THE MYSTERY GIRL *7 CAROLYN WK1AR. tr«f»ri*bl. IM*.* (ronttrined from \ r*lrnl«y.) tfVNOPMS ,lo|io Muring, gentleman and scholar, has fist won the both contested election to the presidency of < orinth college, a venerable New l ug land seal «if learning. Jlefore hi* inauguration, he plan* to marry l.mily Bates, a charming and cultured aWlon. M'ltlt bis life’s ambition achieved and a rosy future assured, there is >et an Instant’s hesitation before he an«ner* In the affirmative her question, “Arts vtu antirely h.- ppj ?M lot© this quiet college town come* •'Miss Mystery.** Through her uncanny ability to compel oilier* to do her bid ding, she succeeds In establishing her*e|| • t Corinth’* »uo*t sirludis |*.nrdlnr h«»n*e, kept, by Mrs. Adams and her hus band “Old halt/* The other boarders appeared, those nearest Anita were introduced, ami most of them considered her merely a pretty, new guest. Her manners were irreproachable, her demeanor quiet and graceful, ycl as Adams covertly watched her, he felt as if he were watching an inactive volcano. I Thi> meal over, he detained her a V moment in the diningroom "Why are you here, Miss Austin?" he said, courteously; "what is your errand In Corinth?" "1 am an artist.” she said, looking at him with her mysterious intent gaze. "(>r, perhaps I should say an art student. I've been told that there are beautiful bits of winter scenery available for subjects here, and I want to sketch. Please. Mr. Adams, let me stay here until Letty comes " A sudden twinkle In her eye startled the old man. and he said quickly, "How do you know she Isn't coming?” That, in turn, surprised Anita, but j^he only smiled, and replied. "1 saw telegram handed to Mis. Adams at breakfast—and then she looked thoughtfully at me, and—oh, well. I just sort of knew it was to say, letty couldn’t come.” "You witch’ You uncanny thing! If I should take you over to Salem, they'd burn you!” "I'll ride over on a broomstick some day. and see if they will,” she 1 "turned gleefully. And then along came Nemesis. In the person of the landlady. "I'm sorry. Miss Austin." she began, but the girl interrupted her. r "Please, Mrs. Adams." she said, pleadingly, "don't say anything to make me sorry, too! Now, you want to say you haven’t any room for me —but that isn't true: so you don’t know whnt to say to get rid of me. Bui—why do you want to get rid of roe?” Llsther Adams looked at the girl and that look w is her undo ng. Suoh a pathetic face, such pleading eyfs, inch a wistful curved mouth, the landlady couldn’t resist, and against her better Judgment, she said. ■'Well, then, stay, you poor little thing. But you must tell me moro about yourself I don't know who you are.” "I don't know, myself.” the strange girl returned. "Do we, any of us. know who we are? We go throu/h this world, strangers to each other— don’t we? And also, strangers to our selves.” Her eyes took on a faraway, mystical look. ''If I find out who I tint. I'll let you know " Then a dazzling smile broke over her face, (hey Htard a musical ripple of laughter, and she was gone. They heard her steps, as she ran up sta rs to her room, and the two Adamses looked at each other. “Daffy.” said Mrs. Adams. “A little touched, poor child. L liolievo she has run away from home or from her ^Aioepers. Well hear the truth Boon ^j'hey'U he looking for her.” ''Perhaps,” said her husband, doubtfully. “I!ut that Isn’t the way T sie her up. title's nobody's fooj, ! licit girl. Wish you'd seen her give Bob Tyler his comeuppance!" "Whal'd site gay?" " Twasn't what she said, so much ns the look sho gate him! He almost went through tiie floor. Well, she says she's a pai iter of scenery and landscapes Lot her stay j few days, till I size her up." Vou si e her up!” returned his wife, with goodmatured contempt. | "If she smiles or, you or gives you a l it of taffy talk, you'll size her up 1 for an angel! I'm not sure she isn’t i quite the opposite” ■'leanwhile tho subject, of their dis cussion was arraying herself for a vslk. Equipped with storm boots and fur coat, she set out to Inspect forinth. A jaunty fur tap. with one long, red quill feather, gave her stIU more the appearance of an elf or gnome, and many of the Adams house boarders watched the little figure as the set forth to brave the icy btreets. Apparently she had no fixed plan of procedure, for at each corner she looked about and chose her course at random. The snow had ceased dur ing the night, and it was very cold, with a clear sunshiny frostness in the air that made the olive cheeks red and glowing. Peaching