- ».— .r:.»<__ “wifzgue-g. lvlioarwltlgvll” thrown-aces at...“ y.,_~-,., . - i '; u . v .. The first class coach of the Even- inl; Express that ran from Forrest- burg to Lighthouse Point took on a‘ different atmosphere as soon as Johnnie saw her. The train had stopped at a Jlttle town called Dclcbar, and trc newly arrived pas- sengers were trcoplllg down the ialsie, burdened with parcels, {or it Wis Christmas Ere. SHE was one of them. The trad: had traversed only forty odd oi the one hundred and sixty-seven lniles to Gowdy, John- nie Williams‘ destination, but Johnnie had been nevertheless thor- mighly tired of til; trip. He‘ had finished marlin" llle lmrrestburg Daily N'.‘\\'s, and had spent the rest of the time looking out at the monotonous winter landscape. He had been looking forward to the four hours he would still have to pass on the train ‘with anything but pleasure, and was mentally kicking himself for not having brought a book along. ‘Then in the llash of an eye every- thing was changed. And the eye that flashed belonged to this slen~ der girl who was making her way down the aisle with the other Dale- bar shoppers. Johnnie, who wasn't particularly lmpetucus, decided instantly that he hadn't been so pretty a girl in a long time. And it wasn't that she was just pretty. There was some- thing else. Something about her that Johnnie could appreciate but couldn't explain. She had a gleam in her eye, a poise to her head, that was one with the stuff which he used as building material for his favorite air Castles. Fortune Favors Johnnie ‘ that way too. But perhaps everyone Johnnie hoped she would occupy a seat alone, so that under some pretext he might be able to change his seat and sit with her. Would Dame Fortune do that little thing for him, he wondered. Dame For- tune did even more than that. When the girl arrived where he was seated, she wheeled around and sat in the vacant seat beside him. Johnnie helped her arrange her parcels. "I nee you've Claus,’ he said with smile. ‘Ihegirl smiled in relum. "I'm not acting," she said, in the low, sweet voice Jchrmle knew she would have. "I am the old gentle- man in person." "1 mean," she added in explana- iion, “there's a. couple of kiddies whom Santa. Clams wouldn't visit tonight i! anything huPPBIWd l” mo." . Johnnieb nQWly constructed air- flotlc started to tumble. Could it be HIM she was a married woman with two children? "I envy you your thrilling ev - ing," he said with conviction. "I'd give a good deal to be going to a home where there were children who believed in Santa Claus.” "It does add something to Christ- mas, doesn't it?" she agreed. “My little brothers are seven and eight. I feel that this may bethel!‘ 186$ year, 50 1 want. to make it an extra happy one.’ ‘ Her two little brothers! The air- cusile was back on its airy foun- dations. "I'm spendingchristmas with a bachelor uncle." Johnnie informed ller. "He's all alone in a bis. 8100"‘? house, and he doesn't believe in Christmas festivities. I've scent the last three Christmases thew. and believe me. they haven't been ex- r ones." “C-BgrlQeZpYEHu them there at all?" asked, then quickly added; "But I suppose it's for the old gen- tleman's sake. He's probably hi??? to have you." , There. was doubt in Johnnie: gray eye; as he answered. "Ma/ybe," he said. "but M's 9*“ awful old gl-ouch lufil the “m5 Doesn't believe in telling children about Santa. Says it's deceitful an foolish." "Well, I certainly don't 011W W" your holidays,” the girl returned producing a compact. and adding a few dabs cf powder to her exqulfi- jtgly modifisd nose. She spent l 9 next few minutes looking 0W!