“I was thinking about Christmas,” said Helen.
“It’s going to be mighty lonesome without Dad,” admitted Tom.
“Mother will miss him especially. They’ve never been away from each other at the holidays before.”
Something in Helen’s voice caught Tom’s attention and he glanced at her sharply.
“Say, what the dickens are you driving at?” he asked.
“Give me a check for $200 and I’ll show you,” replied Helen. “It will mean the happiest Christmas we’ve ever had.”
“I’ll do it and no questions asked until you’re ready to tell me,” agreed Tom and when they reached Rolfe he went to the office and signed a check for $200 payable to Helen Blair.
The following Thursday fell on the 22nd of December and there was so much advertising they had to run two sections of the Herald. The printer they had hired in Gladbrook was slow but thorough and they got the paper to press on time. With the folder installed, Helen was spared the arduous duties of folding all of the papers and she devoted her time to running the mailing machine.
“Spent that $200 yet?” asked Tom as they walked home through the brisk December evening, snow crunching underfoot.
“All gone,” smiled Helen, “and the big surprise is here in my pocket. Wait until we get home and I tell mother about it.”