PFKQE .1519!!!‘

nor CAKES

(Don-tinned from Page 'l)

ready for the signal to pull out. Jim Priddis found an empty box car having- a door partly open. and climbing inside slid the beavy door closed, leaving just enough light for a lookout. "

Scarcely had he done this before the train began to move out of the yards with gathering momentum. ‘Ilhe greet adventure had begun it was gcfzg to be a merry Olirist- mas for him. aft-r all. This was the time of the year when thrifty tillers of the soil returned home from the city with maiiy a bulging wallet, as the prcceeds from the isle of fat hogs. or a fleck of sheep. A man was a fool to work. Let mules and farmers work. Present- ly his thoughts tunietl back to

,tiie girl who had befriended hint earlier in the morning Good little sport. that kid. He chuckled at the recollection. Gosh? If she had known. or suspected. whitt he want- ed that dollar for!

The freight train slowed down and stopped at several small towns (luring the morning. l-le was not disturbed by the train crew. and finally ventured to slide the box car door partly uPGII- Now they were passing through a fine farm- iiig country. that showed every inark of pmsperty. Large farm houses painted in white. and show- ing vine covered verandas. fn the background toiverczl red barns. silos and windmills. _

This was the place he had been looking for all morning A veritable promised land. Therekl be money to bum in a l'lt."1 district like this. The engine whistles for a crossing. sand as he leaned cut fioin the car door Jim Priddis could see they were approaching a fairly good sized tovm. Fcllowid the shudder- ing grind of brakes. and the train came to a stop. He slipped quietly from the box car. and crossing a shallow ditch, dimbed through s. wire fence and found himself cn the outskirts of Grangeville. The name was displafed 0" U“? ioof of the railway station and also on the handsome brick hotel

the sign —Grangeville Hotel.

.» A leisurely nroll around several '~' of the streets confirmed his first , impression. Nice houses. well kept -_~' gardens, and busy looking shops.

I’. A swell tow-n. Simply waiting to be F; robbed.

., 1t occurred to the would-be

i; bandit that it was long since he

‘.1 had tucked away the savoury hot

~_ cakes and coffee by the gray morn- ing light of a December dawn He was sharply reminded of the fact by m intense craving to eat. A bell clanaed from the belfry tower of the modest town hall. ‘that would be twelve o'clock. They did that ln some towns. Gave them e touch 01 civic pride. Perhaps they would stake him to a 618N161‘.

He approached a native who was

blissfully in the doorway of the poclromn. "Howdy" Jim Prlddls began, nonchalantly. "You live here?" 'l‘he native nod- ded. listlessly. "What's a likely place to bum a square meal. pard?” The native eyed the inquirer for free meals with obvious dlatate. "finite, mister?" lie inquired. "and the usual hard luck story?“

"Yell!" Jim Prlildis admitted “There's nary a lob to be had flllf love or 111011613’

The citizen gave a nrellmllwl‘! spit on the side walk before divulg- h‘ information. "see thet stucco house on the hill" he offered "with

Q1’ one star's light. On Bethlehem. To those whose spirits

To meet their needs.

The Prince of Peace.

d r

the green roof?" Jim Prldidis not- iced in assent "Wat". continued his informant "th' Mayor lives thar an’ I've heard tell as his mise- us never turns a hungry man from t door. and turning on his heal the native rejoined his cronies in- side the poclrccm.

Jim Prlddls cleclied it might be worth trying. He didn't Ike these big houses as a rule. Snobs lived in them. and the only places he had ever received hand-outs with no awkward questions asked. was at the doors oi humble cottages. Arriving at tlie strcco house he knocked boldly at the front door. A plump rosy-faced lady answered. She seemed '0 radial: good nature. He wondered if this was the Mayor's wife. while reciting the. usual tale of dire distress. 211d honest effort to lock for work.

"Why, you pcor manl" exclaim- ed the ladui. filter listening to hLs plea foi- a diztner. “I'm sure you lcok honest and deserving. You shall have a nice hot meal right away. Clo round’ to the kitchen. please."

"Gretchen!" she called down the hallway.

“Yes'm” a voice answered.

"There's a pocr fellow waiting at the kitchen dour for something to eat. Take him in the kitchen Fix up a hot meal quick. Make a pot cf fresh coffee. fry some pot- atoes and serve part of that cold lamb."

“Yes'm" responded Gretchen once more but without enthusiasm.