‘ Johnniekv. newspaper. Johnnie ‘went back to gazing out of the window- He was thinking 01’ m‘? ‘"1 was‘ on he was wending his way to 13w” Henry-S y. spirit‘. the Christ- heen acting Santa his friendly spent‘the last three Christmases there. Uncle Henry was rich. Bo- ing a bachelor. he had no directl heir, hut-a fairly large group of expectant Johnnie had been Uncle favorite as a boy, and so Johnnids mother had insisted that he spend his holidays at his uncle's, lu the hope thatrhe might be given pref; erenoe over all the other nephews and nieces in Uncle Henry's will. T scheme. and Johnnie um not like 1t. Not that he was avcrsq to falling Williams, however, was of a differ- d rt bombshell anions rhe_,$pi,£il of Christmas Present l‘ By Norman MacDonald, Kensington, P, E. 1 and nieces.‘ - Henry's nephews It was a sordid, money-grabbing heir to a fortune. But he disliked the ‘hypocrisy of pretending - an at- tachment for Uncle Henry that had no foundation in fact. Mrs. ent stamp. And Johnnie didn't want to hurt his mother's feelings by going against her wishes. A hazy sun had‘ dipped below the- horizon, and shadows were gather-- ing fast on the snow-clad hills and valleys. Lights were beginning to twinkle in the windows of tho farmhouses along the way. Johnnii tried to picture what was happem ing in each: Bmall kiddies in sleepers, taking last looks at gayly decorated trees‘, and scamperirlg off to bed, to lie wide-eyed with excitement through interminable minutes, until Bleep finally came along and rescued them. “I've never got over the thrilling mystery of Christmas Eve," he said tumlng to the girl. _ "Whenever night starts closing in, I get a. touch of the old feeling." "Isn't that funny?" she exclaim- ed, givlng Johnnie a smile that he found evcn more thrilling than the flowing in of the Yule-tide. "I feel is like that." "Almost everyone, maybe," John- nie amended, "but we'll certainly have to except Uncle Henry." The girl laughed. They were fast ‘becoming good friends. r [In the course of the next few hours Johnnie learned thal- the girl's name" was Elsie rurnlutm: that her father was dead, and that she was working in c. dentist's office in Dalebar. Her home was at Birch Hill, eighteen miles farther JllOTIK the railroad than Gowdy, and only three miles from Lighthouse Point. the end or the, line. Elsie learned that Johnnie was a c-bvuae baud 1n Flormstburg, that his mother and only sister lived in Porrestbufll Junction, seven miles out of the city, and that. his Uncle Henry. hi5 mother's brother, was a resident of Maple Lake, three miles north of Gowdy. I Johnnie bought two dancing mon- keys, carved out of wood and s!" them to Elsie to take home to, her brothers, and Elsie ‘addressed n. Christmas curd, to Uncle Henry- They got a. lob of fun out 0f that. But Gowdy, the station which seemed to Johnnie, a little while ago, a. wretchedly long distance away, was now drawing near with Birch Hill tonight?" he asked. ly, "I'll walk." never make it." Santa Claus never stops for heavy roads," she answered with a resol- ute snile. her he said. crowded with people, all trying to get heal-‘the stove, which was red "Yes." she declared courageous- "liiightcen miles!" he exclaimed. ‘And over a heavy load! You'd "The kiddies are waiting. and Johnnie started to talc down pafccls. ’ “We'll talk it ovor in the station" The little waiting room was half-way up the bole. A gflzzled little man was reciting the story of the wreck to a group of list- eners. - -. ' "Icy rails,” he piped.‘ “Should a" been picked. Two box-cars went off the. tuck. ,-.an<.l w: o’ them new ed near went over the bank." _ Johnnie conducted his travelling cqmplulion to a seat in the comer nearest the stove. back in s. minute,’ he an- nounced shortly, and left her. I-Ie made inquiries as to the chances o! getting anyone to drive to Birch Hill that evening, but. met with no success. The wind had shifted to the north-east, and there were unmistakable signs of an ap- proaching storm. N0 one seemed willing to risk an eighteen-mile drive. ' Johnnie found Uncle Henry in the sleigh on the road behind the station. Sitting up as straight as a ram-rod with his old fur cap over hi; ears. Always Johnnie found him thus. He was never on the station platform to shake hands with a fel- low and‘ welcome him to Maple Lake. Not u. word except a clrrt "Get in quick. The mum's gettins a chill," or "What in tar-nation kept the train so long?" Johnnie stood looking at him for a moment from the corner of the station platform. 