I
Tom's Best
Christmas
By Archit P. McKishnie
ID UP PI
Copyright by th Author
Tom Lawrence shook bis fist under
the grocery keeper's nose.
"You try and stop me and I'll fix
you," he threatened, . "even If I have
to do time for it. You trying to hold
a fellow away from his people this
way, and it Christmas Eve, too. Why.
the old man and the old woman will
be right glad to see their little boy
again."
He laughed wheezingly and leaned
weakly against the counter.
"You can't keep me from feeding on
the fatted calf. Josh. I'm going to
walk In on the old folks to-night, just
like the wild, wayward sons you read
about do. You never hear of them
getting the cold hand, do you?"
A fit of coughing choked the laugh
ter from his voice, and when he lift
ed his face it was gray-white beneath
the lamplight.
The big grocer laid aside the pack
age he was tying, and walked around
the counter.
"Come here, Tommie," he said, op
ening the door of the inner room.
The young man slouched forward
obediently.
"Say, Josh," he whined, "cut It out,
I'm tired of being preached to. Won't
you get me a little whisky. Just one
drink?" he pleaded. "See, I'm all
broke up, and I'm going home to-night.
Six years of the life I've led wears
derstand you'd got a big position out
west. I'm afraid I wrote 'em a letter
from you, Tommie, tellln' "em all
about it and askin' forgiveness for not
biddln' 'em good-by." The other
nodded his head on his breast.
"You were always a big-hearted
fool, Josh," he said, hoarsely. "I can't
understand why you won't get me a
little whisky."
"I remember their faces when they
read that letter," said the grocer,
heaving a big chunk on the fire. "I
remember how glad they both was.
Your ma said you'd be writin' again
soon and let them know how you liked
it. Well, you did." "I wrote again,
did I?" "Yep, you wrote every week
you've been away, and that's how
long let's see?" "Six years ago, day
after to-norrow, Josh."
"You sent some money home, too,"
continued the big man, after an in
terval of silence. "Quite a little bit
of money. Fifty dollars once, and a
ten-spot every now and again." The
speaker laughed queerly, his face
working. "Only last night they got a
letter from you, Tommie, with $50 In
it. Christmas box, I think you called
it." Something like a sob came from
the bowed figure.
"Your pa most always read your let
ters to the neighbors. They're right
glad you're doing so well. Every
Christmas Eve your ma and him come
over here and buy a Christmas turkey
with the money you send them I al
ways have a laugh at your pa. "I'll
eat Tommle's share," he says. " 'Cause
it's next best thing to bavin' him
home. We're right proud of our Tom
mie,' he always ends. They've been
writing you, too, every week regular.
I read all their letters, 'cause I have
to in order to know how to answer
them. They got a letter from you last
night with their Christmas money in
one, Josh, wear one right down to the 1
heart and soul, and this cough "
He sank down on a seat before the
fire, his slim fingers gripping his
chest
"Sit there and get good and warm.
I'll be back in a minute." The gro
cer slipped out, locked the door after
him, and went behind the counter.
Customers had come in and we?e
waiting to be attended to.
The grocer drew a tall young man
to one side.
"Jim," he said, "I want you to help
me out. Qo behind and serve them
customers. I don't care if you haven't
never sold groceries; do your best.
Don't be particular about weights.
Give everybody Christmas measure.
I've got to stay away for a spell,
'cause "
He whispered something in the
young man's ear. His hearer started.
"Why, they think " he commenced;
but the grocer laid a big hand on his
arm.
"I know what they think; and,
whatever you do, keep what I've told
you to yourself. I don't know what
to do, but I'll find out a way. When
they come, call me. I'll be In here."
Lawrence lifted his white face from
his hands as the grocer entered.
"Have you got it?" he questioned
eagerly. The big man Bat down, fa
cing him.
"I want to have a little chat with
you, Tommie," he said, gently. "You
remember when you were a youngster
at home here, how we used to chat
together and have a mighty good time
of it, don't you?"
His hearer made a grimace. "I
want a drink," he said, shortly.
"You remember how you used to
come down for the mall, Tommie, and
I'd have you come In and help sort
the letters?"
An expression that was almost a
smile dawned slowly across the boy's
haggard face. "I remember we used
to Imitate one another's handwriting,
Josh," he said, slowly.
"Yes, and I got at last so's I could
write Just like you, Tommie. Remem
ber you used to tell me you could al
most believe it was your own writin'?"
"I remember. Josh. Go on. There's
something behind all this. I'm waiting
to hear it." "When you got into trou
ble over at Max ton's and "
"And skipped. Yes. Well, go. on,
can't you?"
"Well, somehow, the matter was
hushed up and kept from your old
folks. Maxton never said anythln',
and we gave your pa and ma to un-
ARE YOU DEALING WITH
THEM? THE HOME MERCHANTS.
it, and they've answered it already.
Here's their letter with your address
on it. May! .- "ou'd like to read it?"
The your' man reached out a sha
king hand lor the letter. The other
watched his face as he read. When a
tear fell with a splash on the cramped
writing, the grocer spoke again.
"You can send me to jail for doln'
what I've done, Tommie. In one way
it was wrong, very wrong. I've been
guilty of openln' letters."
The other held up a thin hand as
though to ward off a blow. Then he
rose weakly and came over to the big
man.
