H 4
I I
! S
, SERIAL STORY
FRANTIC FESTIVAL
BY EDMUND FANCOTT
COPYRIOHT. It.
NEA CERVICE. INC.
CHAPTER XII
)EANO'S nerve was gone. Little
things one after anotlier had
worn it down and now he pan
icked. Ho grabbed Leona's hand
and pulled her through a side
door. For s moment no one real
bed what was happening and then
It dawned on the boys that Santa
was fleeing before he had finished
the Job. Like a pack of hounds
they were after him with a bed
lam of noise. ""
After. them poured Ferdy, his
aunt, Fay and Ross to herd them
back. They were pouring outside
without any of . their coats and
ii lubbers and they would catch
J their deaths of cold.
Beano swept Leona Into his
fertns and dashed to the garage,
jj The front door was shut behind
j the two men now inside and he
J reached the garage before the
hounds emerged from1 the house.
Dismay smote him as he rounded
J the corner. There, standing before
Hhe doors, was a farmer's sleigh
with two horses. There was no
Hime for maneuvers, ' there was
r.enly time for action.
ja He dropped Leona on to the pile
-ef rugs in the sleigh, Jumped iri
.sjnd snatched the whip.
fl As the pursuit piled around the
corner they saw a wonderful and
-Traditional sight, Santa Claus in
'his sleigh driving through the
"inow with the Queen of the Fan
cies with him. At the gallop it was
.spectacular and no one noticed the
"disarranged appearance of the
JQueen of the' Fairies or her dis
' grim tied expression. The cold was
biting through the nightgown and
"She was swaying in a struggle to
.disentangle the rugs amidst the
frantic career of the horses and
jyleigh down the steep drive.
,r The pursuit stopped dead in its
. tracks. Even the most hard-bitten
"cynic among the boys was shaken
"to the core by the realization that
: Santa Claus was behaving as if he
Were real after all.
Ferdy's aunt herded them back
tato the house. Only Fay and Ross
were missing when the others
came back to the unhappy Benny,
.Who was now the man in the mid--clle,
detectives in the hallway and
Beano gone, leaving him to face
- the music
. w. Myra opened the front door ex
. bisecting what she -saw. She asked
xfhe two men in. ' They were big
men and. looked like ex-policemen.
They also looked tough. -Wei,
boys?" she asked. "Troo
. ble?"
r' They nodded. "We'd have been
here before but the car stuck in
drift way back and we had to
tent a sleigh from a farmer."
"M. "Looking for someone?"
"Fellow named McCluskey up
iPerer-
"He's gone."
"Gone?"
"Yes," said Myra. "listen."
I They. listened. They heard the
pnmistakable jangle of sleigh bells
training mnousiy.
"That's your sleigh," she said
rtaimly.. .
r- wiui one accord both men
. jtumed to dash to the door. Myra
rCtopped them.
. "Wait," she said. "Maybe I can
."help you. Maybe you don't want
nun." ' -. .
"What do you mean?" said one
"of them.
'--"Diamonds interest yon?" she
-asked.
"What do you know about It?"
.said the other suspiciously,
t. "Everything," she said. Tm a
bit of a detective myself and . . ."
''she whispered this. ". . . Mr. Lor-
ton, who owns this place, works
for the B. C. M. P. Intelligence De-
"partment as a plain-clothes man,
, strictly between ourselves."
i They were impressed but not
1 convinced.
J "Now listen," she said. "Do you
, want the ice or the man?"
'
"TSTE'RE from the , insurance
J company; We want the dia-
l monds. 'If we were in the States
i we'd take the man as well. But
this is Caifhda and it'd be more
I trouble to get him out than he's
1 worth."
J The other man added his piece.
2 "The diamonds are worth $50,000.
i McCluskey's worth nothing." .
i "O. K. What about Benny
J Brien?"
i "Whal about him," said one
t man. "Don't know him. Only
know this fellow left a mailing
I address care of Brien."
"O. K.," said Myra. "Bygones
'are bygones if you get the dia
' monds?; Right?"
, "Youet." . :
"Then come and meet the boys
J and don't say a word when you
i get a present."
i She led them back to the room
J where the boys were seated in
i decisively around the tree. Benny
seemed pale and slightly shrunk,
'tut the two men took no notice of
' Jiim. '-'- . '
Introductions were completed
Jwith whispered asides to Ferdy
cand his aunt to leave it all to her
nd then Myra took charge of the
proceedings . from the ailing
fenny, but she kept him in the
ole of Santa Claus.
