Evening star., 1927-12-04

clay MARTIN looked at the clock
~ noticed that is was already past
10, Cancelled the stamps on one more
| Christmas parcel, and rose to his
| feet.
Guess I'll be going home, Mr..
Hale" he said to. the man with a green
| eyeshade who sat at a desk behind
the stamp window IF I'm going to
be down at in the morning, want
to get some sleep"
"Go ahead. Clay" Mr.. Hale replied
you've done plenty for one day."
| Clay walked over to the clock and
| stamped his time card. He called a
CHEEKY goodnight to the assistant post.
master, and was about to leave when
| that official called him back.
You're going up to the academy,
aren't your" he asked.
II certainly am" said Clay. "And
I'm going to tumble into my little bed
as fast as | can"
"Well, a special delivery letter came
| for Lloyd Faversham on that last
train. viii you take it up to him?
He won't get it until the middle Of
the morning If you don't, I'm afraid"
Sure" replied Clay. He pocketed
| the letter with it's red and blue stamps,
| and left the post Office.
| A person acquainted with Grayson
Academy would have been surprised
| TO learn that one of it's students was
working in the village post Office, but
| had he known Clay Martin the thing
would have been easily explained.
| Most of the boys who attended Gray
son were from families that were at
least comfortably well-to-do. and Clay
was no exception. At least, he had
! fnW
months ago. Then his fathers busi-
ness had suddenly failed. Mr.. Martin
had insisted that he at least finish
out the year in school, and Clay had
decided that, rather than spend the
money for the long trip home over the
| Christmas holidays, he would help
out little by getting job and work
| ing those three weeks. The headmas-
Ter of the school had consented to his
staying in his room, where he made
himself comfortable for the few hours
he was in it each day.
Clay hadn't liked the idea Of missing
| his holiday at home, but sirce the
family was pressed for money, he felt
| it was as little as he could do to help
| them out And SO he had been work
ing II or 13 hours every day in the
village post office, helping with the
heavy Christmas mail, and living
pretty solitary life.
A few days before he had been sur
prised to discover that Lloyd Faver.
sham had not gone home for the holi;
DAYS, either Clay didn't know Lloyd
very we'll; in fact. few boys at Grayson
| did LLOYD was a class below him, for
one thing, but he was also one OF
those quiet, shy boys who don't make
friends readily. Everybody liked him,
but nobody was very intimate with
him.
Thus Clay knew he was staying at
Grayson over Christmas, but he did
not know why. He had been working
so steadily that he had seen little OF
the other boy. and when he had, they
had talked OF general matters.
AS Clay approached the hall he saw
light IN an upper window that he
knew to be Lloyd's. Whistling blithe-
ly, he climbed the stairs as jauntily
as his tired legs would permit, and
raped on the other boys door.
Come in." said Lloyd, note of
surprise in his voice.
Merry Christmas" greeted Clay as
he pushed open the door. Here's
special for you. ! was coming up
from the p. O., so brought it up"
"Oh. thanks" said Lloyd gratefully,
| picking up the letter. you've been
working late, haven't you?"
II sure have" groaned Clay. Uncle
Sam needs all his little nephews to
handle this Christmas mail" He
turned and was about TO leave the
room when Lloyd looked at him with
a strange expression on his face.
sit down a few minutes, won't
you?" he invited.
A laughing refusal of the request
was on Clay's very tongue-tip when
something IN the look OF the other
boys eyes restrained him from speak
ing. He gazed at him wonderinGly
for moment, then sank into a chair.
"Fine!" he said. I'm pretty tired
| but we two hermits ought to stick TO-
gether."
Twill you pardon me while read
this letter." said Lloyd. Clay nodded,
! and the other boy ripped it open
Clay, his interest aroused saw Lloyd :
face pale as his eyes scanned the lines.
Then he sank into chair.
Il hope there's nothing wrong" said
Clay, soberly. The other boy sat with
bowed head for moment. then turne !
toward him with a CLEAN in his eye.
, He held out the letter.
, Read that" he commanded.
, Clay took the letter and read as fol
, lows:
Dear Lloyd:
Conditions are as bad rs intimated