Middletown transcript., 1922-12-23

er was for anything nor fer anybody
in his life. | had Il talk with the old
mutton-head the other day; he said our
candidate ought to be farmer. man
Of the common people, and when l
asked him where he'd find anybody
more "A man of. the couImon people
than Beasley, he said Beasley was too
much of a society man to suit him
The idea of Dave as society man
was too much for me- and l laughed
I'm Sim Peck's face, but that didn't
stop Sim Peck Jest look at the style
he lives in,' he yelped. Amt he fairly
Tapped in luxury? Look at that big
house he lives in! Look at the way
he goes around in that big car of his
and niger to drive him, half the
time" l had to holler again, and, Of
course, that made Sam twice as mad
as he started out to be; and he went
off swearing he'd show me. before the
campaignNwas over. The only trouble
he and GriSt and that crowd could give
us would be by finding out something
against Dave, and they can't do that
because there isn't anything to find
out"
| shared his confidence on this lat
ter score. but was somewhat less SAN
guinc on some others. There were only
two newspapers of any political in
f, tluence in Wainwright, the Despatch
and the Journal, both operated in
the interest of Beasley's party and
neither had "come out" for him. The
gossip | heard about our Office led me
to think that each was waiting to see
what headway Sim Peck and his fac
tion would make; the Journal espe-
cially, ! knew, had some inclination to
coquette with Peck, Grist, and Com
pany. Altogether, their faction was
not entirely to be despised.
Thus, my thoughts We're great deal
more occupied with Beasley's chances
than with the holiday spirit that now,
with furs and bells and wreathing
mists of snow, breathed good cheer
over the town. so little, indeed. had
| this spirit touched me. that. one eve
ming when one of my colleagues,
standing before the grate-tire in the
| itI'l ltI - lpolli, NiN btb anu SttlNl lie VI
be glad when tomorrow was over, l
asked him what was the particular
trouble with tomorrow.
"Christmas," he explained, Ian
guidly. always so tedious. Like
sunday
1T makes me homesick," said an
other, melancholy little man who
was forever Dragging of his native
Duluth
christmas" l epeated-"tomor.
row.
1t was Christmas eve, and l had not
known it. / leaned back in my chai"
in sudden loneliness what pictures
coming before me of long-ago Christ
mas ewes at home old Christmas
ewes when there was Tree. .
My name was called; the night city
editor had ar assignment for me. go
up to Sim Pecli's, on Madison street."
he said. 'He thinks he's got some
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 must
have given my superior the highest
conception of my journalistic zeal. At
telephone station on the next corner
/ called up Mrs. Apperthwaite's house
and asked for Mr.. Dowden.
What are you doingY' l demanded.
when his voice responded.
playing bridge he answered.
Are you going out anywhere"
NO. What's the trOuble?"
'Tll tell You later. | may want to
the office"
"All right. I'll be at home all the
evening"
l 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 binding,
sleet-like snow horizontally against
them. At corners it struck so tumul-
| tuous a blow upon the chest of the Pc
dcStrians that for Il moment it would
halt them, and you could hear them
easping half-smothered "Ahs" like
bathers in a heavy surf. Yet there
was n 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 tonight; these
We're 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 it 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 upllfted 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.
l found Mr.. Peck waiting for me
at his house. There We're four other
men with him, one of whom recog-
niZed as Grist, squat young man
with slippery-looking black hair and
a lambrequin mustache. They were
donning their coats and hats in the
! hall when | arrived.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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