The Anderson daily intelligencer. (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, December 18, 1914, Christmas Number, Page FOURTEEN, Image 14

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(From Yesterday's Dally.) . cert lead of 'cm far 7i> cents, ni take yer measure fer one like lt fer 16, too quick!" and (he little fellow leaned back from bis work and laughed .::> In my face with absolute derision. I pulled my hat more closely down for fear of recognition, but was reas sured a moment later as be went on: "Wlsht you lived here; you'd be old fruit fer us fellows. I can see you now a-takln' wind-and we'd give lt to you mighty slick now, don't you fer glt!" and as the boy I viewed his work, I think his little, rigged body shook less with IndUbt. y than mirth. "Wlsht I'd struck you 'bout ten o'clock this morning!" and, aa he spoke, he paused r.^aln and looked up In my face with real regret. "Oh, you'd 'a' been the loveliest sucker of 'cm all! W'y, you'd 'a' went the whole pot yerse'f!" "How do you mean?" said I, drop ping the cigar I held. \ "How do I mean? Oh, you don't 'want to smoke this thing again after ?ts a-rollln' round In the dirt:" "Why. you don't smoke,'' said I, ?reaching for the cigar ho held behind him. "Mel Ob, what you givtn' me?" "Come, let me have lt." I said, sharp ly, drawing a cana from my pocket and taking out another cigar, i "Oh, you want a light," he said, handing me the atuh and watching ma 1 -war .-soupon ??MOKE I . iwjattuljv, "Couldn't qlye us a fresh PROFESSIONAL! CARDS ? DB. FOREST D. 8?GG8 j .?\ Dentist ?fi . v.o?^M'ilMU Weekley Bldg. . li Associated With Dr. w. ff. Chikola . Phone SSf-J Anderson, 8. C SA TBE * BALDWIN ARCHITECTS . Bleekley Bldg. Anderson, 8. C . Citiaens National Bank Bldg, . Raliegh, H. C BOILERS. TANK* STACKS, ALL KINDS OF MACHINERY AND SUPPLIES. REPAIRS PIPE, GALVANIZED ROOFING LOMBARD IRON WORKS Gav arnesu i Christmas Story7 mi?sTOtcombR?ei) Copuriantl9M'1py Bohbsfl?rrlE.Co. cigar, could you", cap?" "I don't know." said I, aa though deliberating on the matter. "What waa that you were going to tell me Just now? You started to tell me what a 'lovely sucker' I'd have been had you met me thia morning. How did you mean?" "Give me a cigar and I'll tell you. Ob, come, now, cap; give me a smoker and I'll give you tho whole game. I will, now, honest!" I held out the open case. "Nothln' mean about you, is they?" he said, eagerly taking a fresh cigar in one hand and the atub in tho other. I "A ten-center, too-oh, I guess not!" I But, to my surprise, he took the stub between his lipa, and began opening hie coat. "Guess I'll jlst fat thia daisy, and save 'er up for Christmas. No, I won't either," he broke In suddenly, with a bright, keen flash of second thought. "Tell you what I'll do," hold ing up th? cigar and gazing at It ad miringly; "ahe's a ten-center all right, ain't she?" I nodded. "And worth every cent of lt, too, ain't she?" "Every cont of lt," I repeated. "Then give me a nickel, and she's yourn-'cause if you can afford to give thia to me fer nothin', looks like I ort to let you have it fer half price," and as I laughingly dropped the nickel In his hand he concluded, "And they's nothln' mean about me, neither!" "Now, go on with your story/' *ald I. "How about this 'game' you were 'giv ing' this morning?" "Well, I'll tell you, cap. Us fellers bsa got to loy fer ever' nickel, 'cauae none of ua la bondholders; and they'a days and days together when we don't make enough to even starve on. What I mean ls, we on'y make enough to pay fer aggrevatin' our appetites with Jlst about enough chuck tc keep us starvln' hungry- So, you see. when a feller ain't got nothln' elae to do, and his appetite w jn t aleep io the ?ame bunk with hin*., ho s bound to git on to aomep'.u' crooked and git up all aorta o' dodges to git along. Soma gives 'em one thing, and aomo another, but you bet .they got to be mighty alick now, 'cauae people won't have 'orphans,' and 'fits/ snd 'cripples,' and 'drunk fathers/ and 'mothers thst eats morphine/ and 'whlte-awellln'/ and 'consumption/ and all that sort o' taffy! Got to git 'er down fl ncr'n that! But I been a-glttln' In my work all the same, don't you. ferglt! You won't ever blow, now?" "How could I 'blow/ and what if I did? I don't live here." I replied. "Well, you better never blow, any? how; 'cauBO If ever ua duffers would git on to lt you'd