‘I l: . W —'&..:=.>:=;tsr;»_c,=sg~:_ Jig Priddis lieh-nged to that brotherhood who drift back "f. snd~ rth in every rural community "‘ and famihl district of Canada. JLI» The harvesting had been long oom- ~;_; plsted. ftywas now mid-December. L,’ and a hint of snuw lurked in the c" grey and brooding skies. Jim had 34, bemme a_migra.nt to the city. but the 01W did not. want him. Only y‘ to-day he had watched a mob be- “, siege the city hall and demand have another hour on duty". She lose. "More cotter?“ she asked. approaching his table. “Don't mind if l do". he grinned, "if it ain't extry." “No. It's no: extra" she replied. with a toss of her bionde head. "Have all the coffee you like." She went over to the steaming and shiny coffee urn. and refilled his cup. "Out of -work'i" she inquired setting the coffee in fmnt of him." Priddis shook iris head I'm out of work.- an" out of money, too." The other peered suspiciously up and down the street and turned as well stand the poor fl . cup of coffee. Fellow $51 all ln. Eagerly a claw-like hand reach- ed out for the nickel. llis express- 1011 91111118011 t0 a cunning leer, and he beckoned Jim frlddir into an Empty porchway. "How much kin Yell giv’ a guy for this?" he cle- manded. pulling awkwardly at a ragged pocket. His furtive efforts it 18-51 revealed a revolver wrapped up in s. dirty piece of cloth. Jim “I'm bloke" he replied "or I'd 11391! buy it. an’ iurr. hlghwayman. Hugliie was determined to buy a tuna present for his mother. How the money war to be obtained to eflect the purchase secured be- yond his youzhful reasoning, and the time left was short Suddenly he raised his troubled face from his cuplwd hands and his blow dleared. He would take his problem to Mr. Woods at The Dn- thing in the world, and he was cer- tain to know how to earn five shill- ings Christmas. Plac g his High School cap carefully on his head in order to pass his mother's vigilant eye. he raced of; ma: the street. Once there. he tilted his cap b0 a rakish angle and ran fast in the direction of The Emporium, his heavy boots flyng out behind him like two black weights. Mr. Woods we: busy when he arrived. An enormous, beaming q relief. “is powers that he had issu- ‘Tve been workinfl" he answered ed s pmclamatim saying there _ bgtn-ethlnss sllus get rrrighty slack -y~ would be no relief for able-bodied cl to Ohrisfiniis. Don't seem able '3' single men. to strike Job of any kind. Figure He felt in s desperate and law- mabbe I'd take 2o highway rob- leas humour. His meagre savings Dory. or even eafe-crackinfi" and were spent. ‘ and ne lacked even 1w sfinlwd broadly at the girl who the PflQQ o! p, (flheflp and ghgbby- still hovered near the table. bed at the lodging house for the "Oh" she exclaimed. "you mustn't night. So he slept in some hay do that. Besides" she arltled. giving stored in an empty barn. Rising him a sidelong glance "Whatever betimes in the morning. he pon- "would your best girl say if you l, dered the question of when and landed in jflll?" where to eat sorrlo breakfast. Psss- Jim Priddls chuckled, mirthlessiy. lug an inconspicuous coffee shop "I'm through with girls" he declar- on u back strut: he ’ cided to ed. in a tone of finality. “They're enter and have a p.ate of hot cakes fickle as th’ levll.‘ " and coffee. I.ri Canada "hot cakes" The little olonde waitress tried . are a. staple diet for breakfast to look disapproving; "THEY'RE not every morning. Served with maple all like that" she retorted. indign- synrp. or bawfl and eggs or whale antly. "I suppose" she“ followed - ell. according to the district, they up, "you fooled round with other make a dish fit for anybody. girls, until yours ilnally gave you A pretty bloncle waitress took the go by." b _~ Jim's order. "Wlmrli is be?" she He felt inzs better now after asked. adjusting u pencil in her the hot cakes and rwc cups of strong hair. coffee. Laughed as he rose from "Make eig Iiot cakes an’ coffee" the table. "Sire quit me ‘cause I he order . not giant-mg at the lost my steady job" he declared. 