The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-12-27
THE wAYLAD PIG.
By CLARA ]. DENTON

The green California foothills raj
around the village OF Elton like 81
emerald band, and, as it was one o
the golden states" most beautifp
days, the view spread out before tn,
eyes OF Christine Ranford, as sh'
sat In the porch, swing, was one o
SURPRISING loveliness.
It sometimes happens that beau
tiful scene is mirrored in the fac
of the one gazing upon 1t, but thi
was not true in Christine's case
there was only, discomfort in he
otherwise afractive face as ON
looked at the picture before her.
But her face suddenly brightene,
as an elegant limousine rolled on
from garage, less than half q blocl
distant, and turning q corner wa
lost to her view. She rose from he
seat, intending to run to the side
walk, to catch, If possible, fur
Their sight OF the metropolitas motor
but the sound of her name, callet
in a strong, hearty voice, ARRESTED
her steps and caused her to turf
her head. She then saw, approach
ing, an old-fashioned vehicle, the
kind she had known shack east" al
a top buggy" The solitary occupant
OF the seat was looking at her with
beaming countenance, as hi
checked the handsome bay horse.
"Oh, cousin Jo,' Christine ex'
claimed. extending both hands, al
-ho novnn ~ Tho cido ne thu HI, q our
''I'm so glad to see you, do come
in"
mo-" was the answer, II can't
/ am late getting home as it is,
just called to see If you and your
mother are both well?"
"As we'll as we can be in this dull
little town, I don't see how I can
manage to exist here, until my vaca-
ton is over and I'm back at my
school teaching in Los Angeles"
1T is dull here, I dare say, after
the pleasures Of Los Angeles, but
was especially wondering how you
would spend Christmas"
How can anyone do anything in
this little place with no where to go
and nothing to see all the day long
but the few trains passing. There isn't
even the satisfaction of russell with
a snow bank, ! don't. believe like
your California Christmas weather =
do you know what time that
early freight train goes thru here?'
asked cousin Joe irrelevently.
why not exactly" returned Chris
tine vaguely, 1--WE never noticed par
ticularly, though think it's about
the time I'm getting up in the morn
ing"
WELL" he continued, 1--WE some
fat, little roasting pigs, and II you
think your mother would bother to
cook one, and II you wouldn't mind
going down to the station after It,
I'll send you one tomorrow, all dres-
sed ready to put into the oven, for
your Christmas dinner"
"Oh. am sure mother would be
glad to cook one," was the ready
answer. And I'll gladly bring 1t up
from the station, don't suppose 1t
will be more than / can carry"
"Oh, no, you can carry 1t all right,
SO watch out for the morning freight
the box will not be billed as there Is
no freight agent here, but as know
all the freight conductors on this
road, Ill hand it to whoever hap
pens to be on in the morning, and
he'll see that the train stops here
just long enough for him to set the
box off, so when you hear the en-
CINE whistle at the crossing you'd
better get right down to the station,
because, II you are not there, some
one else might pick up the box and
50 cheat you out of your Christmas
dinner" ~,
On the following morning Chris
tine was tuly sorry that she had not
paid more attention to the move
ments of the freight train, because
before she was half dressed she
heard the expected whistle. When
The train halted for a moment she
peeped out the window and could see
over the tops of the low bungalows
that a man jumped of
he train and deposited something
N the station platform. She hur-
idly finished dressing and calling to
Ter mother that the pig had come,
The fastened out in the delightful
air to secure her prize.
When she had passed the conceal
ng houses and stood in full view of
he station platform, she saw to her
lismay, that it was empty. Her sur
,rica was 90 great that she stood for |
! moment or two utterly motionless
While her eyes roved vaguely over the
landscape. When her
,aze returned to the railroad track
he saw boy trudging along at
ONE little distance, carrying under
lis arm box which she fancied
must be about the right size to hold
roasting pig" Without mo-
nent's hesitation she turned and
printed up the track after the boy;
he was gaining upon him rapidly
When he suddenly turned aside and
uttered large house which stood
With its back to the railroad.
II thought that was Jim Knox"
aid Christine half aloud, "but If he
kinks he can make of with my pig
n that way, he'll find out he is not
lalf so smart as he thinks he is"
Scarcely two minutes after the door
# the big house had opened to ad-
nit the boy with the box, Christine
vas rapping firmly on the same door.
t was opened promptly by a good
woman who said,
49, J. . 1