J "Now, boys," said Myra. "Ow
ing to the unexpected departure
f Santa Claus to parts unknown
Je will ask Mr. Benny Brien to
ubstttute and I'll substitute for
he Queen of the Fairies. A bit of
Sn anticlimax if you get the Joke
Jut if you get the presents it's all
sine same to you." .
I She began to pull parcels from
Jhe tree and hand them to the
unsuspecting Benny. He read the
flames of the recipients and passed
hem over. Then Myra casually in
he stream of presents leaned
lown at the back of the tree and
ook a small red parcel.
"Why.',' he Mid "If this Jm't
: V , ; :'
lucky. Wo thought our two guests
were going to be disappointed but
here I And a little gift they can
share between them."
She passed it to Benny who felt
it, read the inscription and gulped.
It read, exactly like the other, "To
Leona, with lovo from you know
who." He fingered it nervously,
feeling the unmistakable hardness
of the diamonds.
He passed it to the two detec
tives as though it wore red hot.
One of them took it, pressed it,
and nodded to the other and
passed it over to him. The other
felt it also and tucked it in his
pocket
A feeling of great relief sud
denly came over Benny.
He was voluble now, the words
pouring out in a hurried stream.
"I use to handle all McCluskey's
bookings when he was in the big
time wrestling. He was good then,
but he fell to pieces. Used to
come" to me 16 'Tc7pIm,and 1
would, just for old times sake and
lo krnn Htm clniftlit 13. ...i.tj
- ' ....... B.n. uu, nnuu I
have thought he'd do a thing like
i.n, t ...... .I.,-,, i . i . . '
.it.,,, a uuiuu iinvc (oiicnra mm
if I'd known ho was In on any
iunny uusmess. "
Benny was all smiles now.
"Well, it's a good job I made him
leave a forwarding address nt my
place and I hope you didn't bust
up anything when you wont
through my office. Still, the re
ward will fix that up. They put a
high reward on ice like that, and
seeing it was me that put you
boys on the right track I guess
you'll be seeing I get fixed up all
right. What was that? There ain't
no reward? Well what do you
think of that? That's life. That's
justice. That's . , ." Benny noticed
the menace in the detectives' eyes.
"All right. All right. Don't get
tough," he finished, lamely.
(To Be Continued)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. It's to
save thinning automobile tires
explained Police Chief Alex Mc
Allister. He ordered police cars to
carry dustpans and brooms. The
officers will sweep up all the
broken glass they see.
THIS CURIOUS WORLD
By William
Ferguson
, . ,L i ,, i . i .Mi.. 'iul HI LETS GET . l?SORE '
ISf hpr 1 CUfe HORSES A
HIwnSLI bird giant ''-CsM
S VI f f f OF MADAGASCAR, ' jL1" J&Tf W
JSt '" LAID EGGS , r'VF&l.lL)
Tg&ka rHUl that had a WSpm
I I"1! CAPACITY OP I ' ,M V FvJi
fJk 1 piaga: I Red Ryder 'V
jv TW NEW YEAR'S EVE .
I f 'Jtfra Irl rij'i)S ANOTHER YEAR GONE BY!
I sjCAJ Mosny, i dokt look
ew. 1 Jo if w wwetT wc. S?SJV BACK'-BUT OrACE A
. t. m. to. u. . pat. off. , f fjfl . YEAR,! SORTA UKE TO
SOLOMON - . J. th'score-
WERE NAMED AFTER. '-.V.-' L Ml - '
KIN SOLOMON, BECAUSE ;::jVA; "" li fJi
OP THE NATURAL RICHES W:rUfdWr Bfi 4tT, . ...i
THEY WERE BELIEVED TO pK) Jr , f
1 BOOKENOS ARE USEP