Sealed comfortably tn the shin- ing and spotless Priddis could scarcely believe his own eyes and ears. The Mayor's wife presided a‘. the tuble herself. poured the coffee and Proved a most amiable hostess. She did not pry into his affair-s, although she talk- ed a blue streak. He! husband was the Mhyvi‘ of Grangeviiie, she hastened to explain. and he was absent for the day He h-aid. as a matterpf fact. slic confided. motor- ed into the city to nick up the Grangeville monthly pay roll at the bank. Then again. they needed the Christmas fund saved for poor folks’ hampers every year. She just knew that some day he was going lo get held up and robbed. The Mayor was so ti-ustine. she continued and refused to bother taking an escort. or even to carry a revolver. She felt so unealy. some- times. Jim Priddis was 1o aston- ished by wave after wave of revel- ations that he could only grunt his thanks and reach hastily for the sugar bowl to cover his con- fusion.

As though slie feared she misht

have forgot/ton to mention some essential details the Mayor's wife proceeded.

For The Little ‘lfots

ALL THE WEARABLE GIFTS THE YOUNG TOTS

WANT MOST FOR

CHRISTMAS

lleve A!

THE SPORT TOGGERY Find SWEET BABY DRESSES and BUNTINGS - - - - - WARM BRIGHT ILANKETS IAOY SETS IAIY MUFFS IAIY IATHIOIE end SLIPPEIS to match.

All Prices for’ the Family liniget

‘h/‘mdt-SQQRTI. roesav

THE LIGHT OF PEACE

Christmas is Christmas still, though there be warring Between a.l.l lands. and dark my be the night, Nothing can dim the everlasting meaning -

Nothing at all can take away its glory.

To those who seek it. it will diine for them

As clear and steadfast as it shone that evening.- No army iii the world can bar the To one smell town. where waits the infant Saviour. Oh, that the guns of earth might be silenced.

Oh. that mankind might find their soul's release In kneeling side by side tonight to worship

kitchen Jim'

l}

pathway. take the road that leads

_ —WILLIAM D. DeOOBPB.

"He drives a blue coupe- the only one in Liriingeviile- and it would be so easy for robbers to identify him by the motor car."

Jim Prlddls found himself outside the Mayor's house M last. His ears seemed to buzz. What a break the dammhad given mm.

Half an hour later Jim Prlddis could have been seen plodding along the highway. i-le was looking for a. strategic spot to stage his first holdup. About hail’ a mile from Grangeville he discovered a locat- ion that might have been made to order. so well suitediwas it to his purpose. At one side of the road was the shelter of a heavy bluff of trees. making an excellent screen.

Close to the other side stretched the desolation of a “nuisance ground." The nuisance ground of a prairie town is usually placed just beyond the last vacant lots, and as near the highway as possible. The reason has never been satisfact- orily explalned. It bicame the fash- ion and country towns strive de- sperately to keep up with the fashion. A nuisance ground is fear- fuliy and wonderfully made. Here may be found all the past wreck and ruin of a tiwnb history. In the badlground are battered motor cars of forgotten vintage. whose tin ap- pendages creak dolefully in the wind. Usually. beside the highway may be discerned old motor tyres and rubbish from the last town fire. Hats and shoes thrown in the ‘discard. Every citizen feels it his bounden duty to contribute some- thing as a votive offering.

This was going to be easy pick- ings. Nothing to do but wait for the darkness. The heavy meal and warm sun gave Jim Prlddis a sense of drowsiness, and presently he was fast asleep amid the sheltering woods. when he woke it was already after sunset and igrvwing dusk. Too early thougn to start anything yet.

To pass the time he drew forth the revolver froin beneath his sweater and proceeded to load it. Amazed and puzzled he found that the cartridges did not fit the gun chambers. Curse that tricU-look- ing may. why. he'd been dwindled- If only he could Bet his hands on the rascal now! ~

In a rage ne hurled the revolver into a thicket and the box of cart- ridges followed. When his anger cooled he tried to find the revolver. but was unable to do so in the darkness. Bluff rm. that's what he'd have to do now.

Stumbling eve: to the nuisance ground he located a discarded urn- brella having a bright metal handle- Might serve for ‘a bluff in the dark He snapped the handle off. and felt his confidence returnins-

IO! QUEEN ST. .I

THE CIjAlLLUTTETOWNQUARDIAN

\ Ldvelied the umbrella handle at a. free looming iri the dizziness. "Stick 'em up" he demanded “an' make it snappy!" It was going to be a very chilly (ihristrnas for holiest farmers and their wives coming from mark- et-or possibly even the Mayor! He 110d a coloured handkerchief over the lower part of his face just be- low the eyes, and fastened it sec-

Hmily had lie done so before lie catwht the distant sound of a motor car approaching. Jim Priddia stiffened in his traits and grasped tbo umbrella handle firmly. He chewed boldly c the flaring heldllkhie. and nailed perempt- orily for the driver to stop. It was a coupe. The shiny metal handle in his hand caught the gleam of car lights and Elittei-ed STIBQINVBIY. ‘mere followed ii grlno of brakes. and the small car stopped. The Mayor offered no resistance. He proved to be a rather undersized man and faultlessiy dressed. Un- like many small mr-n he seemed to lack their combative disposition. Evidently he was a firm believer in the peace at any price move- ment. His mariner. in fact, was al- most friendly.