be a sp'iled oysterIa* 1 "Perfectly Lovely P ls about what.'she'll say if you give "HER" a Di?mond ring for Christmas; and if you get it here, she'll be "DELIGHTED" too because "SHE" knows that it will be O. K. in every detail. > Our prices, on Diamonds, as wel? as all other Jewelry of Qua1 ity can't be t>eat ! Come see ! I W.H.Lyon Cash Jeweler "Go on," f said, with an assuring ton?. "The tay I'm on jlst now," be con tinued, dropping bis voice and looking cautiously-around, "is a-hldin' my box and a-rushln' In, nuddent-llke, where they'a crowd o' nobs a-talkln' politics er somepln*. sad a-Jlst sta rt In' in, aod 'fore they snow what's a-comin' I'm a-flaahln' op a nickel er a dime, and a-tellin' 'em If I only had enough more to make 50 cents I could buy a blackln' box, and wouldn't have to ast no boot o' mvgrnndmotber! And two mlnutei chlnnln' idees it, don't you see, cause they don't know nothln' 'bout blackln boxes; they're Jlst as soft aa you slr They get an Idy, maybe, that blackln boxes comes all the way from Cbiny with cokcynut whiskers packed 'round 'em; and I mske it solid by a-sayln I'm on'y goln' to git a second-hand boi -see? But that ain't the p'lnt-If? the Mr. Nickel I already got. Oh! lt'l paralyze 'em eve*' time! Sometimei fellers'U make u.. 75 cents er a dollar and tell me to 'git a new box. and g< Into the business right.' That's a tblni that always rattles me. Now, if they'i on'y growl a little and look like the; ;was jlst a-puttln' up 'cause the firs .ene did, I can stand lt; but when the: go to pattin' me on the head, an at el lin' me 'th ct's right,' and 'not t be afeared o' work,' and I'll 'come ou ?all right,' and a tellln' me to 'git a goo ? substantial box while I'm a-glttln' and a-ponyln' up handsome, there' [Where I weaken-I do, honest!" An never so plainly as at that momei did I see within his face and In hi eyes the light of true nobility. ; "You see," be went on, in a tone < voice half courage, half apology, "I' g< a family on my hands, and I' jlst gt to git along somehow! I could git alon on tho square deal as long as moth< was alive-'cause she'd work-but ev? sonco she died-and that was wlnt< 'fore last-I've kind o' bad to doub on the old thing all sorta o' wayo. Bi Sis don't know it. Sis, she thinks I': the squarest muldoon In the business and even side by side with the home! utterance a great sigh faltered fro hla lins. "And who is Sis?" I Inquired wil new interest "Sis ?" he repeated, knocking my fo from the box, and leaning back, at In the old position, his hat now ly li on the ground beside him, and h frowsy hair tossed backward from tl \ full, broad brow-"Who's? Sis?" he l peat ed with an upward smile that i most dazzled me-"W'y, Sis la-ls w'y. Sis ls the boss girl-and don't yi fergU lt!" No need had he to tell me more thi tbls. I knew who "Sis" was by 1 light of pride In the uplifted eyes; knew who "Sis" was by the exultatl in the broken voice, and the half-< fiant tossing ot the frowsy head; knew who "Sis" was by the HU naked hands thrown upward openly; knew who "Sis" was by tho tear tb dared to trickle through tao dirt ut, her ragged brother's face. And do: you forget lt! 0 that boy down there upon 1 knees!-there In the cinders and t dirt-so far, far down beneath ua tl we trample on his breast and grind c heels Into his very heart; O that I there, with his lifted eyes, and Go own glory shining in his face, t taught me, *vlth an eloquence beyc the trick of mellow-sounding wo< and metaphor, that love may find purer home beneath the raga of p erty and vice than in all the gn .warm heart of Charit? 1 hardly knew what impulse pron ed' me, hut as the boy rose to his f and held his hand out for the comp satlon for his work, I caught the 114 dingy palm close, close within own. and Wrung lt aa I would hi wrung the hand of some great c queror. The little fallow atared at me wonderment, and although his 1 were silent, I cannot bot believe t had they parted with the utter? within his heart my feelings had calved no higher recognition than old contemptuous phrase. "Oh, w you glvln' me?" "And so you've got a family on y hands?" I Inquired, recovering an of simple curiosity, and toying in pocket with some hits of change. "? ranch of a family?