(Christmas j S "Sarglanj" ; | i ) By SAIDEE ESTF.M.E BALCOM < > I f (Copyright.) ?HE nlght-watchn^aD at Plympton. possessed of a due sense of his importance. was called "Sergeant" Moore. Ha had become aware that the distinctive title was one In gen-, era I vogue with metro____i politan police systema (' ancl he was proud of gC/ the designation. The day preceding ^ Christmaa was always one looked forward to by the doughty sergeant, for It was upon that occasion that his conscience allowed him to accept little marks of nnrnhntinn "Hey, there, sergeant r generally prefaced the bestowal of something la the shape o* a gift. "It's duty I have to attend to all Bight long," he told his wife. "They * say there's a regular band of burgl&rs on the move." Now two problems of fate were to work out a strange series of circumstances, In the Christmas eve events appertaining to the redoubtable sergeant The first was that the little town jail bad burned down the week 1 previous. The second was that a new j family had moved to town early In De- j cember. comprising the Waynes?fath- ! er, mother, a charming daughter of j seventeen and three young children. ! " ? ->?/.? KA RAtAil ! AS MUOrv p;i5?cu luctr ^iav.c uc uvicu that it was all dark, the family prob- j ably absent at some local entertain- ! ment and he caught the echo of a sound resembling the tipping over of a piece of furniture. Then from an open window a form protruded. j "Burglars P muttered the sergeant, and made a dash for the presumable destyiler. "Hold on!" spoke the latter excitedly. "It's all right." ' "Oh. Is it?" purred Moore derisively. "What's that?" and he made a grab at the protruding pocket of the young man. "If you'll allow me to explain," be- 1 gan the latter. "I know the people who live here." "Oh, yes. very particular friends! Coidially invited you to break into, the house at any hour of the night! And this?a new muffler and a pair of gloves. Say, you come with me." and the sergeant marched his captive from v the spot "If you'll only let me explain," pleaded the young man, but Moore waa deaf, blind to all but duty. Fifteen , i minutes later the captive found himaelf locked Into a stone cellar, and the sergeant handed its key to his wife, saying: "You might pass In a Jug of water C and a plate of bread to my catch through the window; It's got no sash to it. I'll drop around again soon." The young man in retirement was pacing about in the dark and anathematizing his officious captor when Mrs. ( Moore timidly approached the window. "Here's some water and a little food," she said, "so you won't suffer," and just as she passed the things in she uttered a shriek and crouched t ? down trembling. Two men had suddenly appeared, real burglars this time. /4Oh, sir I" whispered the woman through the cellar window, "they may ! kill the children! And then there's all j Tim's half yearly pay in the bureau! ; Please help me. Here's the key to the cellar door," and something tinkled on the floor. Something else then transpired. The released captive located and knocked down and tied hand and foot the prowler within the house, j Then coming unawares upon the armed j bandit outside he toppled him over, rendered him helpless, and seemed to enjoy the excitement of it aiL "I am Roscoe Walden and I am engaged to Ethel Wayne." he explained an hour later to the bewildered ser* j geant, after the latter had transferred j the two criminals to limbo. "This la' the first time I have visited their new j home, and I got in surreptitiously to ninpp n nresent on the Christmas tree f - - 4T as a surprise to my lady love. I don't' want the Waynes to know 1 am In Plympton until after she finds it." Thore was a rare spice of adventurous excitement for pretty Ethel in her j devoted lover's unique experience when ; he recited the same the next morning. And meantime Sergeant Moore was gaining popularity and the community's good will. by detailing his heroic act which had signalized Christmas eve In the apprehension of two despe.*stc- criminals who, but for him, might have had the entire town at j their mercy. ' 1 Jfwel of worth and constancy. Both my wife and myself realize what we owe to this poor waif who has endeared herself to us as though shfe were our own daughter." Doctor Merritt proved his expressed sentiments by very often visiting the Bruce home after that. The children loved him and he would drop in for an hour or two and play with them and talk with Rhoda and listen to her singing at the piano, for music with Rhoda was her one great passion. There never was a visit on his part that Rhoda did not greet him with a beautiful, tender flush upon her fair, expressive face, and one night her kindly benefactors indulged in playful badinage when she accompanied Doctor Merritt to the door. "Doctor Merr;it nns Decome quite a bean?eh, Rhoda?" intimated Mr. Bruce. "Three tiroes in a week," spoke Mrs. Bruce. "Rhoda dear, he is a loyal j chevalier." "Please don't," pleaded Rhoda, looking serious, shy and embarrassed. "He is only a great good friend to all of us, and he has so encouraged my singing; that it has made me more anxious than ever