. TIIE STDfDAY. OREGOXIAX, PORTLAJO), DECEMBER 21, 1913.
AT! did you ever take what little
was left and start out to buy
' friend wife a Christmas token?
A auaint pastime, is It not?
Well, to make a long- story lose Its
cunning;. 1 clinked a few iron men tog-ether
one moraine recently and
started out to find something new and
nifty In the rift line for Peaches.
I was breezing for a department store
when I ran across Hep Hardy, limping:
In the direction of a taxlcab stand.
"Up late, aren't you. Hep 7" I lr
quired, glancing- at the Waterbury.
"1 sure am running behind my sched
ule this morning. John, Hep wheezed
"Accident.'
"What's the matter? Fuse blow out
and leave you and your favorite bar
tender in darkness?" I ventured.
-Nix." he answered; "I Interpolated
a new step In the Tango about 6 this
A. M. and my partner, an Impulsive
little thing- from Spokane, didn't get
my signal, with the result that she
stepped on me and lost one of her
French heels somewhere between my
ankle and my Instep. I had to wait
till a Doctor Shep was open so he could
probe for It- The medicine peddler
found It all. right and my left wheel la
a bit wobbly, but I'll be In the roped
arena tonight when the bell rings,
clamoring for my favorite rag, you can
bet on that. John, old pal.
"The dance bug has Vou for fair,
basn't it. Hep?" I laughed.
"Not at all Hep came back: "but
like a lot of other ginks who have been
going through life with stoop should
ers and plantation feet I've suddenly
discovered how to be graceful and I
have to stay up all night to see If other
people notice It. Where are you go
ing r
"I'm going down to see one of those
tores and make a fool out of fifty dol
lars little Christmas present for
Peaches." I answered.
"Fifty dollars!" Hep answered. "Say.
John. If I had a wife, and we were
peaking to each other, fifty dollars
wouldn't bay the ribbon around the
bundle. Fifty dollars! Tou make a noise
like a pike."
"Sure!" I snapped back. "Tf yon had
a wife you'd take her down to your
favorite Jewelry store and let the clerks
throw diamonds at her till they fell
exhausted. But I'm lust a regular hu
man being, working for a living, and
every time I see a hundred dollar bill
J get red In the face and want a drink
of water. Tou know. Hep, my father
didn't spend his life wrapping it up In
bundles and throwing it Into an iron
woodshed against the time I became old
enough to use it as a torch!"
"Say!" chirped Hep, who hadn't paid
the slightest attention to what I was
saying, "Why don't you get her an
emerald necklace'? Some Idea, what?
I saw one the other day for $3000. Walt
a minute. I'll give you a card to the
manager."
"Give It to the chauffeur,- I said as
Z pushed Hep Into the taxi. "By the
time he gets you home you'll owe him
enough to buy emeralds."
"Then I left him fiat and moseyed
HH was only a little bit of a chap,
and so. when fqr the first time
In hia life he came Into close
contact with the endless current of
human things. It was as hard for him
to "stay put" as for some wayward
little atom of flotsam and Jetsam to
keep from tossing about In the surging
tides of the sea.
His mother had left him there In
the big toyshop, with Instructions not
to move until she came back, while she
went off to do some mysterious errand.
She thought, no doubt, that with so
many beautiful things on every side to
delight his eye and hold his attention.
strict obedience to her commands
would not be hard. But, alas, the good
lady reckoned not upon the magnetic
power of attraction of all those lovely
objects In detail. Ehe saw them only
an a mass of wonders which. In all
probability, would so dazzle his vision
si to leave him Incapable of movement;
but Little Billee was not so indiffer
ent as all that.
When a phonograph at the other end
ef the shop began to rattle oft melodi
ous tunes and funny Jokes, in spite of
the instructions he bad received, off
he pattered as fast as his little legs
would carry him to Investigate. After
that, forgetful of everything else, find
ing himself caugbt In the constantly
n-ovlng stream of Christmas shoppers,
he was borne along In tbe resistless
current until he found himself at last
out upon the street alone, free and Independent-It
was great fun, at first. By and by,
however, the afternoon waned; the
sun. as If anxious to hurry along the
1awn of Christmas day. sank early to
bed; and the electric lights along the
darkening highway began to pop out
here and there like so many merry
stars come down to earth to celebrate
the gladdest time of all the year. Little
Billee began to grow tired; and then I
he thought of his mamma and tried ,
to find the shop where he had promised I
to remain quiet until her return. I p
end down the street he wandered until
his little legs grew weary, but there
fas no sign of the Bhop. nor of the
beloved face he was seeking.
