The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-25
By Paul Suffer

that the burglar did not guam bsneatA II, ~
rose again with sudden dsterminatasa-
'T'n call your bluff, Andy DusaA, n
10 biu6, be said, coldly. "BriAs the 6chs
and the sled and show ne who're this boss
Is"
Your. not going there with msr' As,y
inquired.
Bring themf-
Andy oEuckled.
IF you ut in the way I nd. Jpdss. m
have 10 Be through the vindov-aad thsf's
burglary"
''If you don'f car. to snow me the vsy,
say go he other snapped.
Andy picked up the dolls and the -
without further commAnt and followed his
host to tAs frs.t deer. Oscs tSsy vss cut
- he I'D IL way - the bset silsy asd
~. IL to IT, spsn window Il IL Dsas-
tia sogAoat anl AAdy dh DSt pr0sDs -
spsst. o.. - tv1es, howsvz. b sissosa
incrsduleusly at the big man In tAs fsst3vs
rarb walking beside him. and but for tss
toys In his arms he would have been ts1post
to rub his EYES to make sure that II vas -
all q fancy Of the night.
In front Of the window Andy carstsng
laid down his burdsns-
This 10 more In my lins than your,
Judge" be ventursd tinidy. 'fcut bstbss
let me boost you inside and hand MP the slsd
and dolls, then IN follow after"
I"As you say" tbeJudse returned curtiy.
Andy made q step" With his elasped
hands an the Judge scrambled up without
much noiss- he took he toys - quietly and
put forth q hand to help Andy c-er De vis-
dovsill.
Andy delayed picking up his burdens 10
turn the fashlisht on the sleeping chldrea
for the Judges benefit. then piloted his quest
to the kitchen stowe, which was DOW cod and
dead Here he placed the light % that IL
would shine full on the three stockinss and
waited in silence for the Judge to examine
them.
did ten you q straight story, Judser-
be asked presently.
The Judge nodded. BE he'd puIlsd ~ Q
kitchen chair and put the two dom upon n
with great care that they should not rel q
and be damased. BE had also felt In tAs
pockets Of his troosers un6ernssth tSs Sanea
Claus costume and had slipped ssnethi,G
therstrom into each Of the stockineL
lis this the house NEXT tse esr,Nr' hs
inquired In q Whisper
Andy nodded.
Then these people are tenaB1 q Rbs~
Let me ask you, Judge" said Andy,
eagerly. what hind Of . woman h d.
motherf'
There 10 no mother"
Andy drew a long breath.
THAT'S why the two KIDS had nck.d sSsas
bedclothes Of. Poor little tmpsi"
Their bedcloehssi They vers A.r~k
well enough when i LOOKED at TIM. ~
nov" the Judge returned. susyic1ouly.
80 they were" replied Andy, cher
fully. You don't think I'd Sc them
shfverins and not cover them up' r~s rot
kids. myself, Judge"
The Judge turned toward th. door.
I'VE must 90 before any one catches IA, -
be whispered, nervously.
WHEN they wer. in the alley again, Andy
w turned uncertainty toward hi. com
psnion.
How about the hv. Year,, yudr.r' he
asked, with anxiety.
There was some MOONLIGHT now. 10 rrAsrt
see each other plainly. The yuds. booked
thoushtfully at Andy for some time before
he spoke.
Andy Dussn." be sid, softly, at IenrtA.
How does # come that a man LII. yes
should follow such csIlins?"
Andy shifted his hashlisht from on. hs.1
to the other and remained silent.
Why don't you snswer?"
If / told the truth, IT'D hurt your -
inss, Judge"
TEL me the truth" the jude. r~pl,sk
earnestly.
Andy wavered a moment lonr~r: bu,
something in the others tone, rstber thu.
in his words, told him that 4 - -. ~
speak.
I'm a crook, Judge" be began. sIoul,,
because fell down, and after that eyr-,-
body held me down. / was sent nm. ,nS
when got out, they pinched me srsip ON
suspicion. You know how that eoes. Judr,
/ didn't have a chance to do anything an,
Of the way, but / got thirty days, Just IN.
same. After that / was sore, and / pulled
on Job. You gave me q year for N
That's how It has bess ever since. .nl
out. Nobody wants to rive me an hon..t
job, and here an l with a wife and two IA.
to keep. What else can dop leave q !,
700, Judge. I'd rather worn days, II they'd
let me-"
'Has yca ever tried honest vorh,., IN.
Judge inquired.
Oncs. A man rave me q Job, and yop
let on to him that was a crsot. Tb,,
was fired. i was going to swear of when
l got that berth, but / lost 1t 20 sudden :,
took my nerve away"
You have said enough. nI-
honest employment. and guarantee that your
previous record shall not tell ss,i,s you.
will you take it?''
Will, judge" Andy answered.