THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
John Henry
on
Christmas
Presents
By GEORGE V.HOBAfJT
(Copyright, ir McUluro Noifipapor Sjuillcate)
AY! Did you ovor
tnko what little
was loft and atari
out to buy friend
wlfo a Christmas
token 7
A quaint pantlmo,
Is It not?
Well, to mako a
long story loso Its
cunning, I clinked
a fow Iron men to
gether one morn
ing rocently and
started out to And
something now and
nifty In tho gift
lino for Poaches.
I was breezing for
a department store when I run across
Hop Hardy, limping In tho direction
of a tazlcab stand.
"Up late, aren't you, Hop?" I In
quired, glancing at tho Watorbury.
"I suro am running behind my Belied
ulo this morning, John, Hep wheozed.
"Accident."
"What's tho matter? Fuse blow out
and loavo you and your favorlto bar
tender In darkness?" I ventured.
"Nix," ho anBworod; "I Interpolated
a now Btop in tho Tango about flvo
this a. m. and my partnor, nn Impul
sive llttlo thing from Spokano, didn't
sot my signal, with tho result that sho
stopped on mo and lost ono of her
TYonch noels somowhoro bolweon my
nnklo and my instop. I had to wait
till a Doctor Shop was open so ho
could probo for it. Tho mcdlclno ped
dler found it all right and my left
I Is a bit wobbly, but I'll bo in
iped arona tonight when tho boll
, clamoring for my favorlto rag,
caii bet on that, John, old pal."
"Tho danco bug has you for fair,
hasn't it, Hop?" I laughod.
"Not at all," Hop camo back; "but
liko a lot of other ginks who havo boon
going through Hfo with Btoop shoul
dora and plantation foot I'vo suddenly
discovered how to bo graceful and 1
havo to Btay up all night to sco if
othor pcoplo notice it. Whore nro you
going?"
"I'm 'going down to soo ono of thoso
8toroo and mako a fool out of ilfty dol
lars llttlo Christmas present for
Poaches," I answered.
"Fifty dollars!" Hop sneered. "Say,
John, If I had a wlfo, and wo woro
npoaklng to each other, fifty dollars
wouldn't buy tho ribbon around tho
hundlo. Fifty dollars! You mako a
noiflo liko a plko."
"Suro!" I snapped back. "If you
had a wlfo you'd tako hor down to
your favorlto jowolry Btoro and lot tho
clorkB throw diamonds at hor till thoy
roll exhausted. But I'm Just a rogular
A Lot of Eager Dames Were Pawing
Over Some Chinchilla Ribbon.
human bolng, working Tor a living, and
ovory timo 1 boo a hundred dollar bill
1 get red In tho faco and want a drink
of water. You know, Hop, my father
didn't spend hlo Hfo wrapping it up In
tmndlca and throwing it into an iron
-voodshod against tho time i became
old enough to uso it us a torch!"
'Say!" chlrpod Hop, who hadu't
paid tho slightest attention to what 1
was saying, ' why don't you got hor an
emerald nocklncoY Somo Idea what?
1 saw ono tho other day for $3,000.
Walt a minute! I'll glvo you a card to
tho managor. '
"Glvo It to tho chauffeur,'1 I said aa
1 pushed Hep into tho taxi. "Dy tho
timo ho gets you homo you'll owo blm
enough to buy emeralds. '
Then 1 loft him flat and mosoyed
off for a department storo to got a
Christmas prcsont for friend wife.
Say I did you ovor get tangled up In
ono of thoso department storo mobs
und havo a crowd of perfect ladles uso
you for a doormat?
I got mine!
Thoy certainly taught mo tho Iluor
ta glide, all right!
At tho door a nlco young man with
a pink nocktlo and a quick forehead
bowed to mo.
"What do you wish?" he asked.
"Well,'' I said, "I'm down hero to
got a Christmas present for friend
wlfo. I would liko something which
would' afford hor groat pleasuro when
I glvo It to her and which I could use
nfterward aa a ponwlpor or a llshlng
rod."
"Second floor to tho right tako
tho elovator," said tho man.
Did you ovor try to tako an elova
tor In a department storo and find
that 3,913 other American citizens and
cltlzoncttes woro nlso trying to tako
tho samo olovator?