Once again, and yet once again after
that, did the little fellow traverse that
crowded highway, his tears getting
harder and harder to keep back, and
then Joy of Joys whom should he see
walking slowly alone the sidewalk but
Santa Claus himself!
strangely decorated
ith two queer
looking boards, with big red letters on
tUcm hung over his back and chest;
but there was still that same kindly
gray-bearded face, the red cloak with
the fur trimmings, and the same dear
old cap that the children's friend had
always worn In the pictures of him
th:t Uttle Billee had seen.
nun a Kiaa cry oi iiappinmi, uiuc
Bi.lee ran to meet the old fellow and j
put his hand gently into that of the
r-.i i ii i . na 1 1 , i u , 1 1 1. 11 .-ij ,iiov ..iu.
fanta Claus' hand should be so red and
cold and rough, and so chapped, but
he was not in any mood to be critical.
He had been face to face with a very
disagreeable situation. Then, when
thinirs had seemed blackest to him.
everything had come right again, and
he was too glad to take more than
passing notice of anything strange and
odd.
Santa Claus. of course, would recog
nize him at once, and would know just
how to take him back 'to his mamma
at home wherever that might be.
Little Billee had never thought to In
quire Just where home was. All he
knew was that it was a big gray stone
house on a long street somewhere, with
a tall Iron railing in front of it. not
far from the park.
"Howdldoo, Mr. Santa Claus?" said
Uttle Billee, as the other's hand un
consciously tiphtened over his own.
"Why. howdidoo. kiddle?" replied the
ld fellow, glancing down at his new
found friend, with surprise gleaming
from his deep-set eyes.
Where did I
you drop from?
"Oh. I'm out." said Little Billee i
bravely. "My mamma left me a little 1
whila ao ""bile ah went off about 1
off for a department store to ret a
Christmas present for friend wife.
earl old you ever get tangled up in
one of those department store mobs
and have a crowd of perfect ladles use
you for a door mat?
I got mine!
They certainly taught me the Huerta
glide, all right!
At the door a nice young man wttn
pink necktie and a quick forehead
bowed to me.
"What do you wish?" he asked.
"Well." I said. "I'm down here to
get a Christmas present for friend
wife. I would like something which
would afford her great pleasure when
I give it to her and which I could use
afterward as a penwiper or a fishing-
rod."
"Second floor, to the right, take the
elevator." said the man.
Did you ever try to take an elevator
In a department store and find that
3943 other American citizens and clti
senettes were also trying to take the
same elevator?
something, and I guess I got losted."
"Very likely," returned the old saint
with a smile. "Little two-by-four fel
lars are apt to get losted when they
start In on their own hook, specially
days like these, with such crowds
hustlln' around."
"But It's all right now," suggested
Little Billee hopefully. "I'm found
again, alnt I?"
"Oh, yes, indeedy, you're found all
right, kiddie, Santa Claus agreed.
"And pretty soon you'll take me home
again, won t you? said the child.
"Surest thing you know!" answered
Santa Claus, looking down upon the
bright but tired little face with a com
forting smile. "What might your ad
dress be?"
"My what?" asked Little Billee.
"Your address," repeated Santa Claus.
"Where do you live?"
The answer was a ringing peal of
childish laughter.
"As if you didn't know that!" cried
Little Billee, giggling.
"Ha, ha!" laughed Santa Claus, "Can't
fool you, can I? It would be funny if.
after keeping an eye on yon all these
years since you was a baby, I didn't
know where yOu lived, eh?"
"Awful funny," agreed Little Billee.
"But tell me, Mr. Santa Claus, what
sort of a boy do you think I have
been?" he added with a shade of
anxiety In his voice.
"Pretty good pretty good,' Santa
Claus answered, turning In his steps
and walking back again along the path
he had just traveled which Little
Billee thought was rather a strange
thing to do. "You've got more white
marks than black ones a good many
more a hundred and fifty times as
many, kiddle. Fact is. you're all right
'way up among the good boys; though
once or twice last Summer, you
knew n
"Tea. I know." said Little Billee
meekly, "but
I didn't mean to be
nauirhty."
"That's Just what I said to the book
keeper," said Santa Claus, "and so we
gave you a gray mark half white and
half black that doestn't count either
way. for or against you."
