The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1922-12-08
SANTA CLAUS
BY EDITH [. HEARN

1
90 by Mcclure Newspaper syndleate)
I State street was sun-baked In the
MONDAY heat. Robert FosdicS made
brief ceremony of luncheon and hur-
rled back to the electric fan swept
GOODNESS Of his Office on the tenth floor.
He picked up his aunt's letter, that
had come in the morning mall, and
read II again.
"Bar Harbor would be fine at this
time of year," he thought, looking out
over the harbor at the pleasant vista
of water and whlte-clouded sky. "But
Aunt Rates rather insistent. That
means Elsie is there"
His musings were interrupted by the
voices of the two stenographers,
swish had all the money this Mrs
Smith has !" sighed Mabel, over a mod
est peanut butter sandwich. "Was it
five millions she spent in three weeks?
Not that I'm dying for couple of gold
bath tubs, but I'd just as soon have a
swell ear and string Of diamonds
as big as cherries, and all the other
little accessories you can buy with that
much money. What would you do with
five millions, Bess"
ooh, dear, wouldn't it be fun2" CUR
gled Bess enthusiastically. "The very
first thing I'd buy would be doll for
Mary Louise-a golden-haired cherub
Of doll. Then I'd hire nice woman
to take care of her day times, and"
"Who's Mary Louise2' Mabel asked.
MARY Louise is just two, Her faith
er died over a year ago. and her
mother died just last week, and there
isn't soul to bring her up except me
or home. I told her mother I'd
try to keep her. Ipersuaded Mrs. Cas-
sidy, who has three children Of her
own, to take care of Mary Louise while
I'm at work and then have her when
get home, and we have lot Of fun
week ends"
"Oh, yes" murmured Mabel politely.
Sand after I'd bought some pretty
clothes for Mary Louise" Bess went
on, thoughtfully, II think I'd give all
the wounded and sick veterans the
best vacation they ever had. I'd take
them all on auto rides every single day
If they wanted to go. And I'd"
"Got to take dictation at / 80 from
Mr.. Hobbs" said Mabel, gathering up
the remains of her lunch. Bess fol-
lowed her; she, too, usually took die
tation at 1 80 from Mr.. Fosdick.
Her employer was lingering his
aunt's letter when Bess entered his
office with her notebook.
81 have no letters to dictate" Mr..
Fosdick said. Then, as she rose: by
the way, Miss Powell, I-er-just over
heard you and Miss Hart talking.
How would you like to have the use
of my chauffeur and cart holds
seven--for the next week, to take vet
Grams for rides?"
Bess could only blush and stare at
him in speeches. surprise. He went
on, somewhat embarrassed himself:
"You could take them for a days
trip at time. I'll make arrangements
with Briggs-that's. the chauffeur-tO
pay for the dinners. Er-you could
take Mary Louise, too, and-er-if
you wanted, you could ask Briggs to
take Mrs. Cassidy and her family for
a ride some evening"
After she had gone out, Mr.. Fosdick
rang for the Office boy.
"Jimmie," he asked, shave you any
small sisters who play with dOllsT
"Sure-two," Jimmie replied.
"There would be an ice cream soda
and dollar in it for you"
"We-ell' Jimmie beamed, his mas
culine distaste for doll-purchasing
melting away, II guess / could find
one for you, Mister Fosdick."
That night Mary Louise and Bess
played with the "cherub Of a doll"
until long past two-year-old's proper
bedtime And next day there was
room for the doll, too, on the front
seat Of the big car that came to the
door promptly at o'clock.
Mr.. Fosdick went camping for a
week, but after four days he came
back, much to Bills disgust.
"How are the parties going" he
asked Briggs that night.
Slime, sir; just fine. The young
lady seems to cheer the poor lads up
quite as much as the ride does, sir.
We've had a different crowd each day,
except one boy she's asked to go twice.
l heard him telling her how his girl
threw him over when he came home
sick. Guess his story kind Of worked
on the young lady's sympathies, sir,
because she's been specially nice to
him since"
~ think" said his employer judi
ciously, that I'll take your place to-
morrow morning, Briggs"
So Mary Louise was formally intro
duced next day to the kind gentleman
who had played Santa Claus to her In
midsummer. BY the end Of the day
she was on intimate terms with him,
to the extent Of having played with
his watch fob at dinner time, and
been held on his knee in gingerly,
bachelor fashion.
During the afternoon ride, while
Mary Louise took her nap cuddled In
Bess' arms, Bess told Robert Fosdick
about the soldier whose girl had gone