“Fenn Masterson,” Santa Claus called next, and Stumpy went forward. “Fenn, I have heard how devoted you are to the ladies,” the speaker went on. “So I bring you this that you may never forget them,” and Fenn was given a doll dressed in the height of fashion. On the neck was a card which read: “I love Fenn and Fenn loves me.”
“Kiss her, Fenn!” called out Ned in a loud whisper, and poor Fenn, blushing to his ears, carried the doll back to his seat.
“I have here something for Ned Wilding,” the figure went on, and, as Ned, in response to the remorseless urging of his fellow pupils, went forward he was given a tin rattle box.
“Now James Eaton,” called Santa Claus, and James, who was very fond of dogs was given a little woolly one that emitted a squeaky bark when gently punched in the stomach.
“William Sanderson!” called St. Nicholas, and a lad who did little else than fish in his spare time, was presented with a small pole and line, from which dangled a tin trout.
So it went on, until a score of the boys and several girls had been given toy presents bearing on their particular traits of character.
Meanwhile Ned and Fenn had been whispering to each other.
“Shall I do it now?” asked Ned, as St. Nicholas seemed to have reached the bottom of his bag.
“Yes,” whispered Fenn.
As Santa Claus prepared to leave, thinking perhaps his identity had not been penetrated, Ned walked forward.