** "On'y three of ua now." "Only three of you, eh? Toon and Sis, and-and-" "Th? old. man." said the hoy, uni fly; and after a pause, in which seeried to swallow, an utterance n bitter, he added, "And ho ain't no ?j on earth!" ..Can't work?" I Queried. "Won't work," said the DOT. bitte "He wont work-he won't do not -on'y budge! And I hat to steer in over* night, 'causa th? oops w pull'hi m any moro-they won't let in the station house more'n they'd him In a parler, 'causa ha's a pl goner now, and liable to croak minute." "Liable to what?" said I. "Liable to jlst keel over-wink you know-'cause he has fl ta-kin jlmlams. I guess. Had a fearful ma ?Mee with him last night! Toa ho QU ai ss sB aorta o' games on me, I haf'to put up far bira-'cause got to have whisky, and lt wa can keep him about so full ho's a rag lamb; but he don't stand no mom in' when he wanta whisky, now hat! 81a can handle him better*n hut abe's been a-losin' her grip on lately-rou sea 81s ain't atout more, and been Und o' slck-Hko so \ aha humara his., ron know, mc she'd ort. And ha couldn't git aa plan kt all yIsterday morning, and sont fer me, and I took him doa pint, and that set hits a-runnln' so when I laft ha made sis giro ? quarter be saw me slip her; und lt jlst happened I run Into him that eve ning and got him In, or he'd a froze to death. I guess he moat 'a' kind o' bad 'em laat night, 'cause he wa? the wild est man you over see-saw grasshop pers with paper collara on. and old sows with feather-duster talla-tho durndest program you ever beard of! And be got so bad onc't he waa a-goln' to belt Sla, and did try lt; and-and 1 had to chug him one or he'd 'a' done lt And then he cried, and 81a cried, and I erl-, I- Dem him! you can bet y er life I didn't cry!" And aa the boy spoke, the lipa quivered into stern com pression, the little bands gripped closer at his side, but for all that the flashing eyea grew blurred and the lida dropped downward. That's a boaa shine on them shoes. * I waa mechanically telling over In my hand the three email coins I had drswn from my pocket. "That ia a nloe Job!" ssld I gazing with an unusual show of admiration at the work; "and I thought," continued I, with real regret, "that I, had two dimes and a nickel there, and was thinking that, aa thea? were Christmas times. I'd Just give you a quarter for your work." "Honest, Cap?" 'Honest!" I repeated, "but the fact is the two dimes, ss I thought they were, ere only tro three-cent pieces, so I have only /leven cents in change, after all." % "Spect they'd change a bill fer you 'crost there at the lunch counter," he suggested, with charming artlessness "Won't have time-there's my train Just coupling. But take this-I'll see you again some time, perhaps." How big a bill ia it you want changed?" aaked the little fellow, with a moat acquisitive expression, and a awlft glance at our then lonely sur roundings. "I only have one bill with me," said I, nervously, "and that's a five." "Well, here, then," aald the boy, hur riedly,' with another and more scrutin izlng glance about him-"guess I cat 'commodate you." And as I turned in wonder, he drew from some raysteri ous recess in the lining of his coat a roll of billa, from which he hastily de teched four in number, then returned the roll; and before I had recovered from my surprise, he had whisked tut note from my Angers and left In my hand Instead the proper change. "This ls on the deed, now. Cap Don't you ever cheep about me havin wealth, you know; 'cause it rin't minc that ls, it is mine, but I'm a There goes yer train. Ta ta!" "The day before Christmas," ssid I snatching his band, and speaking? bur rledly-"the day before Christmas, I*rx coming back, and if you'll be hen when the five-thirty train rolls in youl) And a man that wants hts boot* blacked-maybe to get married in. or ?.nothing-anyway he'll want a shine Uko this, and he'll come prepared tc pay the higheat market price-do you understand?" "You Jlst tell that feller fer me," ssid the hoy, eclipsing the twinkle ol one eye, and dropping his voice to an inflection of strictest confidence-"you Jiat tell that feller fer me that I'm his oyater!" "And youll meet him. sure?" said L "I will," said the boy. And he kept his word. My ride home was sn incoherent fluttering of the wings of time, in which travail one fretful hour was born, to gasp Its fl rat few minutes belp leaaly; then moan, roll ever and kick out Its lega and sprawl about; then crawl a little-stagger to tts feet and totter on; then tumble down a time or two and knock ita empty head against the floor and howl; then loom up awk wardly on gangling legs, too much in their own amy to comprehend that they ?ere In the way et everybody .tes; then Ump a Uttle as it worried on-drop down eThauaflcd" mema again -toss up its hands-shriek out. sod di? te violent convulsions. We hato til had that experience ot the car-wheels-had them enter teto aoaversation wH* me es we filly eerv Dark?"