“So this is a hold-up" hu remark- ed. Opening the door ofthe-ooupe. "Well there is my bag with the Grangevllle pay ioll and the money for poor folk"; Ghrstinas hampers. My wife has item wiring me I'd get held up and robbed one of these days. and now she'll be satisfied".

“Keep quiet. an‘ do as you're tcld". the hiahwaylnan barked. His voice sounded muffled through the folds of the handkerchief. l-le made the Mayor drive up to a side road. and park the car there. Gagged the official head of Grargeville and then bound him tiiiresistlng in his own car. Having done this he promptly switched the lights 01f. and left the Mayor in darkness. Jim Prlddis headed across an open field for the shelter oi the woods beyond.

same leather travelling bag. ‘The bag weighed hefty and promising. So far. so good.

Then suddenly mo ground failed beneath him in the murky dark- ness. and Jim Prlddis pitched head- long into an abandoned well. Fort- llflllflly it was shallow and dry ‘in the bottom. He soon discovered that it would be out of the question to climb the crumbling walls handi- capped with the Mayors bag and was forced an abandon the boodle for the time being. clutihing fran- ticall at roots and rotten kerbing he fnally suoieeded in climbing to the surface and found he was lions the worse except for a. severe shaking up. Ho-v to get the Mayor's bag of ‘boodie out was the problem.

Finding the viiiiin highway again. be listened. Another car was com- ing. but he could tee no lights. Must he something phony about this - the car was driving without lights —~what was the big idea? Jim Prid- dis slipped back hastily to the con- cealment of the trees. ft might be cops. Scarce daring to breathe he waited developments. The ractcr car-evidently a large one-stopped almost opposite his place of hiding. and two men stepped out on the highway. Peering through the bush- es. Jim Priddis would hear them conversing in low tones. Didn't just sound like copsi

They moved away in the direct-

ion of the nuisance ground. and cautiously he drew closer to the big car. He moved war-Ly for there might be another policeman inside the cu‘. if it was cops. Satisfied the motor car was empty he drew up against its protecting side. The tmo men returned. dragging several old tyres along, which they piled on the highway and again visited the nuisance ground Flor a minute or two surprise held him spellbound. l. pair of bandits blocking the highway and going to rcb someone. The Mayor-that's who they were after Reaction and distaste seized him iii tlie darkness. The dirty, low-down skunks. He'd show them. anxiety and uncertain- ty changed to inspiration. fzaping for the front seat r-f the motor car he found and switched on the ignit- ion. The powerful engine started hum- ming smoothly. and grasping the gear shift he threw in the clutch. From. behind the car came shouts and imprecatlorn. and a burst of gun fire. Bullets smashed the rear windows as the high-powdered car picked tip speed but amid the flying glass he found himself unhurt Eight ahead twlnlried the lights of Grangeville.

In one hand he carried the hand- “

i

When all is said and done nothing one per-

son can give to another MEANS QUITE SO MUCH

as a fine piece of jewellery. .Then too. the name

on the box adds more pleasure to your gift -- for.

when it comes from your jeweller. you have

marked yourself as a careful and thoughtful giver

PIIOIIE 394-1

Selections

PATTERSOWS Jewellery Store

130 IT. IEO. 81'.

“ALWAYS nscociuz an run quasars" A A .

IRAOELETS LOOKETO IIEOKLETS EARITIIIOS ..i

RINGS '

STOllES . SIOIIET DIAMONDS '4

DRESSER SETS LEATHER lOOOS

Pea & Pencil Sets llaltle Oleelis A

The reporter duly jolted it all down. and observed it was indeed a very remarkable affair. He had been doing police court for years. but this story took th-z bunl

Jim Prlddis allowed a decent in- terval of several days to elapse be- fore maklng. his next move in the list]: drama. Then ono afternoon. a yed in his neat fitting blue ‘uniform with the shiny brass but- tons. he returned to the scene of tlie hold-up. For reasons best known to h elf he went alone and unattende . His absence pass- ed iinnoticed. It was for one thing, a busy time oi‘ dav “no Christmas lhvlwlng had brought a flock of farm folk into Grangeviile. In afabio mood merchants rubbed the palms of their hands together and

‘Painting the car- up the main street. he slowed to a slurp outside the pool ioczn. The place was full of men smoking at the tables, or? merely looking on Jim Priddis dashed ln.