'I"hcn. squarlns his shoulders, and clamping his jaws,- he made his way to sleigh. "where in thundcraticn have y’ been?" the old gentleman barked ilritably. "I'd a notion to start of! home without Y." Johnnie took the plunge. "There's a younggirl that lives in Birch Hill who simply must get home tonight," he xinnounced quietly. “I thought perhaps we would drive her out." o “whatl" the old man snapped! "Me drive a woman way out to Birch Hill tonight? Why should I do such a dad-blamed fool trick as that? lIs it {matter of life and death?" ‘ ‘Ne,’ Johnnie ' admitted. "Not exactly. mt if this girl doesn't get home tonight, hel‘ kid brothers won't, find anything in their stock- ings tomorrow morning.” »It was like touching a. match to a keg of gunpowder. Fortunately Uncle Henry's couldn't answer co- herently for a. full half-minute. He nnaunrurw rsullltn While fill! petty view does n t 1m mu ulllu m’ m, a an urescnt time, still it reminds us Jule‘ time vshoinuah Swill... in beautiful vcrdure. no‘ ahown in Pickering of no bu... vgm mailed 1» no nnlyatuluo, Monotoii A tau m aclilmd‘ vewpubuur- m The Mall you: wlau-i- Kodak plcturoa to m“ m- aevuloolhé ‘and printing andask them to your bu“, my.“ my. m,“ - » for developing and printing 11g‘ Guardian. Uncle He "made a noise that souded as if e were strangling; ' Fmmthen" onElslc and Johnnie chatted intermittently, but ‘Uncle Henry maintained a main silence. The wind grew steadily stronger. the snow had begun to drift, and the road kept getting heavier a; they advanced. "There's si Jessup's light," Elsie announced at last. "His le the first farm in Birch Hill. We're about three-quarters of a. mile from our place.’ “We're not going to get there any too soon." Johnnie declared. “This is going to be a real nor’- easter." “Looks as if you're going ta spend Christmas with the llhrnhams." "It does look like that," Johnnie admitted. "I don't think it would be wise to drive the mam back. in a storm like this." "Mother will be glad to keep you," Elsie assured him. _ When they arrived at the back door of Mrs. Farnhamm modest little farmhouse, ‘Johnnie spoke to his uncle for the first time. . "Go right in and get thawed out, Uncle," he advised. "I'll put the mare and sleigh away.’ Uncle Henry got out of the sleigh without a word and followed Elsie into the house. "I'll get a lantern,“ the girl called back as she was entering. Johnnie drove over to the barn Ind started to unhitch. He wonder- ed how Uncle Henry would behave at Farnhams. He's not a particul~ arly attractive Christmas ‘guest at his best, and he's probably a. long way from being at his best now, he thought ruefully. - ‘ Elsie came out with a lantern and helped him look after the mare. Between them they manag- ed to get the sleigh on the barn floor. ' “Your uncle doesn't seem ‘lobe such a stick." she told him as they were approaching the house "He's in there talking to mother like an old pal." As Johnnie entered Mrs. Fam- ham was showing Uncle Henry the Christmas tree in the living room, A Christmas tree of all things to started off with a snort f-hflt W88 I deplorable celerity. y "The next station is GO/Wdy. l“? announced dolefully, "and the hour ciety for. Uncle Henry's?‘- . "I've enjoyed talking to you vol‘! much," Elsie volunteered, flashing her devastating smile. "Don't srniie like that." remonstratled. “Frown. And sec what you can do about a growling, so as to make- the chailsfl as gradual g3 possible." ' she laughed "unrestrainedly at this. Before the sounds of hel- men riment had died away. the lwlu- mwn had entered the car, and was calling out the Smut!