31m p M.“ n“ m in i menu card she offered. Counting “and married a bank clerk. Said r a a en 111mg]: the several loose coins in his pocket he found it would leave him with a cash balance of ‘one nickel only. Pouring treacle lavishly on the steaming not cakes. he wolfed them eagerly. and drained the coffee sup with evident relish The girl J from her seat-by the cash register r u; watched him with occasional side glances of interest. A pretty good looking guy for a hobo. she decid- ed. Certainly the lellow was quite she didn't believe in nisrryin‘ for money, but she liked to man-y where money was!" "Goodbye" sne called as he open- ed the outside door "and come again soon." Jim-Prirldis smiled appreciatively. “You're sure a swell kid. an’ I'll be back for more hot cakes an’ coffee. an'," he added. somewhat darlngly, "mehbe a kiss." lie closed the. coffee shop door and almost at the same moment he said, "an it's wcrth twelve bucks. easy. Look at th’ brand on‘tl" Jim Priddls looked. Yes. It certainly lvas a. good brand No better was made. "Box J cartridges to go with it" continued the shifty-eyed men- dicant. producing a small card- board box from another pocket. This he yanked open, showing the contents. It was 118.1! filled with rsonable when it came to looks. bumped into a very shifty-looking nmmunimm‘ fill-n; dark curly hair and dark individual who seemed to have been U r7111} P1444115 TH?“ h“ head‘ I eyes. His figure mo. was almost lurking around waiting for him c9111 d° 11 m“? h“ “M de‘ soldierly in bearing. "Been working nil right?" he offered, putting down ‘the empty OOHBG 0UP» '3 "Yes" the waitress replied. glanc- ing wearily at the clout “and f still "Mornlnt" came the greeting ‘could yeh spare me a nlclzel for a cup of coffee?" It was almost s whine. Jim Priddis reached into his pocket. Only a nickel lett. anyway. Might FF FOR THE FISHERMAN ENGLISH FLIES CASTS Priddls and laughed out loud at the joke. "Who's lend-n’ around here to V-"BmPS?" he Gila-fi- loned. _ sperately. "r need the gun. but Hercules and Marvel . Gut Oasis I: IIJPIIIOCIEI-Im-IIIIII. *‘_' 4 . .,,__. __.. At long last we have ENGLISH FLIES, hollow ground, turned iioun s- >- 04a i»: *- -.. ‘Willi! aye with gut, complete assortment FISHING ullrs ‘for Fly Casting and Bait Fishing rrsrrmo irons - for the first time in four years 1 i i 4 a rlsuuls " I alas flzfiifffff"9ffli~li'fliti rm: £1.11‘? iiillthfiflfia a BAIT IIOUKS "Rdgfers. Ilardwa 1'0 IIIIH Iii-fill - etwrmrrse back “Yeh km m ,_, u m. a d011,," coffee shop. He did want that gun. spongy like U118. G0 in llIld ask B. little quely, and with a chaired word of of the coffee shop. The vendor of vanished in thin air. Along street a oop was marching in his direction. Jim Priodis assumed s casual manner and walked past the and then entered the coffee shop. had been displayed, his furtive ac- quaintance appeared further up the street and beckoned. Jim Priddls crossed the street rather than pass close to the coffee shop again. From the other side he could plainly see the big fat e09 Joining and grinning at the little blonue waitress. Had his nerve. that fat toad. when he should be out on the streets doing patrol duty. the other waiting. Evidently this fellow and the mp were by no means pals; and tnls was confirm- ed by his first words. “Allus steer aside from cops." Priddls, with an ugly leer. “Ain't got notl-fin‘ oii me. thoilh." he added. by way of assurance. lie pulled the revolver forth ones more from its place of mneealmerit. The uchsge and barter was all quickly made, and Jim Priddis thrust the‘ gun imrler his heavy sweater and belt. Stewed the bnk of eart- lodded" rematired the former own- or as they Iver: partin ._ Giving a significant wink, he ad 6d. "If you this my advice don't pack it round th‘ city loaded. in case til’ oops lay "$3M... turned from that 12o. Ltd. . t“"'°"'”" slugs}; the yufdl waiting. and the bfli mitly a tiewly changed ensine tracks, and grasped the ‘mhrella firmly. haven't even a dollar." "Mebbe you could borrow