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W.x |AL, marm, 1 might let you have the cob bler for Christ mas." said SI- laa Hicks. "He'll b« a fine bird by then. Bat 1 dtmne. He's the only one I've reared out of that brood, and I’m kinder attached te him." However, he promised Mr*. James Anally tf let her have the cobbler. Silas Hicks was not a sentimental He was a fanner, and In busi ness for the money it broucht him. He had a brother John, who had cone to the city and made money hand over iBt. John was a crusty old bachelor and largely devoid ef the sense of family obligations There had been a time, five years before, when things went badly with Silas. There was a heavy mortgage to meet, the crops had been a failure, and he had been In danger of dispos session. Besides bis wife was on her Sickbed, from which she was never to arise. Silas had cone In his despair to the brother whom he had not seen tor years. John had turned him down flat “Father left you the farm because you played up to him, and kicked me •ut Into the world," he said. "Now I’ve made my pile, you have the nerve to come to me for help. I don't see It Silas.” “My wife’s sick," pleaded Sllns, "and you've got more money than you know wlint to do with." "Oh, I can Ibid a use for It," John rejoined cnustlcally. "Maybe If you’d shown a little sympathy for me when I was hoofing It on the sidewalks I'd have a little more for you, Silas." Silas went home. Somehow he men aced to survive the crisis. But his wife died, and he grow lonelier and lonelier. If he had hnd a few thou sand dollars he would have sold out «nd gone south to live, somewhere away from this bleak New England coast. But he could just manage to make both endB meet Dully he cursed his brother In his heart. He started raising turkeys, and that was a failure. Only the gobbler lived. He used to watch the bird with In terest. The gobbler would come cluck ing after him for crumbs. And it was tdd how It looked like John. fie began to call It John. It hnd a gueer way of putting Its head upon •ne side and catling, ns John used to do when he was a boy. Gradually, to •Id Sllaa' fancy, the gobbler became •n effigy of John. He hated It He liuted It, and ho was attached, too. He made a sort of pet of the gobbler. He wanted It to love him, so far as a turkey gobbler Is capable •f love. Then, when Christmas came, be was going to cut Its throat very •lowly, bending lta head back to see Itie terror In lta eyes. He would thus have his revenge upon hi a brother. "Tea, marm, John's thriving nicely and putting on fleah," he told Mrs. James. "Here he cornea. John I John 1" Dp came the Mg gobbler, put lta head on one side and surveyed Silas to see If he had any bread crumbs. "Isn’t he the cutest thing 1" said Mrs. James. "I don’t wonder you oan’t bear to let me have It, Mr. Hicks.” "Oh. that'll be all right, inurm,” re sponded Silas cheerily. An elemental hatred for the gobbler had come to fill his heart. Christmas was at hand. He pictured how, on the ■sorrow, he would grab the bird, he would Insult It with all the turkey abuse that he had picked up from It; •hen It should die slowly, as he would Mke John to die. On Christmas morning he found a letter from an unknown correspondent hi the city. Opening It, he read that Ms brother John was dead. John had left forty thousand dollars, kaUf of which was to go to Silas, "In aaemory of our boyhood times together, ■ad In the hope that any 111 feeling, M It existed, has long ago been can- eaied." Sllaa stared at the letter. His eyes pvw misty. He saw John again as a little boy upon the farm; his heart went out to him acroae the years. Gobble! Gobble 1 The big turkey was standing In front of him. Its bead an one side, one daw raised, begging flar crumbs. Ton crept big faker, yon I” bellowed The gobbler, looking a little alarmed, ited a step or two. "Oh, Mr. Hicks, Tm willing to pay fer that turkey, but aomehow I—I feel I just can't eat him after seeing him grow np from babyhood." “Wal, Mr*. James. I was kinder feeling that way myself,” said Silas Hlcka, scratching his bead. Ton see, Tm selling cut and going south, and I waa figuring on taking him along and Mag tuAeya.' • MM N THE far- flung land of the west ths early winter had been usually mild and I although It was near ing Christmas, now the weather waa bright and clear, almost sprlng-Uks la j Its mildness. Everywhere that the message of the I Christ Child had reached, men and women were busy and happy pre- i paring for the great day, a new and added Joy of life surging within their hearts. Into each home there had come a strengthening and rekindling of family ties and : a new birth of J love and service that reached out even beyond the home. Out on the res ervation, however, the Indtnns went about their tasks •s usual, for ns hint of the wonder and the glory of the Christmas time had yet com# to them. And If they felt a mys terious something In the nir at this time, they under stood It not at all, for the brightness from the Star of Bethlehem hud not yet burst upon them. Moonlight Brook was very lonely— she bad only little Silver Star, her daughter, with her now—the big chief lmd sent Strong Oak, her husband, with other braves, on n mission to a distant village. And Moonlight Brook had missed him every hour, for their love was still burning as bright as the big camp fire that blaied near the tepees at dusk. Her lovs of the great open spaces helped to cheer her during' the long hours of his absence. Every day with little Silver Star she wandered afar. In these lonely places that she went there always came to her the sense of some unknown presence—the hand of some great power. Early one morning Moonlight Brook called little Silver Star to her and told her that they would go for a long walk, nwny up to ltonring Creek. Moonlight Brook was lost In wonder at the beauty of the scene, but a great and sudden change had come over the day. Now, looking ut the lowering, threatening sky, she decided that she must make all possible haste buck to the village. For with the dark ness and the