How sweet It Is to mingle In the
arms of utter strangers and to feel
tho prcsHuro of a foot wo never hopo
to moot again!
I was standing by ono of tho coun
ters on tho second floor whon a shrill
volco crept up ovor a fow bales of dry
The Pale Young Woman Fainted.
goods nnd said, "Aro you a buyer or I
a handlor?"
"I am looking for a Christmas pros
ent for friend wlfo," I answored "1
want to got BomothliiK that will look
swoll on tho parlor tablo and may bo
used lator on as a tobacco Jar or a
trousor stretcher!"
"Fourth floor to tho loft tako tho
elovator!" Bald tho shrill volco, but
shrlllor.
With bowed head I walked away.
1 bogan to fool sorry for friend wlfo.
Nobody scomod to bo very much In
terested whether alio got a Christmas
prosont or not.
On tho fourth floor I Btoppcd at a
counter whero a lot of cagor dames
woro pawing ovor somo chinchilla rib
bon and chiffon ovorsklrts.
It reminded mo of tho way an emo
tional hen digs up a grub In tho gar
don. 1 onjoyod tho oxcltomcntof tho game
for about ton minutes and thon I
aald to tho clork bohtnd tho countor
who was roforeelng tho match, "Can
you toll mo whoro I can buy a ster
ling sllvor Christmas prcsont for
frlond wlfo which I couid uso after
ward ns a night koy or a bath spongo?"
"Fifth floor to tho rear tako tho
elovator!" Bald tho clork.
On tho fifth floor I wont ovor to a
tablo whero a young lady waB soiling
"Tho Llfo and Libraries of Androw
Carnogio" at four dollars a month and
fifty cents a wook, and in throo years
it Is yours If you don't loso tho re
ceipts. Sho gavo mo a glad smllo and I folL
a thrill of oncouragomont.
"Excuso mo." I said, "but I am look-
Ing for a Christmas prcsont for friend
wlfo which will mako all tho nolcli-
bora jealous, and which I can uso aft-
torward as an nsh rccolvor or a pockot
flask."
Tho young lady cut out tho elccles
nnd pointed to tho northwest.
I wont ovor thoro.
To my aurprlso I found anothor
counter.
A palo young woman was behind It.
I was just about to ask hor tho fatal
quostlon when a young man wearing
a ragtime expression on hla fnco
ruahod up and said to tho nalo vnuim
lady behind the countor; "I nm look
ing for a suitable present for a young
lady friend of mlno with iroldcn brown
lialr. Could you plcaso suggest some
thing?"
Tho palo young woman showed nor
teeth and nnawored nlm In a low,
rumbling volco, and tho man wont
away.
Then camo nn old ladv who anlil; "i
bought Bomo organdlo dross goods for
a shirt waist lust Tuosday, and would
liko to oxchnngo thorn for a iuubIo box
for my daughter's llttlo boy, Freddie,
tf you plcaso!'1
Tho nalo vounir woman attain Rhnwmt
hor tooth and tho old lady ducked for
covor.
Attor about Ilfty pooplo had rushed
nil to tho nalo vonnc woman and thon
rushed away again, I wont ovor and
spoKo to nor.
"1 nm looklnc.-' I said, "for a ChrlRi
mas prosont for frlond wlfo. l want
to get Bomcthlng that will give hor a
great amount of plcasuro and which 1
can uso later on as a pipe cleaner or a
pair of suspendorsl"
The palo young woman fainted, ho I
moved ovor.
At nnother counter anothor young
lady said to mo: "Have you boon
waited on?"
"No," I replied i "I havo boon
stopped on, Bat on and walked on, but
I havo not yet heon waited on."
"What do you wish?" Inquired tho
young woman.
"I am looking for n Christmas pres
ent for friend wife," ho Bald. "I want
to buy hor something that will bring
great Joy to her heart, and which 1
might uso afterward as a pair of clip
pers or a shaving mug."
Tho young lady caught nfo with her
dreamy eyes and hold mo up against
tho wall.
"You," sho screamed, "you complete
a total of 25,493 pcoplo who have been
in this department Btoro today without
knowing what they uro doing bore,
and I refuse to be a human encylopo
dla for tho sako of eight dollars a
week. Go on, now; throw yourself In
to second Bpecd and climb tho hill!"