* upon some pleasant trip, per* Toa ps; bad them rattle off In scrap*} of song, or lightly twit aa with some dear one's name, or even ca so far as to laugh at us and moc? faa for some real or fancied dereliction of car ?tiquette. I shall ever have good reason to re member bow once upon a time a boy of fourteen, though greatly under-stsed, told the conductor faa waa only ten, and, although the unsuspecting official accepted the statement as a truth, with tbe proper reduction In the fare, the car-wheels called that boy a "Uar" for 20 miles-and 20 miles aa long and tedious as he baa ever compassed In bis Journey through this vale of tears. The car-wheels on this bitter winter evening were not at all communica tive. . They were sullen end morose. They didn't feel like singing, snd they wouldn't laugh. They had .no Jokes, .nd if there was one peculiar quality of tone they possessed in any marked degree lt was that of sneering. They had a harsh, discordant snarl, as it seemed, and were spiteful and insinu ating. Y, The topic they had chosen for that night*s consideration waa evidently of a very complex and mysterious nature, and they gnawed and mumbled at lt with such fierceness and, withal, such solflshneus, I could only catch a flying fragment of it now and then, and that, t noticed, waa of the coarsest fiber of Intelligence, and of slangy flavor. Lis tening with the most painful interest, I at laat made out the fact that the in flection seemed' to be in the Interroga tive, and, with anxiety the most in tense, I slowly came to comprehend that they were desirous of ascertain ing the exact distan?a between two given points, but the proposition seemed determined not to round into fuller significance than to query mock ingly, "How fur la lt? How fur ls lt? How fur, how fur ls lt?" and so on to a most exasperating limit. Aa this senseless phrase waa repeated and re iterated in ita growing harshness and unchanging intonation, the relentless pertinacity of tho query grew simply agonizing, and when at tlmea the car door opened to admit a brakeman, or the train-boy, who had everything to sell but what I wanted, the emphasized refrain would lift me from my seat and drag me up and down tba alala When the phrase did eventually writhe round into form and shape moro tan gible, ray relief waa auch that I sat down, end In ray fancy framed a grim, unlovely tone that suited lt. and hummed with lt. In an undertone of dismal satisfaction: How fur-how fur Is lt from her* From hero to Happiness? When I returned, that same refrain rode back into the e*.<y* vita. nie. All the gay metropolis vas robing for the banquet and tho ball. All tho windows of tba crowded thoroughfares ware kindling Into aplendor. Along tim streets rode lordly carriages, so weight* ed down with costly silks, and rtira, and twinkling genii, and uhknown treasures In unnuraber?d - pactum? that one lone' ounce bf needed charity would lava ?napped their1 axles, and a feather's weight of puro ' benevolence would have splintered every Spoke/ And. tha old refrain roda with mo through lt all-as stoical, relentless and unchangeable aa fate-and in tha same depravad and slangy tona In wbith lt seemed to fond aa especial prlda, lt sang, and sang again: How fur-how fur Ia lt from her? From here to nippiness? Tha train, that for Ara minutes had baan lessening In speed, toiled pain fully aloag, aad as ? aros? impatiently and ranchad behind na for my ovar* coat, a cheery volea criad, "Hello, Cap! Waat a lift? til ha'p you with that boo Ja urra," and aa I looked around I aaw tha grimy features of any ilttla tero of the brush and box. "Hello!" said I. aa much delighted aa surprised, "Where did yon drap frota r* "?h, 1 collared this old hoarse a nina er so back yonder." said tte little fallow, gay)*, standing on tte scat be hind ma and ? olding ap tba coat, **Bssn a-dola* circus-business on Ilsa i#iaaaaiai.a> _i.. '.." ? ? ??' steps out thor? fer half an hour. Ton bet I had my eye on you, all the same, ?hough!" "You