gloom that had come over nil there hnd come, too, from across the prairie a low menacing wind that carried with It at times small, dry snowflakes. With Silver Star In her arms Moon light Brook started In the direction of the village, walking with the swift, strong stride of the woman who Uvea much In the open' The snow now was coming down In large flakes and the wind had grown bllzzard-llke In Its velocity. Hope wss fast dying within her, for she wss trembling from ex haustion. Then overwrought nature did the thing which she had tried hard to keep from happening—she sank upon the snow—her last thought as ■he felt consciousness leaving her, to wrap the blanket closer about little Silver Star and to waft a prayer to the Great Spirit to take care of Strong Oak when she was gone. • •••••• But the prairie has many stories to tell of strange things that have happened there, aud on this day there was added to the list another of those coincidences which happen oftener In real life than some would have us believe. For Strong Oak and his party came by the very spot where Moonlight Brook and Sliver Star lay a short time after they had sunk exhaust ed. Some of the men had tried to take the other trail, but some thing within him, that strange, un known force which comes to all at times, made him choose the Roaring Creek traU Instead and he found his loved ones and with the help of the guides they reached the village in safety. A few hours later. Moonlight Brook and Strong Oak sat hand In hand, the estaatlc happiness of being reunited surging within them. Moonlight Brook whiskered over and over that It was a miracle that the Great Spirit had wrought that Strong Oak should have found her. And Strong Oak told her that while he had been gone he had heard the story of the Christ Child who had come upon earth on this day, which ever since has been called Christmas. As Moonlight Brook listened to the beautiful story that has been told so much, but which keeps its thrill through the ages, she felt that this day was Indeed a day of miracles, for, like her bronzed brave, tbe story brought her a wonderful peace and stilled tbe restless long ings which had coots to kor so ottos M the past. 23. 24. 25. 20. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. S3. 34. 35. 30. SECOND WEEK. B. IT. Phillips, 4. N. R. McLendon, 13. C. J. Steed, L. A. H. Ward, L. C. E. Ringer, 0. Y. L. Houscworth, 10, ,T. L. Carter, M. II. R. Brigmnn, 10. O. r. Johnson, F. C. T. F. Friddell, 11. J. B. Cook, C J. T. Morgan, 0. I. O. Latimer, 5. C. C. Brock, 10. R. H. Boyd, F. P J. M. Chambers, S. J. J. Crows, 13. P. G. McAlister, 3. F. W. Nicholson, L. Roy Lane, L. J. O. Dnvis, 2. J. L. Barnes, 9. J. G. Wilson, B. R. II. Eady, F. P. W. II. McClendon, H. J. W. H. Benford, 13. L. F. West, 0. Vnss Phillips, 8. O. B. Moore, B. O. C. -Tones, 4. J. B. Chappell, 2. G. T. Lyle, L. J. IT. Kilgore, 2. G. A. Stovall, K. IT. P. Robinson, 10. J. W. Lovvorn, 9. CONFLICTING STATEMENTS “Agricultural conditions are worse now Ilian at. any time since the war. The farmer’s dollnr is worth only 87 cents of the otlior fellow’s dollar.”— Dr. IT. J. Waters, former dean of agri culture of the University of Missouri end later president of Kansas State Ag ricultural College. “The country’s agricultural position is the best it has been in tlireo yoars; purchasing power of farm products is now at the highest point in three years.”—United States Department of Agriculture. A pneknge mniled nine years ago has arrived in Souttlc. Do your Christmas mailing early. Henry Ford it* to have the finest pri vate car in the Uhited States. It will come ia handy touring the country for votes at the nntionnl convention. Everybody wants to give something that will be useful and also attractive. So we invite you to our store to inspect our line of goods. The selection of this stock was made with great care, with a view to giving our customers goods of prac tical value at popular prices. We urge you to make a careful examination of these goods before you make your Christmas purchases. SILK TIES SILK SOX SHIRTS COLLARS MEN’S SUITS BOYS’ SUITS UNDERWEAR BOYS’ CAPS SWEATERS RAINCOATS OVERCOATS RUBBERS HOUSE SLIPPERS SILK HOSE BLANKETS GARTERS SHOES TOWELS COUNTERPANES LADIES’ COAT SUITS I \DIES’ COATS S’TIRT WAISTS KID GLOVES HANDERCHIEFS STEIN BA CH’S ECONOMY SHOP • '■ ' .' 1 - f. All Set and Ready to Go! A Start in the Annual Event A Race From Now On to Buy Christmas Gifts We are early in the field this year with our 19 23 Exposition of fine gift goods for Christmas. All on display. All carefully laid out for your inspection. All ready for you to look at, to look over, and decide on buying for giving. Better goods, prettier things, newer kinds you have never seen. Cleverer gifts that demand the fullest appreciation you cannot possibly give. Better values, we nor any other dealer can supply. The best little opportunity in the world to pick them out now before others get in and beat you to it. Vanity Perfumes $1.00 4 Color Big Box Stationery $1.00 Card Case Double Compacts $2.00 Silver Double Compacts $1.50 Big Flesh Color Powder Puffs 25c White Ivory Hand Mirrors $5 to $8.50 Mavis Perfume Sets $1.75 and up Mary Garden Perfume Sets $3.25 Leather Vapity Hand Bags $8.50 Melba Man’s Set $1.75 Cutex Sets 60c to $3.00 Gillette Razor 75c Vanity Black Narcissus Perfume $1.00 Mavis Double Compact 50c We are proud of these gifts and you will be too. We are anxious to show them to you and you should be willing to see them. Your friends are wa iting for Christmas, they will expect gifts and you are expecting to give as well as to receive. So satisfy everybody, every desire and demand, come and see these gift goods now and pick yours out at once. More in our store and more in our windows. We have told you only of a few here. ! . Early showing now on. Inspection Invited. Orders accepted for delivery any time and any where. That Cough! A week coming In one day—gone! WHITE PINE 1C COUGH 3YRUP LjC Jones Drug Co. Whitman’s Chocolates There’s a clever bit of QUALITY in every little piece. . . -/ i