"Thank you, sir," said Little Billee,
much comforted,
"Don't mention it: you are very wel
come, kiddie," said Santa Claus. giving
the youngster's band a gentle squeeze.
"Why do you call me 'kiddie' when
you know my name la Little Billee?"
asked the boy.
"Oh. that's what I call all good
c
The saint was'bovs." -explained Santa Claus. "You
... WA divide them un Into two kinds
the good boys and the naughty boys
and tbe good boys we call kiddles,
and the naughty boys we call caddies,
and there you are."
Just then Little Billee noticed for the
first time the square boards that Santa
Claus was wearing.
What are you wearing those boards
,. c,,, .,.,.. ,vi
T'f n lad nad looked ci08eiy enough,
v. ,,, . . ,. ,.
look come into the old man's face; but
there was nothing of it in his answer.
"Oh. those are my new-fangled back-and-chest
protectors, my lad," he re
plied. "Sometimes we have bitter winds
blowing at Christmas, and I have to be
ready for them. It wouldn't do for
Santa Claus to come down with the
sneezes at Christmas-time, you know
no, slrree! This board In front keeps
the wind off my chest, and the one
behind keeps me from getting rheu
matism In my back. They are a great
protection against the weather.
"I'll have to tell my papa about
them." said Little Billee. much in
pressed by the simplicity of this ar
rangement "We have a glass board on
the front of our ortymobile to keep the
wind off Henry he's our chuffier but
papa wears a fur coat, and sometimes
he says the wind goes right through
that. He'll be glad to know about
these boards."
"I shouldn't wonder,' smiled Santa
Claus. "They aren't very becoming.
but they are mighty usefuL You might
1 save up your pennies and give your
papa ap air
like em lor his next
Christmas."
Santa Claus laughed, a be spoke but
-. - -?., -- . tf.33ssga3- kccvv ;
How sweet It Is to mingle In the
arms of utter strangers and. to feel the
gentle pressure of a foot we never hope
to meet again I
I was standing by one of the coun
ters on the second floor when a shrill
voice crept up over a few bales of dry
goods and said, "Are you a buyer or a
handler?"
"I am looking for a Christmas pres
ent for friend wife," I answered. "I
want to get something that will look
swell on the parlor table and may be
used later on as a tobacco jar or a
trouser stretcher!"
"Fourth floor, to the left, take the
elevator!" said the shrill voice, but
shrill nr.
With bowed head I walked away.
I began to feel sorry for friend wife.
Nobody seemed to be very much in
terested whether she got a Christmas
present or not.
On the fourth floor -I stopped at a
counter TThere a lot of eager dames
were pawing over some chinchilla rib
bon and chiffon underskirts.
there was a catch In his voice which
Little Billee was too young to notice:
"You've got letters printed there,"
said the boy, peering around In front
of his companion. "What do they
spell? Tou know I haven't learned to
read yet."
"And why should yon know how to
read at your age?" said Santa Claus.
"You're not more than "
"Five last month," said Little Billee
proudly. It was such a great agel
"My, as old as that?" cried Santa
Claus. "Well, you are growing fast!
Why. it don't seem more than yester
day that you was a pink-cheeked baby,
and here you are big enough to be out
alone! That's more than my little boy
la able to do." .
Santa Claus shivered slightly, and
Little Billee was surprised to see a
tear glistening in his eye.
"Why. have you got a little boyl"
he asked.
"Yes, Little Billee," said the saint.
"A poor, white-faced little chap about
a year older than you, who well, never
mind, kiddie he's a kiddle, too let's
talk about something else, or 1 11 have
icicles In my eyes."
"You didn't tell me what those let
ters on the boards spell," said Little
Billee.
"'Merry Christmas to Everybody!""
said Santa Claus. "I have the words
printed there so that everybody can see
them; and if I miss wishing anybody a
merry Chrlstmaa he'll know I meant
it Just the same."
"You're awful kind, aren't you?" said
Little Billee, squeezing his friend's
hand affectionately. "It must make
you very happy to be able to be so .
kind to everybody!
II
Santa Claus made no reply, to this.
SSs. : rk UU Jl! I Al
It reminded me of the .way an emo
tional hen digs up a grub in the gar
den. I enjoyed the excitement of the game
for about ten minutes, and then I said
to the clerk behind the counter, who
was refereelng the match, "Can you
tell me where I can buy a sterling sil
ver Christmas present for friend wife,
which I could use afterward as a night
key or a bath sponge?" '
"Fifth floor; to the rear; take thjB
elevator!" said the clerk.
