The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-12-10

MAMhhM AANAh WAANA NAA' AAE1N NNfAANf
Raising himself till his head was
on a level with the sill, he peered
through the uncurtained window into
a barely furnished living room, light
ed by a great ire of glowing turf
A couch stood in one corner, on
which lay a youngish man whose ban
daged head showed him 70 be the
victim of some accident. On a chair
beside him sat sweet-faced wom-
an, and on the bare earthen foor
played two children-a curly-haired
boy of about seven, and chubby gib
a year OF so younger,
But what arrested Mikes attention
was a little fir tree, not more than
four feet high, which stood planted
in an old bucket, on the table in the
middle OF the room.
For a moment 1t puzzled Mike.
Then he gave little gasp.
"Beggor, # it amt a Christmas
tree Why, tbs Christmas eve, / do
behave. though, faith. I'd lost thrack OF
the date in the ould stone jug on the
mill. But where's the prisints! IT'S
as bare as me own pocket, he went
on wonderingy,
AZ that moment the boy got up, and
going forward to the woman, pulled at
her dress to attract her attention.
Mother, isn't Santa Claus coming?
He's awful late We shan't have no
Kismas tree If he doesn't come soon
ITS the snow, dearie,' explained
the mother. Such bad storm that
l expect he was late in starting. But
now it's cleared up 1 daresay he'll be
here soon"
Her words we're CHEEKY, 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
ne 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,
there1l 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
his attention, and he caught
his breath sharply as he stopped be-
side it.
For it was a man lying fiat on his
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 a halffilled |
sack. also covered with snow.
Mike gave a sharp glance around.
The moonlight horizon was still
bare. He stopped and turned the man
over
Dead" he muttered. Dead and
cold!" as he laid his hand against the
chill cheek
For 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
and a thrill shot through his
weary frame.
Hell not need thin duds any
nore,' he muttered, and, dropping on
lis knees in the snow, began with
rembling fingers to strip the dead
nan OF his clothes
They were worn and old, but to
Nike as precious as broadcloth, for
,nce he was rid OF his convict garb
le had multiplied his chances OF es-
ape a hundredfolu.
Not till he had completed the whole
,hange of costume down to boots
nd hat and had buried his broad ar
Ows deep in a neighboring drift, did
like bethink himself of the sack
He snatched it up eagerly, hoping
might contain food, and turned the
ontents out upon the snow
A small drum, a bag of lead sol.
iars chcap doll a box of wax