“ "Gqwdy, next station stop!" he chanted. then. V! "fiywew 5m“ Dflsc. added: "This train stops u! Gowdy for the night. Therés a wreck on the i/raclr about two hund- red yards ahead cf us." This announcement dropped like the few re- malnmg passenger; but when the traiman assured them that accom- modation 115K! been nrvvlqrfl 1°? them in oowdv. they appeared 1*- conciled. All except Elsie Farnham. Prom light-hearted laughter her M006 had. changed instantly to dismay- sue looked despairlngly at the parcels in the rack above. John- nie knew what she was thlnldnfl or. . "Any way of your cettins w mas holidays; inc reason he had 1 Xmas & ‘New Year Specials at Michael's TILL NEW YEAR'S EVE , uy Your Groceries for Loll- ._____._______.__ Where You Can B k ' u» m a2 n1 strawberry Jam 35c wealth- mflk Sumna Minn.’ a ' 15¢ 5 lb: hm Gnnongs Choc- I “l-lumph." repeated Uncle Henry. the past. Because they were young, seedltl! Rfllfllnr- z P“"' 01m, ..-. .... u.» somewhat louder this time: they talked o: ill, thrilling pm- .'J‘"°"' "" """"""""" “ u” s n. Box "v1.4a... and mu” so.» Elsie put no: parcels u. the buck ent, and the romance-tlngled. glor- Lenwn wfl "M" Y"'- “'- m so oz. Tomafo Juice m of the sleigh. and sot in. loll! future. And long before m Glace Cherries. z cm- 2" ‘ "Bit on my knee. and drive." old clock on m mantle ma struck Dates (fresh stock). 4 lbs. 25c SUGAR Johnnig directed. "You know the eleven, their eyes were telegraph- Mn‘ an‘, n‘ m, 3 “m, m 10 l-bs 49v road." _ lng, in a code u old as life, the Mixed and a iha. m v wru- Your Order. 113e,’ ‘lg-revs gut or“ oowcy in cam- llfflflfii’ words that were m their ' "I," pe a cc. olmh wondered ow earl; _ i‘ ' 1m (mums $5,353, long his uncle would be able to re- Johnnie‘ and his uncle slept to- mmn‘ mxgp strain‘ his wrath, and what would gather in the spore room with two, r “- e “aw rm‘... ‘M. "i: ‘at n. -' I r t was no as in cop em . , . m" "m" "m" "l" » e also. mu declined it would no "You m u» be, enipy ' tau “b ""1"" Iljbfe helm to, let mutiny else trip ma: “b,” rename veri- , ‘Flglwlfglf! start the ecuveitlugu. other: hwy turcd, as tltdy were uuamamgi for ' i had-trill“, ll Nllfllfi Ofhilbod. . m" °°°'I"..'......"'" ...... ..... a ... canals. "".'::.'..":l”t"' " * """'.'i"""** vevearrsr ~ A ' t-of-r Wt: . n _- p n mt _ _- enc v. .. ' cuily and ofiuulmnuiuulfi. l ~ alga; jg‘ in“ annotw ielllihin MAGMIN" All" P"! ‘"- ”‘“""- er lulu w. lnogigumibb fail‘. ' tlcm about; 5,, ya ou t brisk , ca. can ~ TIMI“ "artisan-Irma, 5-. Iiilif» unionist? ,mcsnvi_i j ._-.—-- - —~"€=-—__‘;t' dill I'll. mcum. I has arrived to exchange your so- ed masterpiece of concentrated acorn and contempt. Then he began to sputter and fume, and finally blurt- "who in tar-nation do y’ think you're talkin’ w?‘ . "I'm talking to Uncle Henry." Johnnie declared, “and you can consider me the Ghost of Christ- mas Present." _ With a bound he was in the sleigh and had snatched the reins out, of ‘Uncle Henry's "mlttened hands. ‘farming the horse around, he drove m close to the station platform. and hailed a boy who was helping the village postman haul his mail-bag laden sleigh. "I'll give you ten cents if you tell the young lady in the station that I'm waiting for her," he told the boy. , I “What? vouns lady?" the asked. "The pretty one with all the PM‘- cels." Then to Uncle Henry: "are you coming along, or will you stay in Gowdy till I get back? You can swap yams with Josh BlSQlOW- He'll be open till nearly twelve to- night." "I'll stick with the mare. and see she don't get froze to death, y’ dad-blamed highwayman!" Uncle Henry grated. Presently Elsie appeared with her pracels. "It's very kind of your uncle, I'm sure. but it's altogether too much u) oak," she protested, on being in- fonnedof Johnnie‘; intentions. "Humph," was Uncle Henry's only audible reaction. b0! on driving you home." cons‘ uution when she the mad race fol- "Uncle Henry and I ‘both insist Johnnie as- sorted, with visions of his mother's found out that her boy had dropped out of Uncle Henry‘! the . “com, new uejmoa. 13::- l... till...