a bridge, she paused and •food looking over the slight railing Into the frozen ravine below Dong she stood, until passers by began to stare at her. She" was un- 1 aware of this, absorbed in her J thoughts and oblivious of all about her Pinckney Payne, coming along, saw i her, and. as he would have expressed ! fell for her at once.. “Don’t do It, sister!" he said, paus mg beside her. “Don't end your 1 young life on this glorious day! I Suicide is a mess at best. Take rqy j ad\1ee and cut It out!" r-he turned, ready to freeze hint with a glance more icy even than the ! landscape, hut his frank, roguish smile disarmed her. "Freshman?' she said, patronizing ly. but it didn't atwsh him. "Yep. Pinckney Payne, if you must know. Commonly called Pinky.” "I don't wonder,” and she noticed Ills red cheeks. ‘‘Well, now that you're properly introduced, tell me some of the buildings. What’s that one?” Dormitorlep. And that,’ pointing, "in the church.” "Really. And that beautiful colon nude ono?” "That's Doctor Waring’* home. Him as is going to be next proxy." "And that? And that?" Ho replied to all her questions, and kept bis eyes fastened on her he witching face. Never had Pinky seen a girl just like this. She looked so young, so tnerry, and yet her restless, rov.njf eye* seemed full uf hidden fire and tempestuous excitement. "Where you from?’ be said ab ruptly. "Where you staying?" "At Mrs. Adams," she returned. "Is it a good house?" “Best in town. Awful hard to get into. Always full up. Relative of her*?" “No. just a boarder, I chanced to get a room some one else engaged and couldn't use.” “You're lucky. Met Boh Tyler?" "Yes." "You don't like him! I see thut. Met Gordon Lockwood?" "No; who's he?" "He's Doctor Waring’* secretary, but lie's mighty worthwhile on his own account. I say, may I come to see you?" "Thank you. no. I'm not receiving callers—yet.” ' Well, you will be soon—because vrn coming. I say my aunt lives next ooor to Adams'. Slay I bring her to call on you?" "Not yet. please Tin not settled." 'Toon's you say the word, then. My aunt is Mrs. Bates, and she’s going to marry Doctor Waring— eo you see we're the right sort of peo ple." “There are no right eort of people." nalrl the girl, and. turning, she walked away. Apparently Miss Austin’s statement that there were no right sort of people was her own belief, for she made no friends at the Adams house. Nor was this the fault of her fellow boarders. They were more than willing to be friendly, hut their overtures were in variably ignored. Not rudely, for Miss Austin seemed to he a girl of culture and her man tlets were correct, but. as one per sistent matron expressed it, "you can't get anywhere with ber." She was a mystery—and mysteries provoke Inquiry. The house was uot a large one. and the twoscore boarders, though they would have denied an imputation of curiosity, were exceedingly Interested m learning the facts abiut Miss Mys tery. as 'hey had come to call her. Airs. Adams was one of the most eager to know the truth, but. as he did on rare occasions. Old Salt Adams had set down his foot that the girl was not to lie annoyed. And let alone she was—not so much because of Adams’ dictum as because ''postering'' did little good. The girl had a disconcerting way of looking an inquisitor straight in the eyes, and then, with a monosyl ADVERTISEMENT. Piles Can He Cured Withoui Surgery An instructive lv*»k has been published by 1 »r A. S. M»*OV«ary, the noted rectal specialist *«f Kansas City This book toll* ho v sufferers from Files can be quickly end easily cured without the use of knifo sdfsors, "hot" iron, electricity or any other cutting or burning method, without ■ onfinwment to 1>ou can tell from her face that she knows all about it—I mean a matter of general interest, den't you know. I don't moan local matters." "She's an intelligent girl. 1 know, but that doesn't make her out old. 1 don’t believe she's 20." "Oh, she is! Why, she's 25 or 2? " "Never in the world! I'm going to ! ask her. " "Ask her!" Miss Baseom laughed "You'll get well snubbed if you do." But this prophecy only served to egg Mrs. Welbv on, and she took the urst occasion to carry out her promise. She met Anita in the hall, as the girl was about to go out, and smil ingly detained her. "Why so a.nof. my dear?" she sail playfully. "You rarely give us s chance to entertain you.'' As Mrs. Welby was between Anita and the door the girl was forced to pause. She looked the older woman over, with an appraising glance that was not rude, but merely disinterested. “No'.’ ' she Mid. with * curious r;s mg Inflection, that somehow seemed to close the incident. Hut Mrs. Wclby v. n« not so i isily baffled. “No, ’ r,lie repeated, smilingly. "Aud we want to know you better. You’re too young and too pretty not to l>o :< general favorite among us. How old are you, my dear child?’’ "Just 100," and Miss Austin’s dark eyes were so grave and seemed to hold such a world of wisdom and tx perieuee that Mrs. Wclby almost jumped. Too amazed to reply, she even let the girl get past her, and out of the street door, before she recovered her po sc. "She's uncanny,” Mrs Welby »V dared, when telling Miss L-uscorn of the Interview. "I give you my word, when she said that, she looked 100." "Looked 100! What do you mean?" "Just that. tier eyes seemed to hold all t here is of knowledge, j cs — and of evil-” "Evil! My goodness! ' Miss llascom rolled this suggestion like a sweet morsel under her tongue. “Oh—I don’t say there's anything wrong about the girl-” "Well? If her eyes showed depths of evil, I should say there was some thing wrong!" The episode was repeated front one to another of the exclus ve clientele of the Adams house, until by exag geration and imagination it grew into quite a respectable arraignment of Miss Mystery, and branded her as a doubtful character if not a dangerous ono. The Adamses, between themselves, decided that Miss Austin was more deeply mysterious than was shown by her dsinelinatioii to make friends. They concluded she was transacting important business of some sort, and that her sketching of the winter scenery, which she did every cleat sky, was merely a blind Though Mrs. Adams resented tin a ad ur«'-d her husband to send tht j girl packing. Old Salt demurred. ■’She's done no harm as vet,'' be said. "Sties a mystery, but not a wrong oil -. > far's 1 can make out. I Let her alone, mother. I've got my ! eye on her. "I've got my two eyes on her. and I can see inore'ii you can. Why, Salt, that girl don't hardly sleep at all. Night after night, she sits up looking out of the window, over toward the college buddings-" "How do you i.uow .' "I go and listen at her door." Mrs. Adams admitted, without embarrass ment. "I want to know what sites up to." "You can't see, her." "No, but I hear her moving around p .-tlessl.v, and putting the window up and down—and Miss Bo scorn—her room's eornerwnys on the ell, she says she sees ivr looking' out the window late at night 'most every night." Miss Ba scorn's a meddling old m iid, and I’d put her out of this house before I would the little girl." Of course you would! You’re ali set up because she makes so much of you-'* "Ob, eonio now Esther, you can't i-ay tint child makes much of roe! 1 w.sh she would. I've taken a fancy to her." "Yes, because rue's pretty—In a gipsy, witch-like fashion. What hien see in a pair of big black eyes and a dark, sallow face, 1 don't know." "Not sallow," Old Salt said, reflect fully: “olive, rather—but not sallow." “Oh, you." exclaimed Mrs. Adams and with that cryptic remark the sub ject was dropped. (To Ito Cootinurd Tomorrow.) Lasting Gifts of Furniture On our Seventh Floor you will find many at tractive odd pieces ol furniture for youi Chrismas list. In many instances the price is no more than you would pay for a hat or a blouse. But when the gift is furniture, it proves a lasting re membrance for many years. Telephone Stand and Chair % Some bride or new house keeper whose house is not yet complete in the details will be delighted to receive this convenient stand and chair of fumed oak. Smokers’ Stand 8.00 Substantially built on simple mannish lines is this stand of fumed oak for the man who enjoys a convenient place for his cigars, pipes and ash trays. Sewing Tables • Those convenient folding hard wood tables, masquerading un der the name of sewing tables find uses without number in every household. 3i5-ineh sire. You need only to stroll about on our Seventh Floor to discover gift, possibilities without number. There are tea carts for the hostess, dower chests for the bride-to-be, a spinet desk for daughter just home from college and countless others among which are bound to be appropriate selections for your list. Library Table Italian design in mahogany finish. Graceful lines char icterize this table «< hicli may be placed at the back of the davenport in the center of the room if preferred. Mahogany Finished Fernery 8.75 Green ferns growing in this mahogany fin ished plant stand will lend a gracious note to the living room or library. A gift sug gestion for the home maker. Breakfast Room Suite 34.75 | Enameled in