“Well, can you beat that?” said the conductor.
“By George!” exclaimed Rancher Ives, “a regular Christmas layout!”
“These are my children safe and well, thank God!” cried Mr. Wright.
“Boy,” said the conductor, laying his hand on Henry’s shoulder, “we came to wish you a Merry Christmas.”
“Father!” cried Mary Wright, awakened by the voice, and the next minute she was in his arms, while she told him rapidly what Henry had done for them all.
The boys were awake, too, but humanity had no attraction for them.
“Santa has come!” shouted Philip making a dive for his stocking.
“This is your uncle, Jim Ives,” said the conductor to Henry.
“And this is my father,” said Mary in turn.
“I am awfully sorry,” said Henry to the conductor, “but we had to eat your dinner. And I had to chop up your kitchen table,” he added, turning to Mr. Wright.