The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1914-12-09
A Vagrant
Christmas
Gift
OO@@O~&O~<OOO
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey COY
ALBERT EDWARD CONVERSE

| R2SRSR affairs did not come abou
81 ~ the first year of theil
N1 81 welded life, nor even the
W. second The third Christ
mas was almost at hand before Mr.
Smith discovered accidentally, but tt
his intense joy, that Mrs. Smith rel
ished his selection of furs, gloves, cur
tains, rugs, and so on, no more thar
did he her choice of smoking-jackets
cravats, muflers, ct cetera.
That their friends could not bt
taken in on the combination was
however, a thorn in the flesh Of eacf
of them.
THE worst has happened" said
Mrs. Smith, interrupting M. Smiths
perusal Of the paper Christmas morn
ing.
"a messenger just brought a pres
emit from the Snivelys, and forgot tc
put them on my list. It's book and
we've got to send them something"
well, what are we going to dc
about the Snivelys?" growled Mr.
Smith.
Jack" said she In a moment. I've
Rad an inspiration. Why couldn't we
send the Snivelys the book that Cous
in Lucy sent us7 Neither Of them
will ever know It."
by George! Well 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 a 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 1t. He was luxuriously
stretched out on a davenport when
Mrs. Smith came into the room few
minutes later.
Jack" said Mrs. Smith, holding a
book in her hand, Il thought you
were going to wrap this book up"
Great Scott" exclaimed Mr..
Smith, jumping to his feet. II did
wrap up some book The messenger
has already been here and 1 gave 1t
to him."
How long has the boy been gone?"
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
book away from himi 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 OF and started on run
for the boy.
At the same moment the messenger
boy saw him, and, without knowing
why he was being pursued, he obeyed
his first impulse and ran too.
In a moment a 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; the other man seized the
package the boy was carrying.
why, Snively! This package Is ad-
dressed to you'll" he exclaimed.
why, SO it," said the man who
had caught the boy.
In a moment they, were surrounded
by a 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 az
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.
ct Just now caught this boy, and
found him carrying a package ad-
dressed to me, 30 took charge Of 1t.
Do you know anything about it,"
''why-why-er-ye stammered
Mr.. Smith, trying to collect his wits.
"You see, sent the package"
We'll, why were you chasing the
boy?" asked the policeman. little i'm
patiently.
The Precipitation 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 1t along with me-"
''Oh. couldn't think Of allowing
you to do that. old mani" cried Mr..
Smith. "Just give II back to the boy;