I began to apologize, but sho
reached down under tho counter and
pullod out a club.
"This," sho said, with a wild look
In hor Bido iampB, "this la happy Yule
tide, but, nevertheless, tho next guy
that leaves his brains at homo and
trios to mako mo toll him what Is a
good Christmas present for his wlfo
will get a bittor wallop across tho
forehead!"
Tho girl was right, so I went homo
without a present.
I Bupposo I'll havo to tano Hep's tip
and get thoso emeralds after all.
13 ut first I'll go down to tho deli
catessen storo and seo if thoro's any
thing thoro.
THE MYSTERY OF CHRISTMAS
One Day of the Year That All Other
Days Are Learning to Envy
and Imitate.
It neoma to me that alwayB.'as tho
24th of Dccombor commenced to
shorten, tho white, fleecy biiow began
to fall, says a writer In tho Crafts
man. When tho street lamps flick
ered up liko candles on an altar, thoy
gazed on a wo,rld that was whlto. The
strife of tho city was muffled. Carts
wont by, but you had to peer out
througn tho blinds to know that thoy
woro passing they mado no sound.
An atmoBphoro of gentleness had de
scended. Everyone In tho houso went
about with stealth, as though planning
Bomo sccrot kindness.
And thon tho night and tho trying
to kcop nwako till Santa Claus should
como. And tho waking up, with tho
frost weaving patterns on tho panes.
Somowhcro far away a harp was ho-
Ing played, and a cornot was challeng
ing thq Bllenco. Tho tuno thoy played
was nn accompaniment to tho most
beautiful legond In tho world. At
first, dreamily, you tried to remember
why for onco tho darkness was not
frightening, and thon, "Ah, it's Christ
mas!" As you turned, your foot mado
tho paper crack, and at tho ond of the
hod you woro too content nnd happy
oven to look at your presents. Why
was It that next day ovorybody and
ovorythlng waB difforont? Tho air was
full of bolls Blnglng riotously. Every
ono, for this ono day, ceased to think
of his own happiness and found hap
piness In bringing choorfulness to
othors. Tho stern gulf which Is fixed
between children nnd grown-ups had
vanished there woron't nny grown
ups. Somowhcro in your childish
hoart you wondered why every day
couldn't bo mado a day of kindness.
And that wondor of a child's heart
Is tho Christmas message. Onco a
yoar, by a dlvlno conspiracy, all tho
ships of our hopos and fears turn back
from their voyaglngs to tho harbor of
tondornos8. Thoy nro borno back on
tho croat of a whlto tldo of mysticism
thnt swoopB round tho world. A truco
of God Is declared to all fightings, and
mon and womon walk as chlldron
through a world that 1b kind. Thoy
commonco to glvo nnd censo toaunox;
thoy act in tho bollet that God is in
his hoaven. Tho spirit Is ono tremu
lous whlto day of unsolflshncss a day
which gradually somo other days In
tho year aro learning to envy and Imi
tate.
Why We Burn Candles.
Tho custom of burning candles on
tho Christmas treo comes from two
sources. Tho Romans burned candles
nt tho feast of Saturn ns a sign of good
cheor, whllo tho Jowb burned candles
during tho feast of tho Dedication,
which hnppcned to fall about tho samo
timo as that of Saturn In tho Roman
calendar. It is qulto possible that
for this reason thoro would havo boon
many candles burning all ovor Palos
tlno about tho timo of tho birth of
Christ, nnd from this comes tho torm
"Feast of Lights," which Ib tho hnmo
used In tho Grcok church for Christ
mas day.
A Christmas Hint.
To thoso- who may hnvo become
tired of tho old-fashioned games usual
at Christmas the following mny bo
found suitable:
Hunt up a lot of poor pooplo that
havo not got any Christmas dinner
nnd go nnd give them ono.
N. 1). This game may bo played
by any number ot persona.
Welcome to Christmas!
Christmas, crown 'o tho year! Gold
en clasp to Its round of light and
shadow. Truly tho bolls of It shall
ring out, "Plaguo l bnnlsh, poaco I
bring!" Welcome It royally. Spread
out tor soul and sense n feast ot good
things. Martha McWIIllams.