“ will ' . ..s.":: show to Uncle Henry! You might- as well show a red flag to an en- ruled bull. But strangely enough Uncle Henry appeared quite docile, A baselmmer glowed ohecrlly in the comer of the room opposite the tree, which was ornamented with the usual Christmas decora- tlons. ‘ - "Doesn't it make one feel young 8min to look at it?" Mrs. Famham, a Plumb little woman with soft bwWn eyes, was saying. "It's a, 800d many years, Mr. Thomas, Slnw we hurls u» Our stocking; and Christmas morn." . "Um—yes—I—I suppose it ls- ves." Iloundered Uncle Heriryjlook- lull sheepishly at Johnnie. "This is Johnnie Williams, moth. er," Elsie said, "Mr. 111011115’; muhew. He came down on the train with me." _ Elsie started to prepare supper. leuvlus Johnnie with her mother and Uncle Henry in the living room. The older people started talking about earlier days. a0 Johnnie ex- cused himself and joined mole in the kitchen. - nounced with a grin. "Your moth- er and fny uncle are ‘living their they know some of the same old pals. They were so enthusiastic about it, they forgot about me-all skedaddled off to bed to wait for . "I've come to help mp4... an-___ barefoot days over again." It seems _- scans an cannon i ‘l l: this picture taken by Mrs. Wilfred n; ' - » '. . : ‘ . s from his bccfmdaaliillllfld imo his trousers. ‘#119111! "sock feet‘ hielleft the room‘ uuietly Idesclmdcl tho stairs. Tho‘ diht that met his game when he ruched the" living-room was so_.iml>mbtble that he was al- most persuaded that-fig was (Ir-gum- ing. In the middle of, the mom stood Uncle Henry, dressed m m om iadedsanta Claus suit, his thin face decorated with whiskers of white wool!‘ He was going through the most ludicrous antics as he handed gifts from the tree to two greatly excited little boys who sat in the middle of the floor. Elsie and her mother sat on the couch watch- lag ‘the proceedings with happy ces. . Without being seen, Johnnie, choking with laughter, slipped back to hlsroom. Crawling into bed, he waited the arrival of his uncle."1‘én minutes later, hearing him at the door, he feigned slumber. Uncle Henry entered stealthily still ar- rayed as Santa. Through half-shut eyes Jphrmie watched him change to his regular clothes, from time to time casting fearsome glances in Johnnies direction. when hc had finished and stowed away the Santa outfit in a corner of the closet, Johnnie opened his eyes. “Well, how is old St. Nicholas this morning?" he asked casually. Unclo Henry started, then a slow smile overspread his lined features. He went over and sat on the bed. ‘ “It's time you an‘ me were havln’ a talk over things, Johnnie," he said in a quiet voice, “so's‘ y can undorstan’ me bettcrkl y'do. Alice, your mother, is my youngest sister, an‘ I know y’ won't get mad when I say that she's a schemer, an‘ al- ways was. from the time she was a. little girl. She knew I had kinda took a‘ nation to y‘, sc she ccntrives ' medicated ' ‘ - a with Ingredients“ l Vlckc-Vuftubl VICKS COUCH [mop . _.¢ .Chriltmu so u‘ t’ nv. r A sorta head start on the lent 0' m in the matter o’ last testament. Now. inn that not!’ "I reckon maybe it is," Johnnie wered honestly. "I could road your mother's cal- culatirl‘ mind, an’ I knew why y‘ were cumin’; not 11km‘ it a whit, but cumin‘ just the same. Mind, I didn't exactly blame it on y’. I fig- ured maybe you were just dour it to blew your mother. but r couldn't be sure even-o’ that, an’ the whole affair -waa ma-kin’ me maddel-‘n madder an time wont on. Jug: tm-eg kin, an. Wu out o‘ the scheme altogether. When I saw how y’ acted at Gowdy last night, it sorta tplcaaed m; some, Maybe I didn't show it very much, but as we were drivin‘ along, I kept iigurin’ y’ didn't give u 1mm whether I left y’ my money or not, an‘ y’ went up a heapym my e5. timatlon, for that's the kind of a. lad I took y' to be when you were small, an’ I didn't want t’ be dis- flbllolnted in y’. I wasn't hankerln‘ to come on this trip, but I sorta admired your pluck just