MAS SENTS the most com. Ck. of "XMAS f their kind in PIPES FROM 10 Cents 10 $15 Each | CIGAR CASES FROM | 50 Cents to $5.00 Ea CIGARE] TE EASES R | FROM 25-Cents to 53:00 D l'obacco Pou y kinds; Rubber; Buck-Skin \ shields, Walking ( 7 25 lars, Dog Chains, Dog Whip with to $10.00 D ( Razors, Razor Strop#, | WELL 1g Tobacconist, 3) Kingston, Ont. Zr --BY-- CY WARMAN ora Lamb WAS twenty years ago this Christmas. - I was then confidential secretary to Colonel D He was perhaps forty-five or fifty, cold and quiet, though alw t There was something about him I feared, pitied, dreaded, We had just left a small town in Qntario. an hour late. Everybody seemed a little put out. anxious, as he wanted to hook our car onto the Im We were headed for Vancouver where the Colonel had a deal on that involved several millions. 'He always spoke to me of his business transactions, but of himself, his likes or dishkes; joys or sorrows, he never spoke, and you 1 " ~» We had left the Ontario town but half an hour when the br. to hang out his tail-lights. _As he went forward again he spo} mediately went out on the rear platform and fe looking parcel, which he handed to me. Where did you get it, George?" I asked. he brakeman just told me there was something out on the that moment the Colonel came out of his room. of it. ts, wrecks, holdups, dynamite and many other calamities ran through my mind. The Colonel. calmed me considerably by showing no signs of fear, or even intere st. He took » parcel iberately untied the shoelace. As he Slipped the string off we saw faint pencil marks, and in nt, half script, was the name, ** Dora Lamb, Vancouver." e Colonel hesitated now, though after a moment began to unwrap the parcel lessly when George, who was peeping over the Colonel's shoulder, exclaimed, * Sch!" and the Colonel held up the funniest looking something in the { foolscap folded many times and tied to its neck. Dora on and interest. his must be a Christmas gift for you, George," he said. I think you had better finish the job, Seh," said George. ¢ Colonel took the letter from the doll's neck, opened it and handed it to me, then turned and it at the storm. I saw the letter was written by a little child, and as soon as I could wade 1 it, I began Dear Dora:--I am going to send-yeu this doll for your Christmas. [ts dress is made out of i's old silk shawl. I have tried two times to put the doll on the train, but the men drive me e cars, so I thought I would write this letter and pint to the doll and try again, and if you i get the doll you would know that I sent it. I am so lonesome. --Edith." looked at the Colonel as I finished. He was still staring out of the window ith together and slipped down the aisle towards the kitchen e Colonel turned when he was gone, took his handkerchief from his pocket, wiped two big rom his eyes, and to my surprise made no effort to hide his feelings. I had not thought before, that little ores had heartaches, too," he said, reaching for the letter fter dinner the Colonel instructed me to wire Dubbs, of the Pinkerton Detective Agency at wver, to meet us Tuesday morning. I'went out with the telegram. the Colonel went to his ind I did not see him again until breakfast, as we were pulling into Winnipeg, two hours late loved The Colonel himself was unusually perial Limited at North Bay. ver knew man passed through to the porter, who im- turnéd in a moment with a peculiar : 2, platform, so I brought. it in." I harfded him the parcel, and told hiin what I was waiting Name o' de good shape of a doll, with a Jain was written the In the same writing ag at of mingled surprise, A new, strange look came into the Colonel's face, th ** Shall we open it?" George dropped . LS Ap ay - ere fm oe J ays courteous and just. It was storming and we were nearly CHRISTMAS NUMBER, DECEMBER, 1906 ~~ -- ty PRC Se A er SE -------- ---------- The operator's wife for her +The Fttle I will wire thing of Dora : know all that Dubbs ret Dora's addres I'he rest of met by; el folded " If she She will 1 me She ha never count \ vere her friend I'l at Q » operato Before the train had fairly stopped a man of unusual ap pearance opened the door of our car, look- ut, caught sight then to e table ands vith hin sat was reptited to be able to leave here With This hie shot olonel explained that Knew evervthing This I could not see why he ¢ Vancouver business track and NOITow 1 ance at me, and the 1s his secretary and surprised me considerably should need a detective for t We were now switche all was quiet. Mr. Dub around to the Colonel, run his fingers on the table, smiled plea Well, Colonel!" In a moment," said the Colonel, leaving the to his room I could scarcely believe my eves when he returned with the doll and the letter I was inclined to laugh, but recalled the little scene of the night before I want," handing the doll and the lettér to Mr. Dubbs, * to find Dora Lamb and give her this doll and this letter." Mr. Dubbs laughed as he looked the doll over. Then, noticing the Colonel's quiet face, he seemed puzzled * The letter will explain matters," said the Colonel Dubbs unfolded the foolscap, scanned it quick- lv, then read it to himself. I had thought that nothing short of a triple murder or sacking a mail train would rouse the feelings of a cold-blooded detective He folded the paper, sunk his head a notch, and said in a voice full of quavers and semi quavers, * Poor little dear! r little dear!" * The brakeman discovered the parcel' the Colonel, *' just as we left Q fi must have been put on there. Ten minutes before we whistled for that station 1 was out on the platform sizing up the blizzard. There was nothing there then." Dubbs opened the fooscap again and mumbled half aloud: ** Edith Lamb, mother dead, sister Dora in Vancouver." Then, turning to the Colonel, told him he would be back at noon: In less than an hour, however. he returned and said that a man in their service at Q had known the family of Lambs well. From this man he learned that the mother had come from the East with a Methodist minister and his family, and from their home was married to Charles Lamb, the Express Agent at Q There were two children, Edith, perhaps seven, and Dora, not more than four. The father got in with a bad lot, lost his position through gambling, and finally deserted hid family. His wife, a refined little wo- man, had a private class for voung children. At this she earned a comfortable iying for herself and the children until she was taken sick The minister and Fs family had gone East again, and there was no one. to take the children when the mother died: able and gow said he said took the elder girl until a home could be found was sent to Vancouver to Lamb's sister said Dubbs, * he may tell me some- not eave till morning: by then we shall at Q I wired / BURN NL Clean, Bright, No Waste. op ¢ ES FARBISHED- E842 WORMWITH CO. PIANO wument-obthe: Fihest Coracle « « q sold on, Easy Terms The Wormwith verything that goss to TR & Co. | "lano make up an Wormwith & Co. 23 Princess Street. + r KINGSTON, ONT. Saag ¥ "on. bas i