The Union County journal. [volume] (Marysville, Ohio) 1875-1951, 1948-12-23

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Bill looked up from his over
coat collar. 'Hey, be careful"
he shouted.
wasn't out making the living and
he, a big hulk of man, staying
home.
The doctor had said he'd over
come the heart condition with pro-
longed rest.
People were talking. Bill knew.
He'd been standing near the living
room door the other day when he'd
heard Kate Tyler, their neighbor,
talking to Sally in the kitchen.
'Well, it just looks shame that
you, such frail little thing, must
work. Bill looks the picture of
health. He weighs something near
one hundred eighty pounds, doesn't
he, SalIy?" Kate said, and Bill had
visioned with burning resentment
her sharp, in-everybody' s-business
nose twitch with inquisitiveness.
Bill visioned too, Sally's pretty
proud head lift when her voice had
come in quick sensitive rebellion, II
believe it's my affair about work
ing. I really don't need to work.
We have plenty saved up to take us
through until Bill is able to go back
on his job. I'm working because /
want to-"
He'd felt like atcad. There wasn't
another guy in the whole universe
had wife like Sally, who through
her loyalty would even tell false
hood Sally didn't deserve the hard
ship he was giving her. And now
with Christmas upon them and no
money of his own, unless he sold his
best suit to the resale shop down
the street, he felt it would be even
better for bis old heart to quit tick
ing than to face it and have Sally
say, "Oh, you didn't need to give
anything, Bill. All want is you!
Wen have real Christmas when
you get well"
Bill put on his overcoat, hat and
galoshes. 1t was about time to meet
Sally coming home from work.
Cold rain interspersed the snow
and already the highway in front
of their place was getting coated
with ice. Cars moved along eau
tiously.
Their neighbor's boy, Pike, eleven,
slid by him on sled. "Whee-e-e,
watch me, Mister Bill"
Bill looked up from his overcoat
collar. Hey, be CAREFUL" he shout
ed and went into action with leap
when he saw the sled carrying the
boy from the sidewalk into the di-
rection of an approaching car up the
highway.
1t all happened in a flash. If Bill
hadn't been gigantic in size, muscu-
lar and agile with youth, he couldn't
have saved the boy. Man, Pike"
he painted, standing over him on the
sidewalk, don't play along the
street,"
"Aw, could've made it, Mister
Bill" Pike said, and dashed back
up the street with his sled.
A large man emerged hurriedly
from the big car on the side of the
pavement and came up to Bill.
Thanks, fellow! Say" he said,
mopping his forehead, "that was
close call! You certainly used your
head"
81 snatched him in time" Bill
said.
The man pulled out his wallet.
Here" he said, holding crisp bill
toward Bill Take this, fellow"
''But / don't want money for what
II did," Bill protested, starting to
bagk away.
The man pushed the money into
Bills hand. I'D pay a thousand or
more to escape what might have
happened just now. Think what
Christmas would have been for me
if it had happened, to say nothing
of the kids parents. Thanks again,
fellow-and Merry Christmas!"
He was gone before Bill could do
anything.
Bill looked down at the money in
his hand. Well, if he felt that way
about it. But one hundred dol
lars. >.
He looked up then and saw Sally
trudging toward him through the
snow and a happy, secretive smile
curved his lips suddenly. He slipped
the money into his billfold and went
to meet her.