Woman's enterprise., 1922-12-15
Continued from page y

AASA' uoJ ue appeared WIN a
strange look in his eyes, and the
money in his hands. "I borrowed
It," he explained, and there was a
brief interval of joyous hope followed
by the crushing blow Of the opera
tons failure-the wife's death away
from him, in the great lonely hos
pital. Then, even before the loved
form had been laid away for its
long sleep, had come the sudden
knock at the door that had whitened
Johns face, even before the blue
coated officers had marched him
away, with charge of theft, against
which he had made no defense.
But before he left. he took the
sobbing, frightened little Helen and
placed her in his sisters arms.
"Take care Of her Mary" he said
huskily. 'Thank God, she is too
young to understand. The money
was left in my care that day-it rep
resented my wife's life to me, and
cannot be sorry, but it was of no
ter, and when I am free, we will go
away to the country, and begin all
over again."
With his forlorn promise still ring
ing in Mary's memory, the child
stirred, opened her eyes wide, and
sat up smiling.
"Oh, Auntie,' she cried happily.
81 had such a lovely dream. I saw
Santa Claus in my room. He was
filling my stocking with candy and
a lovely doll and lots Of toys. l
thought l spoke to him and he came
over to my bed and sat down by me,
and his face was just like my dad
dy's-and then I woke up. Santa
Claus will surely come, won't he,
Aunt Nary"
II hope 50 DEAR" the low voice an
swered, and something in the tone
made the child look up with quick ap-
prehension.
"Why,' the voice quavered, al
most sobbed, che always has come,
Aunt Mary; he surely wouldn't for
get, would he?'
"No, l don't suppose he will for
get, but you must not expect him to
bring you as many things as he used
to do, there are so many little girls
and boys down here in this street,
you know, and he has to divide things
up. Come, say your prayers now, and
go to dreamland again."
"Oh, yes,' cried Louise, her face
Frightening, "of course, l must say
my prayers and ask God to be SURE
to send Santa Claus; then everything
will be alright"
Sand now dear Lord,' she conclud'
ed, "please send Santa Claus tonight
and bless my dear daddy, and kesl
him safe, and let him come home tx
me very soon."
The moonlight streamed over th'
grim prison walls some ten mile!
away, mellowing their harsh out
lines. A venturesome ray crept thr,
a tiny window, high up on the blan]
wall of cell. It danced to the op
posite wall, and fingered there
tiny feck Of light from the outsid
world, but the cells occupant did no
welcome 1.-THE scowl on his hand
some face deepened as he looked u
at the CHEEKY ray.
bright moonlight he mutterec
"ourse the luck. Why guard ca
see for miles tonight-why couldn'
it have been cloudy? Pm fool t
try it-of course I'll be caught, an
that means extra time, but I've jus
got to see little Louise tonight. Sh
must not lose her Christmas-Pv
got to get to her-no matter wha
the consequences"
Glancing cautiously towads tn
door, he drew from his coat two doll:
fancifully cut from leather, and hi
eyes grew soft as he looked at then
"They are poor things" he sighet
1but she will love them, and she ma
not have a Christmas present if d
not get them to her. I've got to &c
there--my baby shall not think thu
her daddy has forgotten her."
The dolls were carefully replaced
his coat. Guiltily, stealthily, he ha
made them in his prison shop. Fral
ments of leather hastily concealed,
moments time snatched here ar
there, innumerable anxious momen
of suspense when discovery SCENE
imminent, and the clumsy toys hs
been completed at last-and now
was Christmas eve.
A clock chimed out from a towe
He stood up, squaring his bros
shoulders and listening.