sij Y7Tzyy j AT THE SIDES," S&yt i Lirtla Orphan Annir.uJ
sjgSprr; i c. e.wickes, 2 y
V5VI " 1 V 7es 77cssoa. j I WHEN! ARE j AS SOi
TKJL-rH' PAPER IS X HE'S LEARMEDXTHESE KIPS TO- 1 W BUT, PROFESSOR -X PLAW- Y ACIA , LPUN b Bi W " .OJ M
71 FULLO'JOES" TDPUTAMUT ry ARE SKILLED- ( ED BWS MIOL WllTU THB fMEM HE STOPS IM DER. MTTE-L. U
1 DIE SIKlkERS, L OM A BOLT, AM1 HE'LL LEAVE THAT IEMN ROVNL ORCH- OP DER VA.LTZ.10 'DWa--:V
' T METAL PATTERKJ A "TDU NOTICE PAPEE SO TH' E6TRK, LED 8 VJOLT-fjFSlG y DER ZOPPINfa UP ZOUP,'-"' , WNTM
TOOL ROOA, HE'S READIM' BOSS WILLTHIWK RUNVPELH(US. LET'S J BUT SOD.GROAKMNS INV ( rEifrR
T- A DRAFTSMEM... NOTHIM' BUT HE'S LOOKIM' UP V. TRW THAT SKIVJALTZ. st DER V0ROM& KEV, DOT S ) HOM
J I BOY, VOL) CAM SKILLEP HELP I AMOTHER JOB AN' Vagmi B0N8
' it"-H amvdct , JrOWA HE'LL GET,A ( SOFTEM TVlk 08BUGA.TO ) OhLS ON DOT HITLER UNO Y eoONDS
AKjy PLACET V-V-. RAISE.' r CCit (sLvr, , DOXE MUTZI FALLIN&
' Hj Boarding
By J. R. Williomi VVith Moor Hooplo
r VV "wd pepfer:5 ecs5. ee f he'll be fightin f i'rt Readt for f they decided r nt--- ,
LET5 GET iB'SORE !HEN HE fltDS HIS NVVD VJHErt HE RNDS OUT tiEDMCE, WiE ( GO FOR. AW-SLK J WUKlN fl
OUF HORSES H0R5E60SSE AND HAS TO I'VE TAKEN GINGER, j FEPPER.DlIT MA INSTEAD-' A, ,7., 1
AND TAIL IT HCOF IT TEN MLE5 EACK'i h t THE IANCE .' WHERE'S RED -S JZt& JANCS WnHTOU, J
. J&SSIf&m tte&m they were jWwti.. N- w- -
Red Ryder 17 ''. jfcji-- J KsSffi" Lmn X W"E3r ' A Sr . H'- "' "'gtl TTT GQtUy frcd Harmon
w l 9 m m i m. i ., iiiii mmmmmmm - m
NEXT: Death In the Antarctic..
PRESIDENT'S FIGHTING SON
HORIZONTAL
1,6 Pictured son
of U. S.
President
14 Angry. v
15 Epistle
(abbr.).
16 Wander.
17 Beverage.
18 Contend with.
20 Court (abbr.).
21 Atmosphere.
22 Merry.
' 23 Legal claim.
24 Steal.
26 District Attor
ney (abbr.).
27 Half an em.
28 Saturated.
29 Railroad
station.
31 Cushions.
32 Adapted.
33 Hue.
35 Alms.
36 Vigor (colloq.)
37 Fun. .
38 Labor.
39 Remote.
40 Forfeiture.
42 Corpulent
Answer to Previous Puzzle
BIA R BIVRIA HIUITTIO;N
AR ARlAlTt'lPlL E fl.SIE
HeMe: rI 4:4-.eia s tt .
EISl-.E AMOIAT RS jBjB
BiEIBPIDI I ISiRIElS S I,' TIRjE
GAR VIHGIRIANTSJTl.flTTr
1lI ieirinIeftIotIalisl:
REIN nI I lElSI-MS P RIOUTfls
eirieNpisI lAtedsMI
sIiIrieIn HuHON ljJR
aIlIerIt! - IeIrInIe
43 Join by an
alliance.
44 Father.
45 That one.
46 Arabian.
47 Trick.
48 Exclamation.
49 Love to excess
50 Office of War
Information
(abbr.).
51 Music note.
52 Part of "be."
53 Black bird.
55 Stage play.
56 That place.
VERTICAL
1 Type of mast.
2 Pertaining to
Arius.
3 Numerous.
4 And (Latin).
5 Keep apart.
6 Drive back."
7 Unclosed.
8 Hidden.
9 Bar by estop
pel (law).
10 "Green Moun
tain State"
(abbr.).
Age.
Placed.
Oppressor. -
Lubricants.
Plant science.
Autumn. :
Obscure. '
Particular
period.
Hawaiian food
Evergreen tree
Compass point
Accomplish.
Huge tub.
He took part
in the
Islands raid.
His is
U. S. President
Level.
He is a U. S.
officer.
Narrow sea
inlet.
Fragrance.
Energy.
First man.
Bird.
Exclamation
of surprise.
I 45 67 8 9 10 II 12 13
,t
J ;
MM lis ii
Likl
3' "11 W . r
Mi ; &.
XT wl I
nrvar I I 1 I I r I 1 I I .
Clearance
Boys' Suits
A Real Chance to Save '
Boys' Dark Suits - Sizes 4 to 7 Now
$4.49 to $5.98
MONTGOMERY WARD
NEW YEAR'S EVE.