“Hold-up do "n ti!‘ road" he yell- ed. “an’ th’ ltlavors been kidnapp-‘ my.

A posse was quickly formed and with no other than Jim Priddis at the steering wl-cel they rushed in pursuit of tlie kidnappers-only‘ to find the viiialns had blocked the highway. 1n the meantime the

he was, w switch on the ligths of his own car. ‘these attracted the attention of members ci the pone. and soon the Mayor was released from the indigirty to which he had been subjected.

Later that evening the Mayor heard the story of Jim Priddls which did not inck anything in the fGUInI-dfld listened with laud- iatory comments. In fact the worthy Mayor of ‘Granmvllie was n pleas- ed at tlie nappy outcome of the whole affair (except for the un- fortunate ioss of the town's pay roll. the Christmas hamper money for tlie poor and tlie theft of his leather club bag which happened

bcnir must stay overnight in the Mayor's home. and sleep, be- tween scented lavender sheets in the best guest loom.

on him" in assured the n "per terthe next. day. who had mended to lllc from

smiled. It was going to be a very

ood day. l When Jim Pi-iddis returned later

in the afternoon tii-angeville rock- cd with excitement. The new police- men had found the Mayor's club D88 in an old disused well. and all the money was intact. Why. he had even found one of the revolvers used

the bandits to capture the

the little blonds waitress would say when he marched into the coffee shop. Also. he must remember to walk in with the dignity becoming a constable wearing a uniform with shiny brass buttons.

The Mayor left him ‘outside tho coffee shop. and arranged to call foi- him two hours later. Jim Prid- dis-ex-highwaymark- entered the cafe. The place was packed with a motley of last-minute Ibo and merry makers. The little ride waitress scurried about. taking or- ders for patrons. and paid no at- tention to his entry. He noticed the coffee shop was decorated in tinsel and brightly-coloured streamers for the festive season. The little blonde waitress. too. scorned to have caught the spirit of Qlrletmas She was wearing a sprig of holly fastened on hei- gully-patterned smock.

Jim Priddis slipped quietly into a chair at the only vacant table and removed his helmet. She evid- ently had not recognised him yet. Picking up a menu card she came over to tabs his order. This must bc a new policeman on the beat. He cleared his throat. Flelt a strange

Mflyvr. l-ie even found m]; a boxes-citation and yet humble witlial.

of cartridges. Wonde uld

f-‘elbe- NOD18 aatheretlistrshopsnzheljr on street corners lo discuss the latest sensation. Business was gl-

cntheationgamrcgm 1 his natty blue, uniform. e “I m So pleased was the town council Milli the unexperted ability- of their new policeman as g datum, and finder of stolen treasure. that "W? Dmllllllly voted hiin a neat flab as a Christmas present. l! ow th rhtlt Ggmgtuh v I tide of n ristmas Eve the Mayor was Wllled to once again motor into the city and uni time he listened in hi! wife. Seated beside the Mayor in the blue coupe was Grengeytlly; n"! Wliceman. lie WDGUQIQG what

"Coffee" he said. "Ooffee In’ hot cakes!"

"You!" she exclaimed. it seemed to be all she could say

"Yehl" he answered. "it's me right enough". Drawing forth his cash bonus he offered liar a dollar back in repayment. with assumed indifference. "Here's what I bor- rowed." he remarked. The girl stood looking at hiin her duties forgotten. Bha probably thought he was a cheap skate offering her only a dollar back. "I've got more money" he explained. "but T need the rest to get married cni"

‘Married?’ nut-ed tlie little blonde waitress. "Are you getting married?" Mmminkin’ acme of it" no admitt- Ke was still holding the returned loan towards Mr. The iil ignored themoney. "Whm lair‘ aiie ia- quired in a very mail voles.

"When is what!" he countered.

flha-fhs-updtlinsi"

Pushing the chair back iviishlv from the tablIr-Tiia Priddis jumped toliiafeet and salad iieaunrc- listing in lib arms. "whenever you say. been‘ banned "but I'll has

Hill wt!"

II

Candle Lights l

Courage is a torch held high. !blt.h.—a glowing lamp.‘

Peace is like a warm hearth fire when the night is damp; Beauty is the moon-bomb silver Magic in the dark.