Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1919-12-25
they were long, dry. heartbreaking

they were long, dry. heartbreaking
sobs.
Don't cry, Miss Cargill," urged
Cowles, patting her shoulder clumsily.
Don't cry-sadie!" She jerked away
from under his hand and cried on.
Miss Cargill," said Roberts, lean
ing over toward her and speaking
very softly, you have been very kind
to both of US. Will you let us be kind
to you. Please stop crying. Please!
And then try to tell me just how much
money you need"
She lifted her head and glared at
him.
What good will money do that poor
baby when she wakes up tomorrow
morning and finds" She gritted her
teeth and reached for her worn. and
rusty gloves and then for the long I'M
touched glass.
"Wait!" cried Cowles in q tone that
made them all start. His voice fairly
rang. wait, wait, wait!" he repeat
ed, pulling out his watch and looking
at it. They were both staring at him
curiously
Its Christmas Eve" he said. "The
stores are open until midnight! It's
only little after ten o'clock. Come
on for cab and Eighth avenue!
Here's where we knock the eye out OF
one set of troubles!'
The fat little proprietor of the
Eighth Avenue Five and Ten Cent
Emporium was galvanized from weary
somnambulance into new life when
two young men and very fluffy (even
though a bit shabby young woman
leaped out of a cab to his counters.
He bounced around and scolded his
clerks into state of thorough irri-
tation. But their work-sick wrath
gave way to curiosity and then hilar-
ity as the three customers went laugh
ing, quarreling and consulting, up and
down the disheveled counters. The
fat proprietor went down into the Gel
lar and came up with an armful of
pasteboard packing cases in which
two clerks especially detailed laid
away each toy as it was singled out.
There were dolls and tin railroad
trains and whirligig things and rattles
and stuffed rabbits and woolly dogs
that squeaked, and more dolls and
building blocks and flying machines
and Noah's arks and little stoves and
dolls furniture and more dolls-to
say nothing of candelholders and sill
yered angels and shiny balls.
Time! Call the game minute!"
cried Cowles. Let's count up. How
much have we bought?"
The fat proprietor, exuding greasy
appreciation, made figures on pad.
Fifteen dollars and thiruy-six cents"
and with burst of generosity, added:
"Tll throw off the six cents.''
Roberts laughed, but Cowles was
serious
"Bobs," he said. I'm afraid we've
gone far enough. Half of fifteen is
about as far as I really ought to CO."
But where" insisted Miss Cargill,
gently shouldering between them,
do / come in?"
She thrust five-dollar bill into Rob-
erts' hand.
Nv, oe1io DoIu VI luem IN a
breath. She flushed, and in the next
breath they both cried: "Why, yes,
of course"
THANK you," she said quietly.
In hanson laden with bundles
and Christmas tree cut away from
the sidewalk decorations of the En-
porium. Miss Cargill and Cowles de-
parted northward. Roberts couldn't
go because there wasn't room after
the Christmas tree had been put in.
I'll meet you" he called to them,
at Big Jim-no, not there. At the
little drug store on the corner above.
Merry Christmas to the kid"
1t was nearly twelve when Cowles
alighted at the drug store and met the