Santa Mike-
zA Christmas
Convict Story
Br T. C. BRIDGES
S THE December
night closed across
tho dosolnto moor,
tho snow ceased
falling, tho clouds
broke, and a bril
liant moon shed Its
ntlvor light across
tho wldo stretcheB
of rolling whlto
ness. With tho
change, it began
to freeze fiercely,
coating the sodden
drifts with a crisp
film of lco.
At ovory stop
M i k o Dompsoy'a
tired feet broko
through this coating, and sank dcop
Into soft stuff beneath, making tho
traveling bo terribly hard that, In
spite of tho bitter cold, porsplration,
stood In beads on IiIb thin, brown
faco.
Ho was breathing hard, and evi
dently desporatoly weary, yet ho nov
cr stopped for ti moment, though now
aud then, as ho plowed his way on
wards, ho would turn his head and
cast an approhcnslvo glanco back
over his Bhoulder.
Had anyono been near enough to
watch him, thoy would easily havo un
derstood his hnsto. Tho drab livery
plentifully besprinkled with broad ar
rows marked him aa ono of tho stato's
unwilling guests. As a matter of fact,
Mike Dempsoy had been for tho last
threo years a prison inmate, and it
was with tho Intention of escaping an
other seven years of unappreciated
hospitality that ho had, a few hours
previously, "dono a bunk" undor cov
er of tho sudden snowstorm.
"I'vo puzzled thlm screws, that's
wan thing sure," ho muttered to him
self, nnd In splto of his fatigue a
alight chuckle escaped his thin lips.
"But faith, I'vo puzzled mesilf, too,
and I don't know whero I am no more
than Adam. v
"If I cud only git a landmark of
somo sort!" ho went on. "Eanst I
cud find my road to tho railway, I'd
win clear. Mlko Dempsoy wasn't a
navvy slvcn years for nothing."
Ilo crunched lila slow way across a
Hat valley, jumped a llttlo brook and
pushed up tho steep slope boyond.
A gleam of light In tho noxt valley
attracted his attention. It camo
from a lighted window, and thoro was
something comforting to tho lonely
fugltivo in tho red glow cast upon
tho glittering biiow. Without hesita
tion, ho started downhill toward it.
Presently ho was cautiously ap
proaching a Bmall house, which stood
In a tiny garden surrounded by a low
dry-stono wall. Thoro wa8 a gate In
front, hut Mlko proforrod to approach
It Was a Man Lying Flat on His Face.
from tho back, and clnmboring gin
gorly ovor tho wall cropt up to tho
window from which tho light camo.
Raising Himself till his head was
on a level with tho sill, ho peered
through tho uncurtatnod window into
a barely furnished living room, light
od by a great lire of glowing turf.
A couch stood In ono cornor, on
which lay a youngish man whoso ban
daged head showed him to bo tho
victim of somo accidont. On a chair
bcsldo him sat a sweet-faced worn
an, and on ho barn earthen floor
played two children a curly-halrod
boy of about sovon, nnd a chubby girl
a year or so youngor.
Hut what arrested Miko'B attention
was a llttlo fir tree, not moro than
four foot high, which stood tanted
In an old bucket, on tho tablo in tho
mlddlo ot tho room.
For a moment It puzzled Mlko,
Then ho gavo a llttlo gasp.
OVfB Hi 1
n
m
"Ucggor, If It am t a Lnrlstinas
tree! Why, 'tis Christmas eve, 1 do
bolave, though, faith, I'd lost thrack of
tho date In tho ould Btono Jug on tho
nlll. Hut whoro's tho prialnts? 'Tia
no bare as mo own pockot," he went
on wondclngly.
At that moment, tho boy got up, aud
going forward to the woman, pulled at
her dress to attract her attontlon.
"Mother, Isn't Santa Claus coming?
He's awful late. We shan't have no
Klsmas tree if ho doosn t como soon. '
"It's the snow, dearie,' explained
the mother. "Such a bad storm that
I oxpect ho was lato in stnrtlng. But
now It's cleared up, I darosay ho'll bo
horo soon."
Her words woro cheery, but Mlko
caught tho anxious glance she gavo
her husband.
