The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-13
10 SERIAL STORY
HIS CHRISTMAS
lrlnnI ~ ADELAIDE
OAnOL hAzEIriAI

initials She had never abused
that privilege
/ She would not abuse Il now.
She would use II gratefully.
Her hand trembled a little as
she wrote the first check. To Mrs.
Milligan for s3e5. the price Of the
sweater. IL stesdied as she wrote
the second check. To Mrs. Grover,
s24.50. the price of a bicycle.
n With each check she sent an
apologize letter. Il find I didn't
understand your complaint the
letter read. of course YOU are
entitled To a refund on your pur-
chase. That has always been the
policy Of Dearborn's. II will not
be different now. Accept my
apologies and my check. | wish
you and yours a Merry Christ
mas"
Boldly. now. she signed Andy
Dearborn's name.
She corrected many similar
cases In the next days. But she
hadn't anticipated the most seri-
Gus Of them all. II concerned Miss
Fanny in Hosiery.
The old employe came TO the
office shaking with despair. IT'S
Mr. Herriek." she managed to tell
Carol. Hes laid me off. For
good. He says I'm too old TO
work"
No no. Miss Fanny" Carol
protested. He can't do that"
He has done 1t. I'm going to
take it up with Mr.. Andy. He
won't let him. will he, Carroll"
Il hope not" she said fervently.
But she felt stricken. How did she
dare to hope Andy would inter-
fere7
Andy came. Miss Fanny fol-
lowed him into the office. He
glanced suspiciously at her tear
stained face and closed the door
behind them.
+. Numbly. Carol waited. What
irony this was! One of the very
persons who would pass Judgment
on Andy was now asking him for
mercy.
What would Andy do' Carol
was afraid to think.
The door opened at last and
Carol read the answer in Miss
Fanny's hopeless eyes. II wrung
Carols heart. As she passed the
desk. Miss Fanny paused and laid
hand on Carols arm. started to
speak. No words came. Only a
gasp. Miss Fanny was too hurt
TO talk.
After she was gone. Carol
famed at Andy. It's not right!
Miss Fannys given her life TO this
store, You can't turn her OUT"
His lips denied the doubt in his
eyes. Mr.. Herrick did it Carol.
I won't interfere.
But it's YOUR store" her voice
rose in condemnation. IT'S Dear
born's! Why don't you run it
your own way? You know this
isn't right"
He regarded her silently. Then,
She wanted $500" he said even
ly. Santa Claus stays in Toy
land, Carol. Not in the managers
office" He took his hat. Keep
any messages for me. I'll be out
the rest of the day"
He was angry with her. too.
At last she began to admit there
was no use. Andy had no interest
in the store.
He would fail. There seemed
nothing she could do to stop him.
Andy Dearborn was not worthy
of his heritage.
Her heart ached for all of them.
Especially for Miss Fanny. She
was being dismissed without a
cent, while If the will could be
found, she would receive much
more than the $500.
Carol knew why she expected
the sum. II was what Mr.. Dear
born usually set aside for retire.
ment
Five hundred dollars, Her mind
toyed with il until she began to
accept its reality. She had righted
other wrongs. Why not this one?
Why did she hesitate to write a
check for Miss Fanny when she
knew il was due her in accordance
with the will Actually, she was
better justified in this case than
in any Of the others.
True, she had never written SO
large a check. II would be GER
tain to come to Mr.. Herrick's at
tention at the end Of the month.
But by thru surely the will would
have been found and both he and
Andy would understand she did
II in Difference to Mr.. Dearbofn's
wishes
The letter to Miss Fanny was
different from the others u
praised her long service in the
store and thanked her for her
loyalty. II ended with a wish for
her Merry Christmas,
She paused a tense moment be-
fore she put Miss Fanny's name
and the three figure sum on the
check-s5O0. She signed it Dear
born's with her own initials IN
Iderneath.
+ She was calm now. Calm and
sure II was as Il again the spirit
Of Andrew Dearborn stood At her
side.
Once more she had saved the
name ne treasured.
In defiance Of his oSn son. she
had done only what Andy should