1 LIKE TO SIT
UP HALF TH' NK5HT"
LISTEN TO NEW "YEAR'S
ON TH RADIO, HIT
NEW tORK-CHICAGO"
DENVER-TH WEST COAST?
FLASHA BRIEF
news otsmrcn reports
A SURPRISE ATTACK
BY A VERY LARGE
CHINESE FORCE ON
A STRONG JAPANESE
BASE IN SOUTHERN
CHINA M
Mil
"XT IS STATED THAT
THE JAPANESE FORCE, OF
OVER THREE THOUSAND
WAS WIPED OUT. TO
THE LAST MAN IT
16 ALSO STATED THAT
THE LEADER OF THE
CHINESE FORCE"
"OP
I " IO rCMCDAI t IVCO
WARBUCKS. WHOM THE
ENEMY REPORTED AS
HAVING BEEN KILLED.
EARLY LAST NOVEMBER-
THAT REPORT WAS .
NEVER CONFIRMED-
sandy!
DID YOU HEAR
THAT?
that was about
"DADDY" our
DADDY'
A V v-nirw m i Chinese force Ml. i I
Lirtla Orphan aL l 'r'j .1 . Groy
rWHEM areTas soom as we getI (Amy floors y & ( amy RUgs that l1 ( Mowb Fourteen "notwank
. I SOME GOOD ACCOUNTS "THAT MEED MOT TODAY, NEED CLEANING. COME 8 YOU VOUS--SlK 'I'LL MAVB
fPM6, LARD. IS GOINS From CLEANING? ( I'M AFRAID-- OR STUFF LIKE AROUND . DO? J TO THIN If OVCRS,"
BUSINESS I DOOR. HO DOOR. WIMCXJWS ( BUT THANK. THAT? J MEXTWEEK: AMD FOUR 1 SHOULD r
? -M VvV ' WASHED? ) YOU FOI? - y . N SAY NOTS r-rtf
Freckles and His Friends ' V AMlH - 1 AlnuHr , fcii WBT "W- V, 9, pat, a. J By B',or'
WWWCAPT rX3&?i?biitr' 'ftfiffiEf 1 & 6TH.LT 1NHV SHOULDN'T I BE? IS UMFOR- V AMD I'M NOT 1
1 WOULPNT MENTION m 'tfPA MAD, YOU HURRIEP ME HOMEM -fcj TUNATELV, IMTERE6TEP IN
AMVTHIM6 ABOUT THAT T - X . EH f SO YOU COULD RUSH BACK, fjfj.l A i'M NOT AT YWft EXPUWATOW!
PANCER'S ARREST AS jffe. i'X V L ANtJ VISIT WITH THAT... J 1 LIBERTY IT WILL BE CON
A Py...MAY AFFECT .'ff P41!14T.?-SI!MTALSHIMMVA (I TO EXPLAIN 4IDECE0 AEAT
FUTURE DEVELOP-y I't Kf ' PANCER SUCH CRUDE fl g My FAVOR IF VOU DO
8k mi. ryta t-i,, , ;m !
Wash Tubb . . j , By Crona
Si w w CTTTs-S
Boots and Her Buddies
r:, - , , ,
WtKt IUIN UUK tStSI, J nt LUULW I UU MUUi UKC mN I
VOUR HIGHMEVSS, F WE'RE DOIK)'...ITS MAM-POWER WE i
BUT IT LOOKS ( OMLY GEN- MEED, TO LAUMCH A DIVER.SIOM.' )
LIKE THEY'RE ERALOOP J WE COULD WIM THIS WAR IF At
COMNA BREAK V WAS THERE WAS SOME WAY Wrzffln
THROUGH OUR, A HERE A COULP OPEKJ A jVm "
i i i -i -i unn - i ' - '' '
.am. mrivwrimvKi. no. t. u tBTTi. rtf.an..
By Martin
Ml
Alley Oop
MEANWHILE: BfcWlMD THEv '''"'Miw 4&?JiS
1; ADVAMCIM& ENEKAVS LIMES I GOLLY VOUR M i l!'
( WE'VE GOT LOOK ' MI&HTIMESS. 9 SmlMv'lM'Mn
'EMOW TH' PIBF IW THAT COULD CUT jVlRflW' (' If'
RUN.,WE'LL) P,J:,T JN US OFF FROM OUR f 'ITJ UrWM
CRAClS OUR, BASE ...THAT f 1 nSpv !&VMV f
'Ik 'EM.' 1 REAR WOULD BE A i' v A
L... N 1 1' Wil PNtop'.. wiWwiA mvik'titffio. ii. . jjy v.; T. Hamlir