The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-12-12
A Vagrant
Christmas
Gift
-.'-----.----s---- By -----''---------
ALBERT EDWARD CONVERSE


INV n perfectly on the Christ
I'LL n mas present proposition.
/ 6JSS<-T~ly This satisfactory state OF
(G3<JnE affairs did not come about
~ $H the first year Of their
1S, "a welded life, nor even the
NY" second The third Christ.
mas was almost at hand before Mr..
Smith discovered accidentally, but to
his intense Joy. that Mrs. Smith rel
ished his selection of furs, gloves, cur
tains, rugs, and so on, no more than
did he her choice of smokingjackets,
cravats. mufilers, ct cetera.
That their friends could not be
taken in on the combination was,
however, thorn In the flesh Of each
of them,
"The worst has happened" said
Mrs. Smith, interrupting Mr. Smiths
perusal OF the paper Christmas morn
ing
"a messenger just brought a pres
ent from the Snivelys, and forgot to
put them on my list. It's book and
we've got to send them something"
''Well, what are we going 10 do
about the Sniveiys?" growled Mr..
Smith
"Jack," said she in moment, I've
! had ali inspiration Why couldn't we
send the Snivelys the book that Cous-
in Lucy sent US? Neither of them
win ever know it,"
.By Georgel Wen do it." said Mr.
Smith, after considering the propo-
sition. where is Cousin Lucy's
book?"
TITS on the desk said Mrs. Smith.
"Just put our cards in the book and
wrap it up neatly, I'll call messen-
ger boy"
Half an hour later Mr.. Smith hand
| ed a package, addressed to Mr., Snive-
ly, to a messenger boy and saw him
depart with IT, He was luxuriously
stretched out on davenport when
Mrs. Smith came into the room few
minutes later
Jack" said Mrs. Smith, holding
book in her hand, 81 thought you
were going to wrap this book up"
Great Scott" exclaimed Mr..
Smith, jumping to his feet. Il did
wrap up some book The messenger
has already been here and gave 1t
to him"
How long has the boy been gomez"
demanded Mrs. Smith.
about ten minutes"
Get your things on. Be quick, and
maybe you can reach the Snivelys'
before the boy and get that dreadful
i book away from him! How could you
have been so careless?"
Mrs. Smith was almost frantic.
Down to the nearest street car tore
Mr.. Smith. fairly consumed with rage.
He had arrived at the down town
district when, with thrill of Joy, he
spied the messenger boy Without
waiting for the car to stop, Mr..
Smith jumped off and started on run
for the boy
boy saw him, and, without knowing
why he was being pursued, he obeyed
his first impulse and ran too.
In a moment dozen had joined
in the chase Down the street came
the poor messenger boy, frantically
straining every muscle to get away
from the mob pursuing him. Sud-
! denly two men from a cross street
ran in front of the boy, One threw
his arms around the fugitive, hold
ing his fast; fhe other man seized the
package the boy was carrying.
"Why, Snively! This package is ad-
dressed to youl" he exclaimed.
"Why, so it," said the man who
had caught the boy.
In a moment they were surrounded
by crowd. A policeman rushed up
and took charge of the boy.
Hold on there, officer, the boys
all right" cried Mr.. Smith, who had
arrived upon the scene by this time.
What do you know about this af-
fair?' said the policeman respectfully,
as he recognized Mr. Smith.
But Mr.. Smith was standing as one
dazed. He had caught sight of Mr..
Snively with the book under his arm.
Hello, Smith, said Mr.. Snively
81 just now caught this boy, and
found him carrying package adj
dressed to me, so took charge of it.
Do you know anything about it?"
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS." stammered
Mr.. Smith, trying to collect his wits.
'You see, l sent the package"
well, why were you chasing the
boyg' asked the policeman, little i'm
patiently.
The perspirahon stood out on poor
Mr.. Smiths forehead.
IL was afraid | hadn't given the
boy the right address, and was trying
to stop him to find out" he blurted
in desperation.
The policeman looked at Mr. Smith
curiously He was convinced that he
was lying, though with what object he
could not imagine.
THE package has come to the right |
fellow anyway" said Snively, laugh
ing. I'm going right home, SO I'll
take It along with me-"
ooh / cOuldn'f think of allowing !