The daily star-mirror., 1915-12-24

! u &C. why LID NullSIudS ofc, i III
behave, though, faith. I'd lost thrack o1
the date in the ould stone jug on the
hill. But where's the prisints? 'Tis
as bare as me own pocket" he went
on wonderingly.
At that moment the boy got up, and
her dress to attract her attention.
Mother, isn't Santa Claus coming
He's awful late. We shant have no
Kismas tree if he doesn't come soon.
Its the snow, dearie,' explained
the mother. "Such a bad storm that
l expect he was late in starting. But
now it's cleared up, | daresay he'll be
here soon"
Her words were ckeery, but Mike
caught the anxious glance she gave
her husband.
go out and see if Williams in
sight yet, Alice" said the man. "He
ought to have been here an hour ago.
only hope nothing has happened to
the poor old fellow"
Mike dropped on hands and knees
behind the angle of the wall as the
door opened, and the woman stood on
the threshold looking out down the
empty snowclad valley.
Somehow the pathos Of the bare lit
tie Christmas tree and the anxious
family appealed to his hardened old
soul, and when the door closed again
he rose to his feet, and instead of fol-
lowing out his first intention and en-
tering the house to demand food and
clothes, climbed the wall again and
made off down the valley.
IF Williams coming this way,
there'll be a road of sorts,' he said
to himself.
And sure enough there was.
Though covered deep in snow, he
found that there was path down
the valley, which he had little doubt
would lead eventually to the main
road to town.
He had gone another mile when a
dark patch in the snow straight ahead
attracted his attention, and he caught
his breath sharply as he stopped be-
side it.
VI IL was d ludh ~ ihS ii1I Ob rAiho
face, and, judging by the snow which
almost covered his body, he had been
there in the same position for some
time. Beside him lay halfflled
sack, also covered with snow.
Mike gave sharp glance around.
The moonlight horizon was still
bare. He stopped and turned the man
over
Dead" he muttered. Dead and
coldi" as he laid his hand against the
chill cheek.
For a moment he stood staring at
the dead mans face, which was that
of a little old man, wizened and beard
ed, and very much of Mikes own type
and build.
Then, like a flash, it came to the
convict that here at last was his
chance, and thrill shot through his
weary frame.
He'll not need thin duds any
more" he muttered, and, dropping on
his knees in the snow, began with
trembling fingers to strip the dead
man of his clothes.
They were worn and old, but to
Mike as precious as broadcloth, for
once he was rid of his convict garb
he had multiplied his chances OF es-
cape a hundredfold.
Not till he had completed the whole
change of costume down to boots
and hat, and had buried his broad ar
rows deep in neighboring drift, did
Mike bethink himself of the sack.
He snatched it up eagerly, hoping |
it might contain food, and turned the
contents out upon the snow.
A small drum, bag of lead sol |
diers, a cheap doll, box of wax |
tapers, and one of crackers, and a |
couple of packets of sweets. Not an !
article of the lot which had cost 25
cents, and the value of the whole not
five dollars.
Mike stood and stared at them. The
box of soldiers had fallen open. He
stopped and picked up the little paint
ed figures, and replaced them care
fully
so twas poor ould Sanity Claus
1e muttered. And the children will
De waiting on him. Twas hard luck
ntoirely"
Again he bent down and quickly
bundled everything back into the sack.
He laid this by the dead body, and
.urning on his heel, walked rapidly
away
He could not be more than four
,r five miles from the town now,
md with his knowledge of rail
way matters it would be easy
enough to stow away in a truck, and
ying under a tarpaulln be carried
scores of miles away from the hated
prison. Besides there was money
n his trousers pockets. Only lit
lie, but plenty to buy food and drink,
! clay pipe, and a plug of tobacco.
Mikes mouth watered as he thought
# a square meal.
He tried to keep his thoughts on
he prospect of these almost forgotten
uxuries, yet, somehow it was difficult.
rhe picture seen through the cottage
window kept rising before his mind,
md though he did his best to thrust