On the fifth floor I went over to a
table where a young lady was sell
ing "The Life and Libraries of Andrew
Carnegie" at ?4 a month and 60 cents
a week, and In three years it was
yours if you don't lose the receipts.
She gave me a glad smile and I felt
a thrill of encouragement,
"Excuse me," I said, "but I am "look
ing for a Christmas present for friend
wife which will make all the neigh
bors jealous, and which I can use
afterward as an ash receiver or a
pocket flashy j
remark, beyond giving a very deep
sigh, which Little Billee chose to be
lieve was evidence of a great Inward
content. They walked on now in silence,
for Little Billee was beginning to feel
almost too tired to talk, and Santa
Claus seemed to be thinking of some
thing else. Finally, however, the little
fellow spoke.
"I guess I'd like to go home now,
Mr. Santa Claus," he said. "I'm tired,
and I'm afraid my mamma will be won
dering where I've gone to."
"That's so, my little man," said Santa
Claus, stopping short in his walk up
and down the block. "Your mother
will be worried for a fact; and your
father, too I know how I'd feel if my
little boy got losted and hadn't come
home at dinner-time. I don't believe
you know where you live, though now
honest! Come! 'Fess up, Billee, yon
don't know where you live, do you?"
"Why, yes, I do." said Little Billee.
"It's In the big gray stone bouse with
the Iron fence in front of It, near the
park." ,
"Oh, thafs easy enough!" laughed
Santa Claus nervously. - "Anybody
could say ha lived in a gray stone
house with a fence around it, near tbe
park; but you don't know what street
it's on. nor the number, either. I'll bet
fourteen wooden giraffes against' a
mankey on a stlckl" ,
"No, I don't." said Little Billee
frankly; "but I know the number of
our ortymobile. It's X. T.' "
"Fine!" laughed Santa Claus. "If yon
really were lost. It would be a great
help to know that; not being lost, as
you ain't, why, of course, we can get
along without it. It's queer you don't
know your last name, though."
"I do, too, know my last name!"
blurted. Lltt4 SlUea, "It Billee,
The young- lady cut out the giggles
and pointed to the northwest.
I went over there.
To my surprise, I found another
counter.
A pale young woman was behind It
I was just about to - ask her the
fatal question when a young man
wearing a ragtime expression on his
face rushed up and Bald to the pale
young lady behind the counter: "I am
looking for a suitable present for a
young lady friend of mine with golden
brown hair. Could you please suggest
something?"
The pale young woman showed her
teeth and answered him in a lew, rum.
bllng voice, and the man went away.
Then came an old lady who said: "1
bought some organdie dress goods for
a shirt waist last Tuesday, and I would
like to exchange them for a musio box
for my daughter's little boy, Freddie,
if you please!"
The pale young woman again showed
her teeth and the old lady ducked for
cover.
That's the last one they gave me, any
how."
Santa Claus reflected for a moment,
eyeing the child anxiously.
"I don't believe you even know your
papa's name." he said.
"Yes, I do," said Little Billee, indig
nantly. IIs name Is Mr. Harrison.
"Well, you are a smart little chap,
cried Santa Olaus gleefully. "You got
it right the very first time, didn't you?
I really didn't think you knew. But I
don't believe you know where your pa
pa keeps his bakeshop, where he makes
all those nice cakes and cookies you
.eat."
Billee began to laugh again.
"You can't fool me, Mr. Santa Claus,"
he said. "I know my papa don't keep
a bakeshop just as well as you do. My
papa owns a bank."
"Splendid! Made of tin, I suppose,
wltb a nice little hole at the top to
drop pennies Into?" said Santa Claua
"No, it ain't, either!" retorted Little
Billee. "It's made of stone, and has
more than a million windows in' It- I
went down there with my mamma to
papa's office the other day, so I guess
I ought to know."
"Well, I should say so," said Santa
Claus "Nobody better. By the way.
Billee, what does your mamma call
your papa? 'Billee, like your he
added.
"Oh, no, indeed," returned Little Bil
lee. "She calls him papa, except once
In a while when he's going away, and
then she says, 'Good-bye, Tom.' "
"Fine again! said Santa Claus,
blowing- upon his fingers, for, now that
the sun had completely disappeared
over in the West, it was getting very
cold. "Thomas Harrison, banker," he
muttered to himself. "What, with the
telephone book and the. city, directory,,
- After about 60 people had rushed up
to the pale young woman and then
rushed away again, I went over and
spoke to her.