the same." Uncle Henry was silent for a brief period, thcn began again. "An' now to explain this Christ- mas business. Thirty years ago I was engaged to a girl named Mad- eline Lea. She Jilted me on a Christmas Eve. I-well-it sorta made me hate the Christmas season That was foolish, I know, but I can be mighty stubbOm, an’ foolish when the notion takes mo. Madeline went to the States after that, an’ I never heard tell of her until last night. Mrs. Famham knew hcr‘ in Boston. she t/cld me Madeline never got married. She got info wild company an‘ took t' drinkln,’ and now she's a dodderin’ wreck in a state Infirmary. That story turn- ed all my bitterness inlo pity." "Well, I'm glad you feel differ- ent about Christmas, Uncle," John- nie said after another pause. "and you certainly made a first-rate Santa Claus." "I could be still better with a little more practice," Uncle Henry declared with a twinkle in his eye. "If you and Elsie Farnham promise i; get married soon, ec's I can have some practice, later on. I'll write your name in on that will for the lion's share of what I own." "It's a go, Uncle Henry," John- nie said, “and there's certainly no fortune hunting about it thin trip, because I'd marry Elsie Furnham if it took ‘an amount equal to all your money to buy the marriage "DEW." . ' THE END t’ send y’ down t’ my place every by my lonesome in the twentieth century." "Set the table," Elsie directed, "and for goodness sake, don't break The evening was a social success. found enough reminiscences to keep them talking until mel- ten o'clock. JOHIIIIO A heard sounds of mlflimoni i its mutual an the dninha of the audit bliow. e Mrs. Farnham and Uncle Henry » The younger couple did not discuss any of mother's "company china!” ' ' . WSANTAS HEA DQ A . ‘a weeks ago I drew up a will lcavin’, _ ' rrirfiij-lyg; Special attention various combination. plccc nlll upwards. Ronaon Iilghten and others, Huntfdm-a, etc. ' Con; for ladle: and gents and onus to mention. l r . ‘A Cull and bee them for yourlolvea. You will have no dif- ficulty ln mulling a pleasing selection. - y“ . ' r ‘r. r r , . L-8891-12-19-2l-24. T‘ “mrrsminvoncaav It is usually difficult to measure out accurate quantities of honey when cooking, as it sticks badly to the spoon. The simplest and quick- esL way to avoid lllis is to dip the Weighed On Hughes f? ‘150 Richmond Street. An7 Excellent Display .' ordinary in the various llflu we an allowing. Yardley’; Pctler and Monroe, Coty’: Ifoub Gallcf-l. Bcurjoil in all their but odors min-emu Chocolates m delightful boxes-all us»... Mon-Invention» ma Annie L. Hunter's. ‘J Smokers Goods-Pipes, Tcbacccca, Clglru and Clgnrgflu nicely boxed in tens, 50's and IWI. All the loading brands, Cigarette Cues. Ash Tray], Other articles includedlhavcrs Sch, Rolls nndfliilectq Safety Baton, Cameras, Walking Sticks, Bot Water Bottles. Sparklft Syphons, Thermos Kits and Bottles, ' EA. FUSTER-Gontralllrugstoro COAL _! Fulvlyflscreened -,' 3 5, 7.75' Blower Slack - -‘ - 5.00 1I§=?"Tr;1r .- , , i. u" of Ch rrstmas Goods at q," ‘ I ' by’ The Central Drugstore i- :1, . _ _ . . , , . i ' _ .- ‘ill Christmas stock Ind wchzol mavlenlgtllilghinfeglfillfi a‘: l? Herc you will find a largo variety u! Toiletries including ‘ ill." M.’- Rfilcr and vidcally and m \__l‘ Toilet Bets fn suvu,‘ mi-uulum . ma Ihlald l.}'..,_. v ._v ,, Travelling many ollcr thin" 1,00 1mm. z‘ 2W1‘ ‘\ ‘\~ spoon for a secclTd in bclllnfwater before using if for measuring pur- poses. Use at once and the honey will run from the spoon. Repeat the process. keeping the spoon very hot, until the accurate mens- uro is obtained. t City Scales Edmonds Phone 588. pa» .. (OPEN EVENINGS) ifherc’: trains. boats. tops, play shovels. magic lanterns. guns. tricyolea, whistles. dolls, doll houses. and a host of other wonderful toys- s ._- 10 - 15 +20 -- 25 cam" COUNTERS CARTER a co. 1.10. games, sleds. steam engines, cars, pistols. coasters, scooters, cooking sets, ironing sets,