The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1919-12-25
hey were long, dsy. heartbreaking

they were long. dSy. heartbreaking
sobs.
Don't cry. Miss Cargill." urged
Cowles. patting her shoulder ciumsily.
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 slared 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 un.
touched glass.
Watt" cried Cowles in a tone that
made them all start His voice fairly
rang. Wait. wait, watt" 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 a little after ten o'clock. Come
on for a cab and Eighth avenue!
Here's where we knock the eye out of
one set Of trou5ies!''
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 teven
though bit shabby young woman
leaped out of q 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 eel
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
vered angels and shiny balls.
Time! Call the game a minute!"
cried Cowles. Lets count up. How
much have we bought?"
The fat proprietor, exuding greasy
appreciation. made figures on a pad.
Fifteen dollars and thirty-six cents"
and with a burst of generosity. added:
I'll 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 / really ought to 60"
but where" insisted Miss Cargill,
gently shouldering between them.
do come in?"
She thrust five-dollar bill into Rob-
erts' hand.
mo" said both of them in .
breath She flushed. land in the next
breath they both cried: why, yes.
of course"
THANK you" she said quietly.
In a hanson laden with bundles
and q 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.
It'll meet YOU" he called to them.
Eat Big Jim-no. not there. At tho
little drug store on the corner above.
Merry Christmas to the kid"
It was nearly twelve when Cowles
alighted at the drug store and met the