The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-12-22

thing on David Beasley, but won't
say any more over the telephone. See
what there is In It,"
/ picked up my hat and coat, and
left the Office at a speed which msast
have given my superior the highest
conception Of my journalistic zeal. At
telephone station on the next corner
/ called up Mrs. opportunities house
and asked for Mr.. Dowden.
"What are you doing?v demanded,
when his voice responded.
Playing bridge" he answered.
Are you going out anywheref"
mo. What's the troublef"
"Tll tell you later. | may want to
see you tonight before ! go back to
the Office"
"All right. I'll be at home all the
evening"
hung up the receiver and made Off
on my errand.
Down town the streets were crowd
ed with the package-laden people,
bending heads and shoulders to the
bitter wind, which swept a binding,
sleet-lIke snow horizontally against
them. At corners 1t struck so tumul-
tuous blow upon the chest of the pc
destrians that for moment it would
halt them, and you could hear them
gasplng half-smothered "Ahs" like
bathers In heavy surf. Yet there
was gayety in this eager gale; the
crowds pressed anxiously, yet hap
PLY, up and down the street In their
generous search for things to give
away. 1t was not the rich who strug-
gled through the storm topight; these
were people who carried their own
bundles home. You saw Them toilers
and savers, tired mothers and fathers,
worn with the grinding thrift of all
the year, but now for this one night
careless of how hard-saved the money,
reckless Of everything but the Joy of
giving 1t to bring the children JOY on
the one great tomorrow. So they bent
their heads to the freezing wind, their
arms laden with daring bundles and
their hearts uplifted with the tremul-
Gus happiness of giving more than they
could afford. Meanwhile, Mr.. Simeon
Peck, honest man, had chosen this
season TO work harm If he might to
the gentlest of his fellow-men.
found Mr.. Peck waiting for me
at his house. There were four other
men with him, one Of whom recog-
nized as Grist, a squat young man
with slippery-looklng black hair and
a lambr~luin mustache. They were
donning their coats and hats in the
hall when l arrived.
"From the Despatch, hay?" Mr.
Peck gave me greeting, as he wound
knit comforter about his neck
THAT'S good. We'd most give you up,
This here's Mr.. Grlst, and Mr.. Henry
p. Cullop, and Mr.. Gus Schulmeyer--
three men that feel the same way
about Dave Beasley that do. That
other Young Teller" he waved a NIT
tened hand to the fourth man-"hes
from the Journal. Likely you're ac
quainted."
The young man from the Journal
was unknown to me; moreover, l was
far from overjoyed at his presence In
the group.
1--WE got you newspaper men here y
continued Mr.. Peck, because Pm
goin' to show you somep'n' about
Dave BeasIey that'll open a good many
folks eyes when It's In print"
"Well. what is it2" I asked, rather
sharply.
"Jest hold your horses little bit"
he returned. "Grist and me knows
and so do Mr.. Cullop and Mr.. Schul
meyer. And I'm goin' to take them
and you two reporters to look at It
All ready? Then come on"
He threw open the door, STOPPED
to the gust that took him by the
throat, and led the way out into the
storm.
what Is he up tor" gasped to the
Journal man as we followed In
struggling line.
~ don't know any more than you
do" he returned. "He thinks he:
got something that'll queer Beasley
Peck's an old fool. but it's just pos
slble he's got hold Of something. Near
ly everybody has one thing, at least
that they don't want found out. Il
may be a good story. Lord, what
nightw
pushed ahead to the leaders side
"See here, Mr.. Peck" began, bu
he cut me Off.
"You listen to me, young mani I'm
givin' you some news for your paper
and I'm gfttin' at 1t my own way, bu
I'll git at 1t, don't you worryi Tn
goin' to let some folks around herr
know what kind of q Teller Dav'
Beasley really Is; yes, and In
goin' to show George Dowden he cam
laugh at mel"
you're going to show Mr.. Dowdenf'
said. "You mean you're going t
/ take him along with us on this expe
ditiOn, too?"
"Take himP' Mr.. Peck emitted al
acrid bark Of laughter II guess he'
at Beasley's, all right"
4 "No, he isn't; he's at home--at Mrs
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS cards"