bad, eh?" I exclaimed, gladly, although I instinctively surmised his highest Interest in me wes centered in my pocketbook. "You s*d, eh?',' I re posted with more earnestness. "Well, I'm glad ot that. Charlie-or, what la your name?" "Squatty," said the boy. Then no ticing the look of surprise upon my face, he added soberly: "That ain't my sure-enough name, you know; that's what the boys calls me. " 81s calls me Jamesy." "Well, Jamesy," I continued, button ing my coller and drawing on my Shoves, "I'm mighty glad to aee you. sud If you don't believe it. Just go down in that right-hand overcoat-pock et and you'll find out." The little fellow noded no aecond In vitation, and as he drew forth a closely folded package the look ot curiosity upon hts face deepened to one of blank bewilderment. He made no motion to untie the lit tie package, and gradually the expres sion in his eyes chsnged to one of sus picion and his Ups closed tightly to gether. "Open lt," said I, smiling at the pus sled little face; "open lt-lt's for you." "Oh, here, cap," said the boy, drop ping the package oe the seat, and holding up a rigid finger, "you're a gtvin' ms this, ain't you?" "I'm giving you the package, cer tainly," said I, somewhat bewildered. "Open it-lt's a Christmas present for you-open lt!" "Wbst's your Idy o' luyln* fer met" asked the boy. with e troubled and un easy air. "I've been a-givin' you square business right along, ain't I?" Why, Jamesy," asid I, ss I vaguely comprehended the real drift of his thought, "the package is for you, and If you won't open it, I will," and as I spoke I began unfolding lt.. "Here," ssid I, "is a pair of ?loves a little girl about your sise told me to give to you, because I was telling her about you, over where I live, and lt's 'a clear case,' " and I laughed lightly to myself as I noticed a slow flush creeping to his face. "And here," said I. "ia a bang-up pair of good old-fashioned socks, and, if they'll flt you, there's an old woman that wears specs and a mole on her nose, told me to teU you, for her, that she knit them for your Christmas present, and if you don't wear them shell never forgive you. And here," I continued, "is a cap, as fussy as a woolly-worm, and as wsrm a cap, I reckon, as you ever stood on your head in; lt's a cheap cap, but I bought it wita my own money, and money that I worked mighty hard to get, because I ain't rich; now, it I Was rich, Td buy. you a (lug; but I've got an Idea that this little, old, woolly csp, with ear boba to- lt, and a anapper to go ande? yow ?hfn, don't you see, won't bo a bad cap to knock around In, such: weather se this. What de. you say. now! Try her on once," and as I spoke I turned to place lt on his head. "Oomh-ooh!" he negatively mur mured, putting ont his hand, bis closed Ups quivering-the little frowsy head drooping forward, and the ragged shoes shuffling cn the floor. "Come." said I, my own voice grow ing curiously changed; "won't you take in ese presents? They are yours; you must accept them. Jamesy, not because they're worth so very much, or bo cause they're very fine," I continued, bending down and folding up the par cel, "bet because you know, I want you to, and-ar.d-you must take them; you must'" snd ss 1 concluded, thrust tu? tiguii) :?:dcd - parcel be*, neath his ann, and pressed thv I'tt.le tattered elbow finely over lt "There you are," said I. "Freeze on. to it, and well skip off here at the avenue. Cot.?5." I hardly dared to look behind me tlU I found myself upon the street, hut as I threw an eager glance over my shoul der I saw the little fellow following, aot bounding Joyfully, but with a solemn step, the little parcel bugged closely to his side, and bis eyes bent soberly upon the froten ground. And how's 81? by thia time?" I asked cheerily, flinging the question backward, and walking on mote briskly. ... ..'Bout the : same," said the bey, brightening a little, and skipping telo a lTveU?rpace. ? Jj ."About the same;; eh? end how> tes$rvrs?ked. "Oh, abe can't git around much .