. Il have the words
printed there so that everybody can
see them; and If I miss wishing any
body merry Christmas, he'll know
l meant it just the same"
They walked on now in silence, for
Little Billee was beginning to feel al
most too tired to talk, and Santa Claus
seemed to be thinking Of something
else. Finally, however, the little fell
low spoke.
II guess I'd like to go home now,
Mr.. Santa Claus" he said. I'm tired,
and I'm afraid my mamma will be
wondering where I've gone to-"
That's so, my little man." said
Santa Claus, stopping short in his
walk up and down the block. Your
mother will be worried. for a fact;
and your father. tool know how
I'd feel If my little boy got losted and
hadn't come home at dinner time.
don't believe you know where you
live, though-now, honest! Come!
'Fess up, Billee, you don't know
| where you live, do you?"
why, yes, do" said Little Billee.
TITS in the big gray stone house with
the iron fence in front of 1t, near the
| park"
ooh, that's easy enough!" laughed
Santa Claus nervously. Anybody
,, could say he lived in gray stone
house with fence around 1t, near
the park; but you don't know what
street it's on, nor the number. either
I'll bet fourteen wooden giraffes
against a monkey on a stick"
mo, I don't" said Little Billee
frankly; "but know the number of
our ortymobile. It's-'N. Y"
"Fine!" laughed Santa Claus. Then
he reflected for moment, eyeing the
child anxiously.
81 don't believe you even know
your papa's name," he said.
"Yes, 1 do," said Little Billee indig-
nantly. "His name Is Mr.. Harrison.
and he owns bank"
Splendid! Made Of tin, I suppose,
with nice little hole at the top to
drop pennies into?" said Santa Claus.
mo, 1t amt, either!" retorted Lit
tie Billee. Its made of stone, and
has more than a million windows in
| it. I went down there with my mamma
to papa's Office the other day, SO
guess ought to know"
well, should say so," said Santa
Claus. Nobody better. BY the way,
Billee, what does your mamma call
your papa? 'Billee.' like you" he
added.
"Oh, no, indeed" returned Little
Billee. "She calls him papa, except
once in while when he's going away,
and then she says, 'Good-by, Tom I"
Fine again!" said Santa Claus,
blowing upon his fingers, for, now
that the sun had completely disap-
peared over in the west, 1t was get
ting very cold. Thomas Harrison,
banker" he muttered to himself.
What, with the telephone book and
the city directory, I guess we can find
our way home with Little Billee."
He led the little fellow into pub
lie telephone station, where he eager
ly scanned the names in the book. At
last last 1t was found-"Thomas Har-
| rison, seven-six-five-four Plaza" And
then, in the seclusion of the tele-
phone booth, Santa Claus sent the
gladdest of all Christmas messages
over the wire to two distracted par
ents:
Il have found your boy wandering
in the street. He Is safe, and l will
bring him home right away"
Fifteen minutes later, there might
| have hoon coon fha stronoo cpootooIo