Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-12-17
Cardssa Mackie

| Drink this mess and tell us how it all
happened"
face that inspired instant confidence.
He was young, with very blue eyes and
very brown hair.
Bernice obediently drank the steam
ing mixture and Struggled down in the
blankets and went to sleep.
II wonder who she is, Jim," said the
last conner.
"She came to us out of the storm
a little snowbird," murmured Jim But
Ter.
Billy Smith smiled shrewdly.
Little Snowbird will be missed on
Christmas eve," he said. "Some one
is probably looking for her now, so
Jim laughed softly.
ooh, get out, you old idiot!'' he
grinned. Cant chap sentimental
ize bit on Christmas eve without
your getting silly? 1 was thinking it
will be sorry Christmas for this little
| girl, and this blizzard looks good for
all day tomorrow"
"Sure thing-so I'm going out to cut
a Christmas tree for her." said Billy
struggling into his heavy coat.
"You're an angel" laughed Jim, get
ting out an ak.
| He had never seen Bernice Avery
before the moment when he had stum-
hJod oyor hor epouooyornd for,,, IIo
had carried her to the cabin three
miles up the mountain and given Billy
Smith the surprise of his adventurous
life.
James Butler was timber expert in
the employ of the government and
Billy was his right-hand man.
Suddenly the door opened and Billy
staggered in, powdered with white
ness, carrying small, symmetrical
hemlock tree.
"Our Christmas tree for the kid"
| he said solemnly.
"Good," chuckled Jim, and they set
to work.
1t was Christmas morning when
Bernice awoke again. Dimly she re-
membered the events Of the night and
when full realization came upon her
she sat UP in bed and looked around. !
Dear me, how horrid I feel" she
yawned sleepily, and at that instant
she saw the Christmas tree and her
eyes popped wide open. 5
The little tree stood on table near
the fire, propped with heavy stones.
Strings of popcorn festooned it and
there We're puzzling tinseled orna-
ments-nuts covered with tinfoil. There
We're Mexican quirt, a pair of gayly
beaded Indian moccasins, roll of
Navajo blankets and some apples and
! oranges.
II wonder whose Christmas tree this
is" marveled Bernice.
The sun was streaming through the
windows when Jim and Billy knocked
at the door and entered in response to
her call. {
They had arrayed themselves in
their best garments and they glanced
expectantly from the girls shyly smil-
ing face to the gay little tree.
"Merry Christmas!' all three said
in unison, and then laughed in gay
friendiiness.
ut looks so Christmasy in here"
said Bernice: 'Im afraid I've stum-
bled upon somebody's Christmas tree"
Jim laughed. "Oh, that's your tree ="
"Mine?" she stammered.
"Yes-it was Billy's idea-your be-
ing away from home and everything.
These are just trifles we had around
the house. Please don't cry!" he pro-
tested as tears filed the lovely eyes of
| his guest.
"But you don't know how beautiful
it is" she sobbed. II was hating
Christmas this year-I was so lone
some-and everythingw
She told them how she had disliked
the West, not dreaming it could hold
such kindness, and in return both men
became very gruff indeed and Billy
sternly insisted upon her coming out
and eating her breakfast of cornbread,
but his eyes were eloquent.
1t was late afternoon when the
storm ceased so that they could put on
snowshoes and set out down the trail
toward the Gulch, Bernice hugging her
precious gifts close to her heart.
"It's the happiest Christmas I ever
had" she told Jim, with eyes all
ashine.
"And you don't hate the West and
its people?" he smiled.
mo, indeed"
"Then-perhaps-you will like it
well enough to stay here always!" he
blurted, and then in panic of BASH
fulness he dashed away from the
fuckers front gate, leaving Billy sole
witness to Bernice's bushes and tell
| tale eyes.
"We'll have another Christmas tree
next year-we three-and it won't be
any accident either" predicted the
guide shrewdly.
Billy's prophecy was fulfilled, and
Bernice's happy Christmas was follow
ed by many more in the country which
| she learned to love because Love had