it" the fellow ventured. “Borrow iti" exclaimed Jim "l-low ‘bout th’ pretty yaliar- haired waitress in th‘ coffee shop?" ‘was the reply. "I seed her givln’ leh the bright eye when I passed th’ winder. Them blohdes never turn a good-lookin’ feller downl" Presently. to his uwn utmost sur- prise, Jlm Prrdiiis found himself actually headed back towards the But he must be msde to do a thing blonds waitress that didn't even know his name if she would lend him a dollar. She was polishing a ulnar show east: as he entered, and looked mind from her ‘work. "Well. I decmo" she remarked. "You're not back for more hot cakes already?"- Jim Priddis shifted lzis feet on the floor and cleared his throat. I-Ie had never felt so embarrassed in his life. “L-er-that ls," he began. "could you let me he?’ a dollar?" he blurt- ed out. a slow flush mounting in his cheeks. Whatever would the little bl nde waitress think of him. "Is th a hold-up?" she inquired. uneasily. “and am I supposed to open the cash register?" Glady he seized on this respite to explain. No. It wasn't a hold-up. and he wasn't stealing the shop's cash. He needed s dollar badly. and if she would only grub-stake him for that small amount, he would help a guy to get a. start. Admittedly. Jim Prlddis felt at least uncomfortable. The little blonde girl seemed to be looking right through him. Then she turn- ed swiftly to a woman's handbag en the shelf behind her and opened it. She draw forth a crisp dollar note, and handed to him. "I was saving this for s? Christmas pr€~ sent" she murmured in a low tone “but you can have it. I'm sorry you're up against it. You can pay me back when you strike luck." She wasn't, looking at him now as she spoke. It was rts thought she said good-bye to the money, but had no regrets. ~ Selling the dollar almost brus- apolokl’. Jim Pi-iddis hurried out secret armaments had apparently the policeman. who eyed him keenly Also, as though a safety signal In the lee of a building he found he told Jim in his pocket. "Gun isn't sari l with a felling of te- n,“ n proceeded to the rall- yarda. l-fs found that luck was with him. A long freight train locomotive was cumin! I mam pressure‘. she was IWMDUNIMPUO.) WINTER WARMTH (By THOMAS H. CLAYTON) poriuni. Mr. Woods knew every- ing WK moon of a man. m. Woods sold WQYWMIIC 1mm candles to carpets. and with every rale he dispensed wit. wisdom and philosophy. which he threw in free. l-la listened ous- fully to I-Iughlch story. frowned. fondled his round. unshaven law. and than started the boy allmst out of his skin nv stretching his neckjAlkfipa. buying animal and roar- Alf. an emaciated youth. a few yeerlr older than Highie. emerged from the back of the shop enormi- bered by two household mops. which he carried in his left hand. a bale of cloth, which he encircled with his free arm. and s-bilcket which lie wore yaunil; on his head. "If I don't pack the stock away tonight" he announced sonorously from under -ne bucket, "I won't be ready in the morning to deliver the newspapers." "You won't have to" Mr. Woods Your time packing tho Christmas stock away-what there is of it". Half-a-crown a week for a fortnight. ‘there's your five bob. made in two weeks Alf, and we'll put g stop to your complaints about ion much to do". speed in closing; rransuctlons. and‘ in two minutes l-lughie was heading: for home with the roundfis ‘ to study, collect the papers at seven the| following morning. I chalence he told his mother that he wouldbe leaving for earlier to practise football. a state- ment which called forth s sharp warning to he careful with his boots she admonished. "In these loy winds you want a. chest protector when. you go off in the mornings." I t to which he was to deliver the newspapers. streets. but suddenly he dropped the list in shocked horror. masters at as he read on further. he saw that even Miss Simpson of zhe Domest- ic Sclenoe Room was listed. Lf they caught him delivering news- papers — and with his High School cap on-he scarcely knew what punishment to expect. That