"Josh, old Josh," he spoke trem
blingly. "You've been you are
Oh, I'll make it all up to you some
day," he broke out, lifting his head.
"I'm going to be a man. I know I'm
not fit to go to them now. I've been
drunk for days! But promise me you
will take me to them soon, Josh."
"Day after to-morrow night is the
anniversary of your goin away. We'll
go then," promised the grocer with a
big smile. He took the boy's hand.
"I'm goin' now. You just lie down on
the sofa here. You'll stay at my place
until after Christmas. He moved to
ward the door. Then he turned.
"Shall I fetch you anythln'?" he asked
gently.
"Nothing," answered the young
man, smiling. "I'm perfectly satis
fled, Josh."
An hour later the grocer carried an
armful of groceries and threw them
into the back of the sleigh. "Merry
Christmas to you both, Mrs. Law
rence," he cried, tucking the robes
about the old couple. The old man
chuckled, and the old lady, glancing
about her fearfully, bent forward, hes
itated, bent forward again, and kissed
the big man on his broad forehead.
"God bless you," she said, gladly.
"uoa Diess you ior senain' ror our
Tommie. I'm right glad you think
him so smart." The grocer laughed
awkwardly.
"Yep, Tommie's goin' to work for
me," he called. And with his heart
in harmony with the jingling bells,
he passed into his store.
A Christmas Cynic.
A woman's idea of doing charity
work is to get somebody else to give
the money for it.
It's very annoying to a girl to meet
a man she likes when the color of
the feathers on her hat doesn't har
monize with his ' cravat. New York
Press.
We want to call attention to
our advertisers. Are you deal
ing with them? They are the
ones who are making this pa
per possible and are demon
strating in the only way prac
ticable that they want your
trade. They deserve it and
should get it. Are you trading
with merchants who refuse to
patronize these columns? If so,
you are defeating the purposes
of this paper, which Is to aid
you in keeping fair living con
ditions. If a merchant wants
your patronage we know of no
better way to demonstrate It
than for him to say so through
these columns. Please keep in
mind and watch the regular
change of advertisements. Our
advertisers are giving you the
best goods at the lowest rates.
We pride ourselves on the se
lect quality of our advertisers.
.
UNION PRINT SHOPS.
Printeries That Are Entitled to Uss
the Allied Trades Label.
Following Is a list of the printing
offices in Lincoln that are entitled
to the use of the Allied Printing
Trades label, together with the num
ber of the label used by each shop:
Jacob North & Co., No. 1.
Chas. A. Simmons, No. 2.
Freie Presse, No. 3.
Woodruff-Collins, No. 4.
Graves & Payne, No. 5.
State Printing Co., No. 6. k
Star Publishing Co., No. 7. .
Western Newspaper Union, No. 8.
Wood Printing Co., No. 9.
Searle Publishing Co., No. 10.
Kuhl Printing Co., No. 25.
George Brothers, No. 11.
McVey, No. 12.
Lincoln Herald, No. 14.
New Century Printers, No. ' 17.
Gillispie & Phillips, No. 18.
Herburger, The Printer, No. 20.
Van Tine Printing Co., No. 24.
Concord Cream Mint.
Put into a porcelain lined saucepan
two cupfuls of sugar and a half cupful
of water. After It commences boiling
cook exactly eight minutes. Take
from the fire, add eight drops pepper
mint essence, stir hard and drop from
the end of a spoon on to waxed paper.
I
u
SPECIAL THIS WEEK 3 blade, stag
handle knife, regular price 65c, at .50c
Lady's Pearl Handle Knife, best steel blade,
regular 60c, at 40c
Carvers
1
Good Ones, as jow as $1.50
Others, genuine stag handles silver trim
med $2.50 to $10
We sell "Meriden" Goods the best steel
made
SCISSORS make acceptable gifts, all kinds
and sizes 10c to $2.00
SLEDS Something new in a sled with
steel runners that fold under the seat ;
strong and easy to manage ; a winner
with the boys, only. .$1.75
Other styles 50c and up. Steel Wagons,
Irish Mails, Velocipedes.
A SAFETY RAZOR will please the man.
Gem, Jr., and Every Ready, 7 to 12
blades, only, each .$1.00
GILLETTE Traveling sets, complete in nice
leather case 1 . ... . .$5.00
Other sets ... ....... .$2.50 and $3.50
POCKET KNIVES Waterville hand
forged steel blades; every one guaran
ted, from 25c to $2.50
Skates
are an inexpensive gift, and nothing pleases a boy' or
girl more.
THE OLD RELIABLE BARNEY & BERRY make in
all styles, from 75c to $2.50
Hockey Sticks .10c to 50c
Chafing Dishes $4.50 to $12
Nickel Baking Dishes $1.25 and up
Aluminum Coffee Pots, Skillets, Waffle Irons, Carriage
and Auto Foot warmers.
Chafing Dishes
HALL BROS. COMPANY
1517 O STREET, LINCOLN NEB.
M
-3
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Gas Meters are not the design of the
Devil; they are made by honest peo
ple: for honest people to measure a
commodity everyone uses.
In Lincoln the Gas is about as cheap
as water, The city tests water me
ters and will, upon request, test Gas
meters. Phone them about it.
Lincoln Gas & Electric
Light Company
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