White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1927-01-14
ALIAS SANTA CLAUS
By EDGAR DANIEL KRAMER

purchases for which his mother had
sent him.
"Ain't much of Christmas In coffee
an tea an sugar." he growled under
his breath, as he paid for what he had
bought and glared down at the three
pennies which were left him, glowered
at them as If they were responsible
for his bitter disappointment. Rice
an salt an things like that! Nothin'
but mittens! Christmas! Shucks!"
Unheeded by the folks crowding
the aisles, no part of the general
gaiety in which he moved. hoping
against hope, he elbowed his way
around the store slowly, studying the
Christmas displays with Hungry eyes.
IF tn trapin' had only been helf-
way decent" he muttered, as he
paused to stare at big blue-eyed,
/, golden-haired doll, II would be gettin'
that doll for Sis. It's almost as big
as she is. I'd be gettin' that black
silk for ma, too. But tn traps amt
brought in a thing. We're sure needin'
all we can scrape together, too. We
amt clear of debt yet. We're still
OWN for doctorin' pa after that tree
fell on him an for buryin' him.
Though we're needin' it in tn worst
way, moneys scarcer than hens teeth
with U.S."
| Reluctantly he tore himself from
the dazzling counters and tramped out
heavily into the night. 1t was snow
ing.
"Sam was right" he sighed. "He
said it felt like snow. Three cents!"
he snorted, hurrying to where the
mule was waiting impatiently. Il
couldn't even be buyin' Sis some Of
that fancy candy to hang on tn tree.
Shucks!"
The mule pricked up it's long ears at
the boys approach and began to tug
at the hitching-rope. Danny tucked his
armful of packages in with the corn
sacks and then covered them with the
blanket which he took off the mule.
THAT stuff mustn't get wet" he
remarked, as he started homeward on
his two-hour drive little before ten.
THAT doll is a beaut. No wonder Sis
liked it as soon as she saw 1t. Ma
would look swell in that black silk, if
you're askin' me. But what's tn use?
What can't be done, can't be done, an
that's tn end of it. Gosh!"
He continued to reiterate his cha
grined disgust until Freedom lay half
a mile behind him and a lanky figure,
with sack slung' over his shoulder,
suddenly popped out of the snow
smother few PAGES ahead
want lift?" Danny asked, draw
ing abreast of the wayfarer. "Walkin'
amt easy tonight"
Sure, son." came the quick accept
ance. can you're more than right. TIL
COINS heavy"
Hop int" Danny invited. "WhoaP'
This last was to the mule.
The man tossed the bag he was car
rying into the wagon and pushed 1t
under the snow-covered blanket.
Let FER go, son!" he grunted, as
he scrambled up beside Danny, who
gave him generous portion of the
lap-robe to wrap around his thin legs.
This amt any night to be loiterin'
along tn highway"
"Goin' faf?" Danny asked.
about another half mile," the
stranger answered, as he glanced be-
hind him through the snow that now
seemed to be shutting them off from
all the world like ghostly curtain.
About another half mile"
you goin' up to Big Windy?"
Danny questioned.
us that what you call it,"
"You amt acquainted around here
much. are your" mot much, son."
Although Danny watched his com
panion covertly, as he sat hunched up
beside him with his hands clasped be-
tween his knees under the lap-robe
the dropping brim of the mans felt
hat cast shadow over his features
and almost obliterated them. He could
mark nothing distinguishing about the
man but his lanky, loose-knit figure
which had struck him at first glance
When the stranger turned to look
back, as he did frequently, he always
swung away from Danny.
We'll be havin' white Christmas,
Danny was the first to break the long
silence that had settled between them
white Christmas is correct" the
other replied, IAN between you an
me an tn well-known gate-post, son
tn more snow we get tn better it will
please me-"
Snow an Christmas belong to
gether," Danny continued thoughtfully
you're sayin' faceful, son." came
the rejoinder, IAN they belong to
gether this Christmas more thar
ever"
That was a riddle to Danny. He
would have asked for an explanation
but they had reached the foot of Big
Windy by this time, and his passenger