The Sleigh Ride
D olly McConnell answered her door about half past noon on a bright, frosty afternoon to see a friend of the family waiting outside. His horse was tied to her hitching post out front, a gleaming red sleigh behind it. Dolly invited Simeon S. Baker in; he took off his coat, hat and gloves and settled briefly into her parlor. Simeon owned a jewelry store on Main Street and was an expert diamond appraiser and pawn broker. Dolly’s husband, Harry, worked as a commercial traveler - a salesman - for Benjamin Allen & Company, a wholesale jewelry company. He was away on a business trip in Chicago. Simeon and Harry had known each other for years and Simeon had always been so kind to their children. After visiting a bit, he asked if he could take the kids for a ride. A sleigh ride! Yay! Harry and May, nine and six years old, were excited. Dolly hesitated; the temperature was in the teens. Simeon said he would just take them to the post offic...