Evening journal., 1916-12-16
Santa Claus Puts One OUer
By Gene Brown.

lieve in Santa before he'll come to
visit you. How many's in your fam
lily. son." he concluded abruptly.
With the question the boy returned
TO earth and with the return vanished
the visions OF feeting reindeer draw
ing a fieecy white cloud of a sleigh
and fairies and elves dancing through
lighted dOorways loaded with Christ
mas gifts and good cheer The boz
sighed jerky and almost impercep'
tible little sigh.
Gosh. mister, you almost had me
going that time" he announced. as
sum ng his old bravado OF spirit,
what with all that grand talk about
fieecy white clouds and fairies and
ALL" a note OF skepticism crept again
in his voice. But. course. l know all
that there talks lot Of bosh. 'Tain't
true. No,hins true but poverty, an
We all lie about that. How many OF
us SIS there. you asked?
"Well. there's four living sides me,
two dead. nom sick and pop drunk
half the time That's u.s." was the la
conc answer. But you just needn't
ask where we live cause we amt no
charity patents" he flashed quickly.
Il Just earned 10 cents and I just
reckon l can keep things going all
right without you charity folks but
ting H." lie concluded proudly
Charity my dear boy?' reproached
Santa Claus. his kind eyes kinder than
ever and his voice soft. santa Claus
never extends charity"
The boys eyes w.dened with admir-
alton.
Gee. is that so?" he asked. well,
say now. he's some old duffer all
rightly. isn't he. What's them kittles
fer?" he asked. pointing to the pail
with money in IL.
"For the war orphans" answered
Santa.
Gosh, it's bad enuff ter be poor here
but think what thoy's got TO put up
with beside.' murmured the boy h.s
eyes dark and sombre.
Santa turned to thank a passerby
1 for dropping in a coin and as he turn
ed again he was just in time to see tho
boy stealth ly drop one cent into the
war orphans pail.
God bless you, son. said santa,
patting his shoulder.
"Aw, fergit it, said the youngster,
squirming out OF reach. "Twant moth
ing but a measley old cent to buy
some war kid an all day sucker Good
by, Misterl Tell Sandy Claws he's got
ter to show mel with which parting
shot he darted out into the busy street.
There was a sudden commlngling
OF shrieks and shouts. a grinding
sound, a rushing Of feet. conglomer-
alton OF figures as they crowded
around limp form taken from under
the wheels OF an automobile in which
rode the city's richest man. santa
Claus. with a sicken ng feeling and a
peculiar tightening around his heart,
pushed his way through the crowd 10
the side of the boy. Tenderly he lifte1
him into the rich mans limousine.
They hurried HIM TO the nearest hos
pital and on the way there Santa
briefly sketched the afternoons con-
versation with the boy TO the rich man
who listened in az understanding
manner, and who asked for hfteen
minutes alone with the boy after il
was discovered that he had suffered
merely a broken leg and severe
bruises. Following that conference
Santa Claus went into the operating
room 10 speak TO his erstwhile littl'
friend who lay on the cot, bandaget
and unable 10 move.
"Hi there. Mister Sandy" sang ou
cheerful voice. SAY. guess 7 gottel
hand Il to you. Your a pretty true
faok, after all, Amt chow? Cause
what do you think? ! got a fob prom
ised me when I git we'll that's gunna
pay eight q week ter start with and
the old mans gonna loan me enuf
dough to git Nom and the kids out in
de country somewheres SOS they Kin
get strong and we'll Nhad'dye know
about that? Some Christmas gift
amt it?' The boys eyes were shin
ing.
well. SON" answered Santa Claus
"you can't give without receiving yor
know. You remembered the littl,
war orphans this afternoon and nov
you are being remembered
Gosh. never thought OF that
murmured the lad refoctlvely "Santi
. Claws, you're some old feller,' he
added enthusiastically. shake. You've
shown me-"
WFNORIAI POEM