Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-19
: THE CHRISTMAS 1FOLLIES% <M
By Zona Gale% - -.>~~zu @&TG$


/ at those two dear people trying to de
! eide on a doll carriage-did you ever
| see anything more adorable than their
! faces?"
| isn't it rotten. Christmas shop
| ping?" inquired Billo tenderly.
, Its the most frightful bore" said
| Yvonne and, Billo saw, believed that
she believed 1t.
All this he related at lunch to Miss
Caroline Claude. who went over her
! list and heard not a. word that any
| body said to her, tf'T
Il hope you're gone the worse for
your experience. Miss Claude?" Cyril
said solcitousN.
"Oh. but /. am" Miss Caroline as
sured him abselitly six firms I've
called this morning to try to find a
pink mulberry lampshade. They kept
Offering me blue mulberry--the idea"'
"Shall we search the apartment
now?' Billo inquired.
First, would you three mind run
| ming round to the florists and picking
| out my potted roses?" Miss Claude de
manded. I'm need siX-no, seven
well, you might pick eight"
Miss Claude" said Cyril. with the
!; vigor Of. no introduction, II have the
honofS<SEask you for your nieces hand
In marriage"
80 have l." said Biilo promptly
"What?" said Miss Claude. Blue
| galloon-f1ve yards"
Love" said Billo distinctly Love.
! ! love Yvonne."
Well ! can't help it," said Miss
Claude, rising from the table. "If you
mix the sacred and profane like this,
| don't look at me. Lvonne, dear, those
mirrors were to be marked by this
afternoon. II you would just run
down-Oh, and those pink wadded
| SLIPPERS
Through the whole frantic after
noon they shopped, and when, as Billo
observed, the day had turned to gray
which Cyril corrected and called turn.
ing blue1on which Billo held that
held rather turn gray than to turn
blues himself-then the three moved
| horneward
t:v:.sAnd now" said Billo, as they
mounted the steps. when we've. had
! tea-whiGh hope you're going to ask
Fme to stay to. but not Gyril-then
wen search the apartment. Il hope
the burglar has waited''' +:
.ssgThey had tea In the sun!parlor-by
now scrupulodsly swept by Elsa, who.
| still shaken and a little pale, served
Ine TEA ana the cakes.
f Still out for your tree tonight,
| Elsa" Billo inquired. Launched on
your wild career of peace on earth,
| goodwill, and that sort of thing?"
What was that, sir?" asked Elsa
respectfully.
Merry Christmas" explained Billo
| gently.
"Oh, yes, sir. OF course, sir" said
Elsa. II wish you the same, sir"
You'd jolly we'll better" said Billo
| severely. You and Miss Claude and
are the only ones in this house who
care anything about observing Christ
mas--and. of course. the burglar. He
| did his part to brighten things up"
What was that, sir?" asked Elsa.
Bring some lemon, please, Elsa, -
said Yvonne.
"Yes'm," said Elsa, and departed.
Within five seconds of time, shrill
/ scream-Elsa's scream-came< from
| the buffers pantry. And when, in still
other five seconds, FvonEe Ia hdnsBillo
AID CyriK reached the Spat hey saw
Elisa at the door Of the closet, grasping
by the wrist a frightened man, shock
was a high, ugly. .teakwood case.
! Here he is" cried Elsa Tie i'm
to chair, like he done Miss Claude ="
There's no Morris chair in the din
ing.room," Billo heard himself saying.
who is this MANI" Inquired Cyril,
as one who insists on the pedigree Of
ones burglars.
| He's the window-washer." Elsa in
troduced him without formality.
Meet the window-washer," Billo
muttered.
"Il call Aunt Caroline" said
Yvonne.
"D6n't interrupt her again" Billo
pleaded. 1.-Two burglars in one. day
that is. one burglar twice in one day
we'll. you get the idea"
case" said Cyril: Let's telephone
for the police"
Flow you do love to telephone. J."