*?jV^>. you know; hui i e^tUh';'.batter ell the lime. She uim?](iWv*il|halldayyIat?rdiy;" as.thsTo^ ?i^e;the eye* lifted , . tho old fleab, aad . the little frowsy he^'tossed erith theniddeflenee. '. oho not down.s?ofifvsaid 1. "n ache ot?W^ml?Wn i;." replied the boy. "she's been bad a long time You see," he broke te hy way of alienation, "sh? didn't bava ne shoes nar nothln* when winter come, and kind e.' took cold, you know, and thet-atee-her'the whoopln' cough so's sha couldn't git around much. You Jlst ort to s?e har new! Oh. she's act**/ all right now, you can sett end shasald yUtorday she'd bo plum well Christmas, and that's on'y tomor ry Ghees not!" and as tho '.?' tow concluded tate exultant a peech, tee circled roaed me. and thea shot for ward Uko a rocket "Hit Ti alis j f I called after him, paualng et a stairway ?nd stepping te the doer. The tittle telkrw Joined me in an thal rael "Waa? that ables now?" He inquired with panting oeaeruses.? "Hot now. Jamesy," said 1, "for rte ?etat to tte quire Tessy ter a white. This te my o*ee?tfattHNe?o hast tee second deer oa the right upstairs, re ?ewber-*j?<Jj | work Urns J!heo l a fn th? city, and I sometimes sleep there, when I work late. And now I want to sak a very special favor of you," I continued, taking a little) sealed packet from my pocket: "here's a little box that you're to take to 81s. with my compliments-the compli ments of the season, you understand, --and tell her I aent it, with particu lar directions that she shouldn't break lt open till Christmas morning-not till Chrlstmaa morning, understand! Then you tell her that I would like very much to come and see her, and if ahe says all right-and you must give me a good 'send-off,' and eho'U say all light If 'Jamesy' says all right -then come back .hore, say two hours from now, or three hours, or tonight, anyway, and we'll go down and seo. Sis together-what do you say?" The boy nodded dubiously. "Hon est-must I do all that, sure enough?"' "Will you?" said I; "that's what L want to know;" and I pushed back) the dusky little face and looked Into the bewildered eyes. "Solid?" ho queried, gravely. "Solid," I re pe Ved, handing him; tho box. "Will you come?" "W'y, 'course I will, on'y I was Jlst a-thlnkin'-" "Just thinking what?" said 1, ns the little fellow paused abruptly and shook the box suspiciously at his sar. "Just thinking what?" I repeat ed; "for I must go now; good-by.-? Jufet thinking what?" . "Oh, nothln'," said the boy, backing off and staring at me in a phase of .wonder akin to awe.-"Nothln', on'y I was jist a-thlnkin' that you was a lit tle the curiousest i coster I ever see." Three hours later, as I sat alone, he came in upon me timidly to say rho had not been borne vot, having "run acro-t the old man jlst a MUn', and had to git him corralled 'fort, ho dropped down som'er's In the snow;: but I'm a-gittln' 'long bully with him now," he added with a deep sigh of relief, " 'cause he's so full hell baf to let go purty soon. Say you'll bo here?" I nodded silently, and be was gone: The merry peals of laughter rang up from the streets like mockery. The jingling of bells, the clatter and con fusion of the swarming thoroughfares, flung up to me not one glad murmur of delight; the faint and far-off blar ing of a dreamy waits, blown breeze like over the drowsy ear of Dight, had sounded aweeter to me had I stood amidst the band, with every bellow ing horn about my ears, and the drums and clashing cymbals howling mad. I couldn't work, I couldn't read, I couldn't rest; I could only pace about. heard the clock strike ten, and strike it hard; I heard lt strike eleven, viciously; and twelve it held out nt aim's length, and struck it full be tween, the eyes, and let it drop-steno dead. O I saw the blood ooze from its ears, and saw the white foam freese upon its lips! 1 waa alono alone 1 It was throe o'clock before the boy returned. "Been a long while," he began, "but I had a fearful tima with the old man, and he went on so when I did git him In I was 'most aXeard to leave bim; but. he kind o' went to sleep at last, and Molly ahe come over to see how Bia* waa a-glttln'; and Sis aald she'd like to see you if you'd come now, you know, while they ain't no raoket gol.' on." "Come, then,", said Ii buttoning my coat closely at tha throat, "I am ready;" and a moment later we had stepped Into the frosty night Wo moved along In silence, the little fel ?ow half running, half eliding alone froaan pavement in the kad; and I aetad, with a pleasurable thrill, that ha had darned toe little fussy cap and mlttaas, and frota-tima ta tima was dmgtag. sa haran. a4m?s? glanoaa at his shadow on tha snow, roar way veered hut a little from I tad alleyways, whare tha rear ands '** PMaslTl hw??* blocks had dwi*.