Chapter XVII

A NOVEL SANTA CLAUS

"IT'S an Owl!"

"Only an owl--a little screech owl!
Not--not so little, either! Where did it
come from?"

"Yes! How on earth did it get in?
Doors--windows--all are screened."

"Glory halleluiah! It came down the
chimney. Look--look at the black on
its feathers, the wood-smuts clinging to it!
Down the big chimney of the living room!"

"Like Santa Claus down the chimney!
Mercy! d'you suppose it played Santa
itself? or did the boys push it down?"

"The boys! Those miserable Henkyl
Hunters--always on the trail of a joke!
If they did, they'll never own up
Never!"

[[190]]

p189 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p190w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p191

v?