Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1921-11-11

81 had q different plan AN that
planned out, john" said BY Heck,
winking at Ben Littletord. II had it
planned out to hang EN- all on big
green hemlock as a Christmas tree fo'
Bill! Some devilish rough Christmas
eve ye're a-havin, Bill, old boy, amt
it?"
Rather" smiled Dale. He closed
his eyes. His head ached, and he was
somehow very tired.
Within the hour he went to sleep,
and when he awoke it was daylight on
Christmas morning. Ben Littleford,
half dressed, was stirring the Goals
to life in the wide-mouthed stone fire.
place. Dale felt better than he had
expected to feel; he greeted Little
ford with the compliments Of the sea-
son, arose and dressed himself.
Littleford had just gone with a
handful Of kindling wood toward
the kitchen, when there was a low,
light tapping at the outside door of
Bill Dale's room. Dale arose from
his sheepskin-lined rocker before the
CHEEKY log fire, went to the door and
opened 1t. Before him stood a slim,
barefoot boy In the poorest of rags;
in the pitifully slender arms there was
something wrapped rather loosely In
crumpled brown paper Dale did not
remember having seen the lad before,
but he knew it was no Littleford.
"Come in, son." he invited cordial
ly-"come in and warm yourself. My
goodness alive, it's too cold to go
barefooted like that! Haven't you any
shoes, sonY
"Shoes?" muttered the boy. queerly.
"Shoes?"
He was shivering from the cold. His
thin face looked pinched and blue, his
eyes big and hollow. Dale stopped,
picked him up bodily, carried him to
the old rocker he had just vacated,
and put him into it with hands as gen.
tie as any womans.
Ill" began the boy, staring
hard-"What-"
"Now stick your feet out and warm
them, son-that's it," and Dale chafed
the poor little, dirty, half-frozen feet
and legs.
Son." he went on after moment,
his heart throbbing out of sheer pity,
you go to the commissary clerk and
tell him to dress you up like the
crown prince of England, if he's got
it, and charge the same to the account
of Bill Dale. 1t will be my Christmas
gift to you, little boy. What's your
nameW
The lad turned his surprised black
eyes upon the face Of the big and sun
Drowned man.
"Are you Bill Dale?"
"Yes."
That which the boy said next struck
the big and sunbrowned man with all
the force Of a bullet.
$50 you're Bill Dale. Well, D. my
soul !"
Don't, buddy, don't!"
The boy went on: my name, it's
Henery. / come here with a Christ
mas gif' fo' you" He pointed dirty
forefnger toward the bundle in his
lap. "But you amt a-goin' to git it
now."
"WhyT" Dale asked smilingly.
"Why! Shoes -'at's why. HI,
did ever have any shoes afore? Bare
footed as rabbit. That's me. Bare
footed as a d-n' rabbit p
"Son," protested Bill Dale, you're
entirely too small to swear. You
mustn't do it, y'know."
eyes," quickly, "Im small. I'm small
to my age. I'm done twelve year old.
I've been measured TO- the go-backs."
Measured for the go-backs,"
laughed Dale, whats that?"
why" soberly, when ye grow lit
Ter std O. bigger, ye've got the go
backs. Nav, she measured me with
yarn string out O. a stocking which
had been wore by woman seventy
seven-year old, and 'en she wrapped
the yarn string around the door-hinge.
I'll gin to grow higher, or die, one or
t'other, afore the string wears out on
the hinge. Bound to-"
Again Dale laughed. Mountain su-
perstitions always amused him. Ben
Littleford came into the room, and
Dale arose and faced him.
do you know this boy, Benz"
''It's Lyss Balls boy" answered
Littleford, puckering his brows.
"What's he a-doin' here?"
"He brought a Christmas present
for me-" said Dale, "but he has de-
cided that / shan't have It,"
"The only Christmas present you
could git from Ball would be bull
let" frowned Ben Littleford.
He stepped to the rocker and took
the bundle from the boys lap; he
took away the crumpled brown pa
per-and there in his hands was a
| loaded and cooked revolver!
"By GeOrgeW exclaimed Bill Dale.
"What'd ! tell YEP smiled Ben Lit
! tleford.
An hour later Dale and a score of
Littlefords and Morelands entered the
big downstairs room Of the Office and
| DoH