to please him." Early in November Mrs. Bruce, the children and Rhoda went to the! Florida winter home where the family spent four months of the year. There were anticipated happy days in the pretty bungalow when Mr. Bruce should join them later on. It was just two weeks before Christmas when Mrs. j Bruce decided to take a trip North and i remain with her husband until the holidays, when he would be ready to; accompany her to Fair Villa. It was j a few days after her coming that her i husband said to her: "Laura, Doctor. Merritt has fairly haunted the house evenings since you went away. I met j him today and told him of our plans, and he was especially pressing in his inquiries about Rhoda. I presume he will be here this evening to ask you about Rhoda," but the young physician did not materialize as expected, and the next day the Braces understood that he had left the city. It was two days before Christmas when the dreadful news came of the disaster in the South. Fair Villa had been practically swept off the map; their winter home had been carried away by the raging waters. Telegrams contained vague and distracting details. They had no reason to hope that their loved ones had escaped th? general fate of those who were missing among the former residents of the little inland town. They were now ready to go South and seek a trace of their two little children and of Rhoda, in whom they had so trustingly* left jthem in charge. "It must be the taxi," spoke Mr. Bruce, arousing with a sigh from his painful reverie as the doorbell rang, but he crossed the outer threshold to come face to face with Doctor Merritt The manner and words of the latter were jarring to the bruised sensibilities of the bereaved father, for the young physician was radiant of face. His eyes suggested a fervent exhilaration as he greeted Mr. Bruce with riotous embrace and waved his hamd gayly to Mrs. Bruce, who had followed her husband into the hallway. "A glad and merry Christmas to both of you!" hailed Doctor Merritt jubilantly. Ton haven't heard?" spoke Mr. Bruce in a low, reproachful tone. "Why, what do you mean?" questioned Doctor Merritt "The disaster at Fair Villa?the children." Waco TTon i'? falriv shnnted If LA J | UltOO J VIA ? ? the doctor?"they are right here!" Harold Bruce wavered against the wall for support Mrs. Bruce uttered a wild scream. Across the threshold from the porch there rushed little Etta and her brother. Joy, delight, ecstasy mitigated the shock of what at first stunned the frantic parents as an appearance from the dead. "And last but not least, she whose mission in life seems ever to be to bring healing and happiness, and love, To the Distant Fri Added E Dress your thoughts stationery. We have this styles and sizes. We'll be p at any time and help you in BAMBI and peace to all those who are dear to her!" in a gently reverent tone continued Doctor Merritt, and with supreme satisfaction the young physician viewed the five reunited ones in a maze of embraces, kisses and tears. Khoda. clinging to Mrs. Bruce, hid her face in modest confusion, as Doctor Merritt recited her brave battle against the elements in a great storm upon a battered raft until she had b- ught the children to safety. "But you, Doctor Merritt?" propounded Mrs. Bruce wonderingly? "how came you to be at Fair Villa?" "I arrived there after the disaster," was the reply. "I had gone there on a specific mission, later executed, to ask our peerless Ehoda, queen of all worn W "i?^ He Covered It With Kisses. ankind, to become my wife," and af Rhoda extended her hand he covered it with kisses and pressed it to hi! happy, happy heart. "If there was a mistletoe here ] would march you two promptly undei it!" threatened Mrs. Bruce, immersed in thrilling joy and gratitude. "There shall be one before Christ mas morning arrives!" cried Doctoi Merritt in tones that rang out like i cheer. "Come, Bruce, you and I on e hunt for Santa Claus and the choitssi gifts he can bestow, Oh! nowhere li the world, and never co any others has there come a happier, merriei Christmas than the one we shall cele brate!" ' Sleigh bells peal with merry jingle; church bells set the air a-tingle, while with these the door bells mingle in a syncopated score There's die sound of happy greeting as acquaintances are meeting; there's the knell of Christmas fleeting as the dodts strike o'er and o'er; Johnnie's trumpet's dtriektng shrilly, Philip's drum and fife's not still; he makes attempt to drown but illy sounds of guns that outside roar. There's the squeak of Mollie's dolly, and the * ^ ? ?c i i iquawK or voute apouy, ana me screams a laughter jolly from this happy little four. But above all Christmas noises made by little girls and boys is one that better than all toys is; more good cheer it holds in store. Tis the sound of mother pitchin' things about out in the kitchen *3 she calls (she knows we're itchin') "Come to dinner!1' through the door. )I?ocSEVE ; W end?Letters Bring njoyment well by writing on correct popular line in the newest leased to show you samples your selection. !RG, 3. 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