it would be heavy he felt certain, and when he went to bed. his young mind was fashioning elaborate and dis- torted visions of expulsion and its attendant di ce. School cap deep into his pocket for concealment, collected and num- bered his papers. and set off f clean, fresli smell attracted‘ him. and he folded and patted them into neat. miooth lengths before shooting them through the letter- boxes. or flickering them accurately with boyish skill under the doors: to escape detection at the houses in which the High school teachers were located. and as he reached the first. he crouched In- dian-scout fashion, well below the garden hedge, made a crab-like dash at the d00l‘. speeding on his wpy in less than a n-iinuio. every day, add he wls certain that he had not been seen, until on the very last morning of his fort- night, he scuttiegl into Miss Simp-, son's garden, trod unwarlly on an‘ ice-covered puddle. and went head-I long into the front door. I lorrily flapping newspapers. his eyes were screwed up ir. pain. when Miss Simpson opened her door to his resounding knock. and found him. squatting on her doorstep. I forbidding aspect. but he noticed vaguely as she helped hlrn to his feet that her hands were warm and soft. head was momutarily causing him more anguish than his being dis- covered. and he collected his scat-i tered Where doleiully. He was not quite certain that she ksnew him.‘ because she only taiiaht girls but his hopq were dispelled. by ordered him to fellow her inside- attended to" one qblGfVlfld authorit-l glively, watching his repeated rub-. bing. even the sisaruif-g hoi- fllll d "I" 13g 511g ggvg him Ibliéd f0 IIIQVIIM his dejection. her eyes rested on his thin knew] seehig them flush and redden as the warmth from her fire F1131"? ed his body. in; papers" she sled her bflllll. eyes searching liim. | aperatoly trying to balance his dull and poured out his story. pson interrupt him. bur listened her head corked like a wise and venerable bird. The u" gums: “recital. and it took Miss?" 3s was startled by 1161' limit" lamb. "No, I won't tel: the l-lsad" she assured him. "Notlilnl 0511 W i" mendied that way." "who" 4° you live?" in asked "B: told her. and she led him to. the door. INIII which he ssallpned with his bundle, stormlns f1"! doflhisoapeto herashIlIItOi-hll‘ had twill! him Be a; o1 rails in the streets that‘ was . Running as fast as he could to catch up. he almost cautioned into told him swiftly, "l-Iughie’s going to do it for you You'll need all He turned to the waiting boy. . “How's that suit you. Hughie? . Llet ‘he delivery list. Mr. Woods employed considerable list ; and an injunction toi With an exaggerated air of non- school i "And keep that coat round you" Furtlvely, he crept to his bed-l com to study the list of addresses He found he knew moat of the Two of the names were those of the High school. and His eyes widened in desperation. In the m ning he thrust his He liked the newspapers. Their He had steady for-muiaterla lan and was out and The plan worked beautifully surrounded by opened and for-I she was a. tall. thin woman. o! The sharp pain in the top of his Addressing him name. she "You had best have that head! 1-19 y" sgutely mllfil§d lad‘ The woman tolled him. and! “How long have you bem deliver- Highie rose from his chair. de- | . I 31m ade no move to u“ m with breathing hard at’ pump to at her: " "Viral you have to tell the lead.‘ ddefllr. w I new. from the ma! Maw‘ (Continued on Pale 0) CAPTIVATING ‘ GIFTS ' feather ' for him For the newly married, the “old folks,” young people still in school, or just people in general, jewelry is tops. Remembrances that endure! MATCHED WEDDING SET sparkling diamonds on beautiful yellow gold matched mountings $32.50 up MEN'S RINGS Large variety to rlroose from i Lady's Watch fn rose gold with strung wrllt band. .. thin, $7.00 np Man's Watch Sturdy leather band. radium dial, second ‘$20 t... OOOO Easy terms will be arranged to suit your needs. 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