try me to believe in such a Santy Claus, but I like not such
come-agains. In Germany did not Santy Claus come back so much. I don't
like a Santy Claus should be so anxious. Still I believes in him, but,
if he has too many such come-agains, I don't believe in him much."

"I would be settin' th' police on him, Santy Claus or no Santy Claus,"
said Mrs. Flannery vindictively; "th' mean chicken thief!"

"Oh," said Mrs. Gratz easily, "I guess I don't care much should a
nine-hundred-dollar Santy Claus steal some chickens. I ain't mad."

But she was a little provoked when another knock came at the door a
few minutes later, and when, on opening it, she saw the thin Santa
Claus before her again.

"So!" she said, "Santy Claus is back yet once!"

"What's that?" asked the man suspiciously.

"I say, what it is you want?" said Mrs. Gratz.

"Oh!" said the man. "Well, I ain't a-goin' to fool with you no longer,
Mrs. Gratz. I'm a-goin' to tell you right out what I am and who I am.
I'm a detective of the police, and I'm looking up a mighty bad
character."

"I guess I know right where you find one," said Mrs. Gratz politely.

"Now, don't be funny," said the thin Santa Claus peevishly. "Mebby you
noticed I didn't say nothing when you spoke about that padlock being