Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-12-24
IouS's XMAS STORY

.eYm in loye7" said "Old Man" Castle.
He pointed ut Dad" Armstror with
the stem of his pipe, regarded nm 2
moment, lear cd back ~ hrs char ana
burst into loud laughter o.
hat are you laughin AT faid
dad" johnson, Indignantly, hoh
see what there la To laugh at.
You would If you was sittin' where
an. = urred Odd Man" Castle, lis
features still wreathed in pleasant smile
How old are YOU Eixty''
Wby don't you nake it =. hundred
while you're about - snapped Dad
aYon don't look a hundred. - replied
old Man" Caatle You might paFs Tor
ffty-alx o. ffty seven IN bad light
dAs matter II fac, said Dad
Johnson, with cold and lofty sir.
ain l. tfoftv-eight set You orter know that
for yoti r. the same age yourself
Il can hardly believe u said thd
Man Castle Anybody that didn
know ~ nd cay y0u might be my grapd-.
fnfher. spore hshin's kept re yofl 2
It's kept you silly, anyway Tet'lrT ea
he wrathful Dad Johr son You're aS
big = fool nov ~ YOU was thirty years
"Oii Man Castle took his p1pe ont of
his pocket. filed and l't q, afFi lbif"
rnedltailve whlf or tro ~ hifiriei d
TEL rs about II ageD he sai3
r.. told you orct re'orted I)ad
tnhraou
Wen tel us vice. urged Old
Man Castle Gke - heer i = ro'iS'7
me
Dad'e g-urt Indicated complete ab-
aence ~ any desire p he amusing
You say You've orlY Uown iier Z
month continued Old Man astle
Dad" cor frrncd ne statement w'fn 2
nplkv nod
Md 'haf when she came N i've n the
reigh borhood she bought Aurtv 7nlths
fttic store near the Ioe'oH.re hc ron-
fiHued
dad nodded agein
-ho must have bft 4 money Il h'f
own. fncn1" vont an f1id Man ( aTtie
Dad gave p short sarf etc iauRh
"Yof ought r. give ~ beln' z nerrn.
nl,,gger fr|lrr ~ ear stu' tvo and fTo
toperto or ike yau cen In7ke h'e forture Z e r
detectf
Ivc often fhmigts rnysef. tha' !
vasted nv life fatir cor ieTred nj
Nau Ceztir. sarrovfnIly FIgWrveT
tao ato ~ alter hr y row hF @drld
Ioas rno. ard The ro~Id p have r. pH' nT
glih # I.' how bout ff@ ere party
rat ynn're courfin How .org ehe n'-er'
4 widdor J.,
.Ilou IL hrov demanded Dad
trfnsfsorg lo1 Don pose iha'
c-ervf.o4t har4r A. a-kin questions
az vs,1 sre. d7 yra''
aOld Man Caetle shrugged n'T shnuE
~ a. children Old Man" caetle
ra got son replied Dad
.Iahf son Put there won he ary tFouni'
rtth nm 10 continued AZ 2 smile ranf
over hls companion fare Fie = n sea
shc1lld never ave known rothin' hon'
him Il adu appered y 3lck mp p'r
TIRE IN he mar teIplere ere eight ~
this2t asked Ter ON That Tnv lnhn
ahe aavs Hes carpenter m p sa!llri
ain horc - ard hIIn i Re greai
sr,e.ds vrher ~ comes home n hen sn'
.noke "a arcouregln ike fhat cams
r.sh pu.tiu the question io heF men
Her Inha v1.l ~ kome At lhristnas aI
! I pxpec n 500 her. then wfHI / y Tut n
question
Il hat. 5r vois asked n ret. her
erred I'D Mar Csfle tnouRni too
dor that .n-g 20
Dad Johnson shook a.s mead 4e
.ectcaIv
%one. I a.nt heen erie to muster y
20 eraugf. h. sald elus va
s6v NOR z women ard Ehea ! Try 20 Ee
fne gord- alt, something -eeri- % stick y
my hroat
NIat do soa + po-e her answer
be2 asked -old Alan 4~tie
.hirk It'll he FL right, arsWere'
Dad fohr son. bur ai~t guie -'lE'
There ~ other fei.er a.Ais h-I El1 ro.h
Aer Bill Noreiar8 the grocer. lie
.aere every ayerin by gosh Just -s Z q
aa, rd he place
Nlartc bc II vic ner. rooEf you doe.
wat. II out. e,.ggested Old Man st4t
cheeriuIv Nh. dol yo3 % and VI
That's 5ust uha, -ay ayseI
ev.rv ,Iay 80, 5e>~ed Dad JohG -ol
Nth -lzh Then. WIEN ne time con'e
I put i oT III tomorrow.
How boat Nlorelaud5 qaerled ~
Mar Caste l. hc any KIND q \ Eoer .
None. I don ,hiah 50, said DAD
johnson think he worse than me Il
bushes whenever she speaks tc AiIa
0rly .tamlaer
old Man aStie Saf 03cK ll n.~ cLa-
as he chucale3 ana imagined the comm
Christmas ataerstE Itmust oc q pr u
sight he sail The wi6der 10 The mioob
Bill bhlshiu an one side and You stat e
N oa the other side, with her John .ooi
ing ~ YOU three. i ike f SEE i.
~Would voue' SAID Dad Johuso
with NO sign If cordla'iJv n his vo,ce.
Yep. answered Old Man Castr
Take me up 70 see err
/ couldn't prcsoom- began Dsl
Johnson.
Iaint no prescomptoa. urged ~
Man Castle Ii she got son at se
she Il be glad 70 see me SIDES we "a
help her have . Merry Christmas ai4d
might be able to put II 9 good word 4
YOU.
Dad reflected q moment.
By Gosh, | don snow odt Eo+,
right, he said, putting his plpe n 2
pocket ard rising 10 his feet Come ION
turning 70 Elsie explained
We'll. the grand jury will give nae 2 II