"Go out nnd sco if William's in
sight yet, Alice," said tho man. "Ho
ought to havo been hero an hour ago.
I only hopo nothing ha3 happened to
tho poor old follow."
Mlko dropped on hands and knees
behind tho anglo of tho wall as tho
door opened, and tho woman stood on
tho threshold looking nut down tho
empty snowclnd valley.
Somehow tho pathos of tho bare llt
tlo Christmas tree and tho anxious
family appealed to his hardened old
soul, and when the door closed again
ho rose to his feet, and instead of fol
lowing out his first Intention nnd en
tering tho house to demand food and
clothes, climbed tho wall again and
mado off down tho valley.
"If William's coming this way,
there'll bo a road of sorts," he said
to himself.
And suro enough thoro was.
Though covored deep In snow, ho
found that thoro was a path down
tho valloy, which ho had llttlo doubt
would lead eventually to tho main
road to town.
Ho had gone another mile when a
dark patch in the snow straight ahead
attracted his attention, and ho caught
his breath sharply as ho stopped bo-
sldo it.
For it was a man lying flat on his
face, nnd, judging by tho snow which
almost covered his body, ho had been
thoro in tho samo position for somo
time. Beside him lay a halfllllcd
sack, also covered with snow.
Mike gavo a sharp glance around.
The moonlight horizon was still
bare. Ho stooped and turned tho man
over.
"Dead!" ho muttered. "Dead and
cold!" as ho laid his hand against tho
chill cheek.
For a moment ho stood staring at
tho dead man's face, which was that
of a llttlo old man, wizened and beard
ed, and very much of Mlko's own typo
and build.
Then, Uko a flash, it camo to tho
convict that here at last was his
chanco, and a thrill shot through his
weary frame.
"He'll not need thlm duds any
moro," ho muttered, and, dropping on
his knees in the snow, began with
trembling lingers to strip the dead
man of his clothos.
Thoy woro worn and old, but to
Mlko as precious as broadcloth, for
onco ho was rid of his convict garb
ho had multiplied his chances ot es
capo a hundredfold.
Not till ho had completed tho wholo
change of costume down to boots
and lint, and had buried hla broad ar
rows deep in a neighboring drift, did
Mlko bothlnk hlniBclf of tho sack.
Ho snatched it up eagerly, hoping
it might contain food, and turned the
contents out upon tho snow.
A small drum, a bag of lead sol
diers, a cheap doll, a box of wax
tnpors, and ono ot crackers, and a
couple of packets of sweets. Not an
article of tho lot which had cost 25
eonts, nnd tho valuo of tho wholo not
flvo dollars.
Mike stood and stared at them. Tho
box of soldiers had fallen open. Ho
stooped nnd picked up tho llttlo paint
ed figures, and replaced them care
fully.
"So 'twas poor ould Santy Claus,"
ho muttered. "And tho children will
bo waiting on him. 'Twas hard luck
intolroly."
Again ho bent down and quickly
bundlod everything back Into tho sack.
Ho laid this by tho dead body, and
turning on his heel, walked rapidly
awny.
Ho could not bo moro than four
or flvo m from tho town now,
and with . .a knowlodgo of rail
way matters It would bo easy
enough to stow away In a truck, and
lying under a tarpaulin bo carried
scores ot miles away from tho hntcd
prison. Besides thoro wnB monoy
In his trousers pockets. Only a llt
tlo, but plenty to buy food and drink,
a clay pipo, and a plug of tobacco.
Mlko's mouth watered as ho thought
ot n square meal.
Ho tried to keep hla thoughtB on
tho proapoct of theao almoat forgotten
luxuries, yot, somehow It was difficult.
Tho picture soon through tho cottage
window kopt rising boforo his mind,
and though ho did his boBt to thrust
It asldo, tho effort was unavailing.
Long years ago Mlko had a homo ot
his own, n wlfo, and a baby. Wlfo
and baby both had died, awopt away
In n woo by an epidemic of dlph
thoria, and that had boon tho begin
ning of tho Irish navvy's downfall
But ho had nover forgotton them, and
tonight thoy seemed strangely near
him.
A sound botween a grunt and a
groan burst from his lips; ho stopped
and looked back.
