The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-12-25

cold, starlit night to the fashionable
quarters of Chicago. He sought a
house that stood back from the street.
He soon found one to his liking;
stately mansion surrounded by high
wall with shrubbery in close proxim-
ity to it's windows.
This looks good to me-" said the
tramp to himself. Let's see what's
doin'."
He looked cautiously up and down
the street. Then with quick agile
leap he was over the fence. In the
shadow of the shrubbery he examined
his revolver.
"All O. K, Red" he whispered. Get
on the job" Stealthily he moved in
the direction of window from which
light was streaming and looked in.
A tiny stocking hung from mantel-
piece. 1t was stuffed as Christmas
stockings are wont to be, and round
the fire were heaped the toys which
proved that the inmates Of the home
were we'll to do. Luxury was in every
tlllAS dUOuI lHO IOClA. "A Ilou cIAu
woman stood before the CRATE, and
their appearance showed they were
of the number whom the tramp out
side called BLUE Bloods.' The fer
ret eyes of the man outside took in
the contents of the room in glance.
Then he skunk back behind the shut
ter, yet not so far away as not to be
able to hear what the people in the
room were saying. His ear was glued
to the shutter.
"All is finished, Marie" the man
was saying; "you had better 60 to
| bed. I am going to finish my cigar
| before retiring"
Very well, john replied the wife !;
81 do feel sleepy. And we can do
nothing more to surprise Margery. Be
| sure and don't sit up too long, She
| moved towards him and kissed him
lightly on the forehead. Good night,
DEAR" she said, and was gone.
| Good night. Marie answered her
husband. Then he seated himself at
the fire and lit his cigar, which had
| gone out.
The man in the shrubbery again
peered through the window. Things
are going my way he unused, I'll
bet that lady owns some fancy stones
Red, they're as good as yours, if the
duffer inside only gets out of the
way" ...
The cigar was almost finished. The
gentleman at the fire reached into his
pocket and took therefrom jewelers.
case. Dear Marie" he whispered
softly to himself; II must surprise
you too. Here is the diamond you
we're wishing for. / shall be your
Santa Claus. Ill leave it here on the
table where your eye will meet it the
first thing in the morning" He open
ed the case. Gems sparkled in the
freight. He closed the case again,
threw his cigar into the fireplace.
Then he placed the case on the table,
turned out the light and left the room
| The eyes of the tramp at the win
| dow glistened. "Ha, ha," he chuckled
| why, Red, they are even saving you
the trouble of leaving the first floor
Right on the table, where all you've
got to do is lift this window and take
them. Great Scott, people do get
careless at Christmas
He crept back behind tree and
settled down to wait until the inmates
| Of the dwelling were asleep. Almost
an hour he lay in the snow. He was
cold, but he was used to that. A pc.
liceman passed on his beat-and the
tramp lay still as a mouse. AS soon
as the minion of the law was well
down the street the thief bestirred
himself
Come, Red. you've got to finish
your work before that Johnny comes
this way again. Which same will be
in half an hour he mLttered. An
expression Of his feelings which