Smokes for Baby. In Manhattan, Linda Lanham, 2, met her first department-store Santa Claus, thought hard about what he should bring her for Christmas, solemnly said "Cigarets."

For Fuller Details ... In Lusk, Wyo., Mrs. Russell Bradley read in the local paper that her barn, just over a hill from her house, had burned down, went outside to investigate, found that it had, sure enough.

Cat's Rights. In Largs, Scotland, Norway's King Haakon VII, in a traditional ceremony, became an honorary citizen of the town, while an inquisitive black-&-white cat, exercising its traditional right, sat and looked at him.

Dangerous Pets. In Manhattan, United Seamen's Service headquarters instructed its branches to stop sending gift cats to U.S. tanker crews. Reason: the static electricity in their fur makes them fire hazards.

Sad Sack. At Fort Lewis, Wash., Pfc. Sol Katz, back from leave in The Bronx, reported that he had lost his watch when a jewelry repair store was robbed, his uniform when the cleaners burned down, one of his medals to a thief on the train, his garrison cap, which he left in the baggage rack; found that he had returned from furlough a day early.

Pouf! In Charlotte, N.C., a husky fireman, responding to a three-alarm blaze, found smoke pouring from a parked truck in midtown, raised the hood, saw flames around the carburetor, bent over, blew out the blaze.

Borrowing Benedict. In Detroit, Mrs. Helen Lukaszewicz, suing for separate maintenance, said that her husband borrowed $150 from her on the morning of their wedding, $450 that afternoon, $30,000 in the following six weeks, then left her, taking her engagement ring with him.

A Word & a Blow. In Gallup, N.M., Hotel Clerk Don Collins saw an elk's antlers through the window, grabbed his pistol, fired twice, shouted "I got him!"; rushed outside to find that he had shot the hotel's stuffed elk, de-mothing in the sunshine.

That Was No Lady. In Los Angeles, newspapermen and photographers sped to the Army's Birmingham General Hospital, demanded "Where are the gals?"; received the puzzled reply "What gals?"; chorused "Didn't you say you were getting in the first lady casualties?" "Hell, no," said the medicos, "we said the first arrival of Leyte casualties."

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