ivory or gray with blue decor ations this breakfast set suggests delicht i fully informal ratals in the sun parlor or breakfast nook. She’ll be Appreciative of Your Ideai Any woman who can sew at all will use this electric ma chine enough in one single year to more than save its cost. That's why we say it's the ideal Christmas gift. It is welcome, for any woman likes to make her own dainty things. It is economical for its cost will be saved in a short time. It is practical, because it is so easy to op erato that anyone can use it, even a beginner. A brief description of the machine. It looks like a Martha Washington Sewing Cabinet, has strong motor, is well finished, in a choice of woods, ajid has ample storage (drawer) space. You'll be proud of its ap pearance in your home. Economical Sensible Beautiful Ycur Wife Will Pay for Her Own Gift if you know her needs well enough to Join Our Club and give her the gift royal—a WHITE ELECTRIC SEWING MACHINE "HAS THE WORLD’S APPROVAL’ Buy Before Christmas and Save $15 For fhristmas selling we have re duced the price exactly $15 below its standard market value. This is for cluh members onlv. ,f01N MICKEL’S 15th and Harney If you can't conic into the store to see this wonderful electric sewing machine, send in the coupon with your name and address, and we will tell you about it by mail or through a personal representative. INQUIRY BLANK MJCKELS, I St H and Harney, Omaha. % Please send me descriptive matter on h< White Electric Sewing Machine, ith price and the terme. I would prefer a.. (Give choice of wood.) \ • * obinet. (Give choice of wood). Jfc n> i nd or stood that this request docs not obli pate me in any way. NAME . ADDRESS .CITY. Happy Days —A Gift That Endures— Join, the Branded *• Christmas Bring happiness to all the family, all the year. Some gifts last a day, others a month or more, but he Supreme Gift, a— Victrola or a Brunswick Will 1 jive Through the Years Victrola 240 Pay Nothing Down BiU.LL.WlCk "’Vork” Just Purchase a Few Records—Start Paying for Your Phonograph in 30 Days Victor or Brunswick Records Make Ideal Christmas Gifts Let our experienced sales force help you in the selection of your records from our large and very complete stocks. Records put. in special Christmas packages—or give a Record Coupon. Phonograph Dept—Main Floor—We»t Shopping in Toyland Is a Great Adventure It doesn’t seem as if there could be anv sort of it ton in this 'vorld "I toy?— irijjeuiiyus tn fI?gL foreign lands, unique French dolls and .-ill those mechanical aud electrical toys, dear to the liesrt ot e\’ery small Yankee, Here, as elsewhere in this great store, moderate prices prevail. But a few of them are listed here. Whistling Sweater Boy 35c Doll Furniture Sets.. 25c Fire Engines Hook and Ladder .1.25 Collapsible Doll Cradle 50? Filling Station and Auto for . 1.00 Doll’s High Chair_ 25? Tinker Toys . .75? Utensils for Dolly’s Kitchen Dolly Stoves. 25 e Waffle Iron lor Dolly. .75C Deep Aluminum Skillet 50c Tea Kettles .75C Tron Fry Pots. 25** i Toy Coffee Grinders.. 25c Play Phone Telephones 95** Daisy Pop Guns v ..... 25** Real Footballs.2.00 ) Box of Tenpins and Balls for .50** 1 Hand Painted Tenpin Sets for . 2.00 Doll Cradles from Czecho slovakia.50c Kiddy Cars. . .2.50 Doll Dishes Sets of china .25c Sets of tin. 35c Sets of aluminum .. ..75c Sets of enameled ware 1.00 Doll Houses .75c Jackie Coogan, the newest doll in town .1.50 Contorto, the famous double j jointed figure with steel arms and legs.50c Little Gretchen, goes to sleep .25c Kutee Sanitary Dolls.. .75c Bisque Jointed Dolls, read}’ to dre.ss .35c Game of Plano Posies 50c I Play Balls, that you blow up . 50c , For Miss Dolly’s Wardrobe Sweater Sets 25* to *2.00 Stockings .15* Bootees .15* to 50* Hats .35*. Knitted Caps and Hoods 75* Dresses .1.75 to 4.00 Silk Suits, Pantees, Sweater and Cap, 75* Shoes.25* and 50* Parasols .. 1.00 Nursing Set with Bottle 25* “Mamma” Dolls at. 1.50 to 15.00 Toy Blocks for Tiny Tots at.25c and 50c The Wunder Kriese Top, spins anywhere 10c Cash Register Banks 2.00 Drums for the home guards at . 25c Yellow Cabs .95c Toy Sewing Machines 1.25 Eighth Floor Register for the Ponies l'be drawing for the pbnii "ill take place Saturday, i)e eemher 16. at the Brandeis Theater. Be sure and get your number before Friday eve ning, "hen the registration "ill close. Santa Claus Is Here in Person Bring the little folks for a chat. with Santa. He is at home all day to little boys and girls. The little ones who do not go to school yet Mill find it less crowded early in the clay.