' 'Tin a fool yo are, Mlko Dempsoy!"
he oxclnlmod aloud. "Git along wld
yo, and don't bo dolaytng for tho
screws to naD ye!"
Again ho started forward, but
moro slowly than before, and honad
not gono a hundred yards before onco
moro ho camo to a dead stop.
J is no use, ' he groaned. "I'll Just
run back nn-lavo thlm things at tho
dure. Thoro'll bo timo to reach
town by midnight."
Tho bitter wind was in his faco as
ho turned back up tho hill, but now
Mike did not hcsltnto for a momont.
Head down, ho hurried onwards, and
presently was again bcsldo tho corpso
ot Santa Claus' frozen messenger.
Without a glanco nt tho body ho
snatched up the sack, flung it over his
shoulder, and continued IiIb way up
tho valley.
Tho glow from tho lighted window
throw its red beam across tho snow
ns ho rounded tho curvo and camo
within sight of tho lonely cottago and
a corresponding glow warmed Mikes
heart as ho thought of the pleasuro
ot tho children when thoy found their
long-delayed Christmas gifts.
Seeing no sign of life, ho slipped
In at tho front gate, and, stopping
very qulotly up tho path, gained tho
door, dropped his snck, and giving
ono sharp tap, turned tho bolt.
Rut ho had not counted on tho cnger
children, nnd boforo he could got round
"All Right," He Said Sullenly, "I'll
Come Quiet."
the anglo of the houso curly-locks
camo flying after him.
"William, whero is Santy Clau3?"
piped tho childish treble.
"It ain't William, sonny. Tell your
mammy as William's got lost, and I
Drought the things Instead. Now I've
got to go, for I'm in a mighty hurry."
"I expect you are!" camo a Jeering
voice, and a blue-uniformed man car
rying a carbine stepped out from tho
dark shadow round tho corner, fol
lowed instantly by a second.
Mlko gavo ono glanco around. But
ho was cornered. Tho wall cut ott
escape.
"All right," ho said Bullenly, "I'll
como qulot."
"You'd hotter," retorted tho warder.
whoso temper long hours in tho snow
had not improved.
"Mammy, tho policemen havo took
Sanjty Claus," cried tho llttlo lad.
Mlko glanced up. Tho boy's mother
was standing by, hor faco blank with
amazement. '
"What does this mean?" sho cried.
"Is It William?"
"Not unless he's changed his namo
slnco morning, missus," replied tho
warden. "Ho was Michael Dompsoy
whon ho bunked from Moorlands Just
after dinner."
"But I don't understand. He's got
William Croker's clothos on, nnd ho'a
brought tho things from Ashampton
that William wont to fetch."
Tho othor wardor a grizzled, elder
ly man shook his head.
"You'vo got mo, missus. I don't
know what hla llttlo gamo is no mora
than you."
"Most Uko ho has murdored Wil
liam," put in tho younger warder sour
ly. "Ho said William was lost, mam
ray," explained tho boy, "so he's
brought tho things Instead. And hero
thoy Is, all safe."
"Best mako a clean breast of it,
Dempsoy," suggested tho eldor war
der. "Go and find out yoursoir," flashed
tho old convict. "William's down tho
valley thoro."
"You tako the chap Into tho house,
Gcorgo," said tho older warder. "I'll
go down nnd sco."
Half an hour lator ho returned.
"I'vo found William," ho said briefly.
"Ho's frozo to death. Dompsoy took
his clothes, but ho didn't havo no hand
in killing him."
"Then, in tho namo of sense, what
did ho como back hero for instead ot
skimming out?" Inquired the youngor
wardor, in blank surprise
"Ho camo to bring our Kiaraas pres
ents," explained curly-locks. "Ho told
mo bo."
"Woll, of all tho ovorlastlng fools,"
gasped tho Junior warder.
Ills sonlor wheeled on him sharply.
"A good thing It there woro a tew"
moro fools ot that kind In Moorlands.
Ay and outsldo, too!"
Ho turned to Mlko:
"Oonio along, Dcmpsey," ho said In
n moro kindly tono. "I'll see as tho
governor Knows now It was wo como
to tako you. And i reckon your play
ing Santy Claus won't do you no harm
in hla eyes, any more than It nas in
mine!"
0
