The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-24
EVENING STORY
Santa's Red Guide.

L
The tall. rawboned sailor stopped
xhistling when he saw the autome-
bile, altho his lips remained pursed
and vapor continued to form before
his mouth.
He halted midway between the
fosben and the lighthouse. and
stamped his feet eneFsetically on the
beaten snow path. for they were cold
in spite of heavy overshoes.
Ben Ciark's automobile" he said.
and he did not say 1t joyfully. Hes
CALM on Marie ag'in."
The door of the dwelling part Of
the lighthouse opened and a young
man dressed in a fur coat came out,
placing a cap, also of fur, on his head.
He paused when he saw the sailor
Merry Christmas" said the fur
clad one. grinning. and he passed on
to the automobile, climbed in. and
soon was whirting away.
Same to yuh," sang out the sailor,
altho he scow1ed as he approached
the door thru which the other nad
emerged. Seems he's gettin' in a
| hurry about it. Christmas don't come
till tomorrow"
There was nothing about the sailor
to denote that he was a seafaring
he was bundled up much as the other
man, altho his coat, instead of being
fur, was an old fuzzy blus one
Navigation had closed some months
ago, because a large share of Lake
Michigan had an icy blanket, and
Harry Hammond was obliged to find
other pursuits till spring. So he fished
| thru the tee and helped keep the viii
lage of Bennett supplied with food.
His knock was answered by a dark
eyed girl Of three years, who smiled
brightly.
Hello, Emeline," he said, and he
took her in his arms and asked her
the old gentleman from the north to
bring her.
Big dolls what 1 want" she told
him. trying to spoil the part In his
hair, and failing because there was
not any there to begin with. Oats
adjust big doll"
From the adjoining room came an
other dark-eyed girl of 10 wipins her
| hands on an apron.
Harry placed the tot on the floor.
ana as he did SO he discovered a pic
| ture standing on the table. 1t was of
very good looking young man.
| L see Mr.. Clark has left a present. -
Harry said, and Immediately wished
| ne had kept his thoughts to himself.
for the girl f1ared up.
Yes" she said with a tinge of de-
fiance. Ben Clark left me his pic
ture. I hope you don't object"
| The sailor studied the blue pattern
In the faded red carpet.
Wouldn't do much good If I did >,
ne responded. You an he's gettin'
pretty thick, Marie. 1 thought things
was pretty well understood between
you an me-but that was before Ben
commenced takin' you ridin' and
certainly does have an advantage over
US poor guys"
=. Maries cheeks got red and she
oh. L ssk here. Harry Hammond"
a ffngmaster's whip cracking, you
nor no man is going to dictate to me.
MI clark has been very nice, Be-
sides. he's a highly refined gentleman.
| know it," 'ou
Ben turned toward the door.
| Mebbe 1 better step out o. it alto
sether," he observed.
He opened the door, and was about
70 step out, when Emeline sprank into
MS arms. He kissed the child on the
Iorehead, then put her back on the
Iioor and went out, remarking to him
sen that this sure is some merry
That afternoon a storm that had
been brewing for days vented its snite
on the village and its SURROUNDINGS
! Whlch included Clayton Point and the
lighthouse. A. raw stiff wind carried
biting pieces of hard snow.
| Meppe santa Claus tan't tome"
said the tot, as she snuggIed IN ia
ing wind. VIC Ao"i-
Probably not" replied Marie. who
was gazing abstractedly from the Iiv-
ing room window out over the frozen
lake. ioAeh
Marie was quite sure Santa would
not come. Santa would have to be her
brother Frank, who was Emeline.s
!ather and he was at Sloan CITY.
twenty miles away, helping an ice
company put up next summers supply
ne mad promised to bring somethine
Tor Emeline'ss Christmas, but Marie
knew he would not attempt the trir
in the storm ZIP
Frank was the 1ightkeeper and the
government records showed Marie tc
De ms assistant. Frank kept the light
burning during the summer and in fhe
winter found jobs of various kinds to
perform. -
About 8 o'clock, thru the storm
ware heard an automobile horn, and
Ben Clark, blanketed with snow
stood there when she opened it.
= can't stay" he said, "or won
De able to drive back. because tn,
road Is drifting badly. I came be
cause I heard some news you'll he in
terested in Harry Hammond wen
out on the ice this morning with hi,
dog team. and up at the village .
fisherman just came in with the new,
that the ice had cracked and part O.
II went out. Hammond didn't have ,
chance In a thousand, especially IL
TINS storm He surely must hay,
drowned"
Marie started back, horror in he,
eyes.
J Harry drowned" she cried. .T
doesn't seem possible? Take me GU
still alive, lying somewhere on the ic,
freezing. The ice must be firm for ;
: long ways out"
'What?" exclaimed Ben. GO on
there in this bowling blizzard? TIL,
ice might hold us up for long ways
but I'd ruin the car and we'd stand .