"I am looking," I said, "for a Christ
mas present for friend wife. I want to
get something that will give her a
great amount of pleasure and which
I can use later on as a pipe cleaner' or
a pair of suspenders!"
The pale young woman fainted, so I
moved over.
At another counter another young
lady said to me, "Have you been waited
on?"
"No,"' I replied; "I have been stepped
on, sat on and walked on, tut I have
not yet been waited on."
"What do you wish?" inquired the
young woman.
"I am looking for a Christmas pres
ent for friend wife," I said. "I want
to buy her something that will bring
great Joy to her heart, and which I
might use afterward as a fair of slip
pers or a shaving mug."
The young lady caught me with her
0 jUbnh
I guess we can find our way home with
Little Billee."
"Do you think we can go now, Mr
Santa Claus?" asked Little Billee, for
the cold was beginning to cut through
his little coat, and the sandman had
started to scatter the sleepy seeds all
around.
"Yes, slrree!" returned Santa Claus
promptly. "Right away off now in
stantly at once! I'm afraid I can't go
my reindeer hero in time to take us up
to the house, but we can go In the
cars hum! I don t know whether we
can or not, come to think of It. Ah, do
you happen to have 10 cents In your
pocket?" Santa aded, with an em
barrassed air. "You see, I've left my
pocketbook In the sleigh with my toy
pack; and, besides, mine Is only toy
money, and they won't take that on the
cars."
"I got twnty-fl' cents," said Little
Billee proudly, as he dug his way down
into his pocket and brought the shining
silver piece to light. "You can have it,
if vou want it."
"Thank you," said Santa Claus, tak
ing the proffered coin. "We'll start
home right away; only come in here
first, while I telephone to Santavllle,
telling the folks where I am."
He led the little fellow into a public
telephone station, where he eagerly
scanned the names In the book. At last
it was - found "Thomas Harrison,
seven-six-five-four Plaza." And then,
in the seclusion of the telephone booth,
Santa Claus sent the gladdest of all
Christmas messages over the wire to
two distracted parents:
"I have found your boy wandering in
the street. He is safe, and I will bring
him home right away."
HI,
Fifteen minutes later, there might
have been seen the strange spectacle of
a footsore Santa Claus leading a sleepy
little boy up Fifth avenue to a cross
street, which shall be nameless. The
boy vainly endeavored to- persuade his
companion to come In and meet mam
ma." "No, Billee," the old man replied
sadly, "I must hurry back. You see,
kiddie, this is my busy day. Besides. 1
never go into a house except through
the chimney. I wouldn't know how to
behave, going in at a front door."
But it was not to ba. as Santa Claus
willed, for Little Blllee's papa and his
mamma, and his brothers and Bisters,
and the butler and the housemaids, and
two or three policemen, were waiting
at the front door when they arrived.
"Aha!" said one of the police, seizing
Santa Claus roughly by the arm,
"We've landed you, all right! Where
have you been with this boy?"
"You let him alone v cried Litue ui
lee, witb more courage than he had
ever expected to show in the presence
of a policeman. "He's a friend of
mine."
"That's right, officer," said Little
Blllee's father; "let him alone I
haven't entered any complaint against
this man."
"But you want to look out for these
fellers. Mr. Harrison," returned the oi
ficer. "First thing you know they'll be
makln' a trade of this sort oi thing.
"I'm no grafter! retorted banta
Claua Indignantly. "I found the little
chan wandering along the street, and,
aa soon as I was aDie to locate wnere
he lived, I brought him home. That's
all there is to lt"
"He knew where I lived all along,1
laughed Little Billee, "only he pre
tended he didn't. Just to see If I knew.'
"You see. sir, said the officer, Vlt
won't do him any harm to let him cool
his heels"
"It Is far better that he should warm
them officer," said Mr. Harrison kind
ly. "And he can do that here. Come
In, my man, he added, turning to
Santa Claus with a grateful smile.
"Just for a minute, anyhow. Mrs. Har
rison will wish to thank you for bring
ing our boy back to us. We have bad
a terrible afternoon."
That's all right, sir," said Santa
Claus modestly. "It wasn't anything,
sir. I didn't really find him it was
him as found me. sir. He took me for
the real thing. I guess."
Nevertheless, Santa Claus, ied by. Lit
dreamy eyes and held me up against
the wall.
