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
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labic reply, turning and wilklng off
as if the other did not < xie'.
"Why,'' said Miss Bnsooin, aggriev
edly relating her experience. "I just
said, politely, Aro you from New
■Jerk or where. Miss Austin?" and the
turned those tig. black eyes on me,
and said. ‘Where,' Then she turned
her back and looked out of the
window, as if she bad wiped me oil
the face of the earth:"
"She's too young to act like that,"
opined Mrs. Welby.
"Oh, she isn't to terribly young."
Miss Bascorn returned. "She's too
experienced to be so very young.”
"How do you know she's • experi
enced? What makes you say that?"
"Why." Miss Base-ora hesitated for
words, “she's—sort of soohiuHc-iteii—
you can see that from her looks. J
mean when anything is discussed at
the table she doesn t sav « word, but
;>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.