"You," she screamed, "you complete
a total of 25,493 people who have been
In this department store today without
knowing what they are doing here, and
I refuse, to be a human encyclopedia
for the sake of eight dollars a week.
Go on, now; throw yourself into sec
ond speed and climb the hill!"
I began to apologize, but she reached
down under the counter and pulled out
a club.
"This," she said, with a wild look In
her side lamps, "this is happy Tuletide,
but, nevertheless, the next guy that
leaves his brains at homo and trier: to
make me tell him what Is a good
Christmas present for his wife will get
a bitter wallop across the forehead!"
The girl was right, so I went home
without a present.
I suppose I'll have to take Hep's tip
and get those emeralds atter all.
But first I'll go down to the delica
tessen store and see if there's anything
there. (Copyright, '13. Rights reserved.)
Is-
tle Billee's persistent father, went Into
the house. Now that the boy . could
see him in the full glare of many elec
trie lights, his furs did not seem the
most gorgeous things In the world.
When the flapping front of his red
Jacket flew open, the child was sur
prised to see how ragged was the thin
gray coat it covered; and as for the
good old saint's comfortable stomach
strange to say. It was not!
"I I wish you all a merry Christ
mas," faltered Santa Claus; "but I
really must be going, sir "
"Nonsense!" cried Mr. Harrison. "Not
until you have got rid of this chill,
and "
"I can't stay, sir," said Santa, "I'll
lose my Job if I do."
"Well, what if you? I'll give you
a better one," said the banker.
"I can't I can't!" faltered the man,
"I I I've got a Little Billee of my
own at home waiting for me, sir. If
I hadn't," he added fiercely, "do you
suppose I'd be doin' this?" He pointed
at the painted boards and shuddered.
"It's him as has kept me from from
the river!" he muttered hoarsely; and
then this dispenser of happiness to so
many millions of people all the world
over sank Into a chair, and, covering
his face with his hands, wept like a
child.
. "I guess Santa Claus is tired, pap,"
said Little Billee, snuggling up closely
to the old fellow and taking hold of
his hand sympathetically. "He's been
walkin' a lot today."
"Yes, my son," said Mr. Harrison
gravely. "These are very busy times
for Santa Claus, and I guess that, as
he still has a hard night ahead of him;
James bad better ring up Henry and
tell him to bring the car around right
away, so that we may take him back
to his little boy. We'll have to lend
him a fur coat to keep the wind off,
too, for It Is a bitter night."
"Oh," said Little Billee, I haven't
told you about these boards lie wears.
He has 'em to keep the wind off, and
they're fine, papa'" Little Billee
pointed to the two sign-boards wlftch
Santa Claus had leaned against the
wall. "He say3 he uses em on cold
nights," the lad went on. ' They have
writing on 'em, too. Do you know
what it says?"
"Yes," said Mr. Harrison, glancing
at the boards. "It says 'If You Want
a Good Christmas Dinner for a Quar
ter, Go to Smither's Cafe,' "
Little Billee roared with laughter.
"Papa's trying to fool .me, just as
you did when you pretended not to
know where I lived, Santa Claus," he
said, looking up into the old fellow's
face, his own countenance brimming
over with mirth. "You mustn't think
he can't read, though," the lad added
hastily. "He's only Joking."
"Oh, no, indeed, I shouldn't have
thought that," replied Santa Claus,
smiling through his tears.
I've been Joking, have lr said Lit
tle Blllee's papa. "Well, then, Mr.
Billlam, suppose you Inform ms what
it says."
"Merry Christmas to Everybody,
said Little Billee proudly. "I couldn't
read it myself, but be told me what It
said. He has it printed there so that
if he misses saying it to anybody.
they'll know he means It Just the
same.
By Jove, Mr. Santa Clans," cried
Little Blllee's papa, grasping the old
man warmly by the hand, "I owe you
ten million apologiesl I haven't be
lieved In you for many a long year;
but now, sir, I take It all back. You
do exist, and, by tbe great horn spoon,
you are the real thing!"
xv.
Little Billee had the satisfaction of
acting as host to Santa Claus at a
good, luscious dinner, which Santa
Claus must have enjoyed very much.
because, when explaining why he was
so hungry, it came out that, the poor
eld chap had been so busy all day that
ha had not had time to get any lunch
no, not even one of those good din
ners at Smith's cafe, to wnicn Lime
Billee's father had jokingly referred.
And after dinner Henry came with the
automobile, and. ' bidding everybody
good night, Santa Claus and Little
Concluded, oa Paso J.1