Show under the mistletoe bu M N P T copyright by western newspaper union it was an all ideal yuletide tho the sweet notes of church chimes throbbing out melodiously peace on earth good will to men announced it laughter smiles gay greetings among ainone tile the street crowds emphasized it two men going in tile tho same direction strangers one to the other yet oddly mutually involved in a fateful circumstance ot of the hour unconsciously lessened loBB enod their galt gall to catch the final filial notes from tho the distant belfry ile he in advance swarthy evil oyed bearing a neatly covered box under his arm uttered at ai ugly sinister chuckle before that thai hour strikes again talal chist ho he hissed malevolently rather than uttered and ho he tapped tho ilia box and alid strode on grim with some boino profound purpose the roan man ten paces behind him young handsome neat but nono none too fashionably clad carried a thin square package suggesting a canvas for his was waa an artista face and lie ho was in artist caaso marwyn had lie ho spoken his hearts th blight he be would havo have whispered softly before this hour strikes again I 1 shall have said goodby good by to all I 1 lovo love ila iio of the sinister semblance strode on and turned into a fashionable rest real benco thoroughfare unconsciously like a 0 shadow tho the other kept almost anven pace with him under an arc lamp chase marwyn paused to look over the package lie ho carried ills objective point was a mansion a dazzling place ot of light and luxury and before it the sinister looking man had halted a poorly dressed fellow struggling along without an overcoat and blue and pinched with the cold the twain were conversing and tho the man with tho the box handed it to tho the other pointed to the doorway ot of tile the mansion and PL passed on ills ilia aa messenger pro owl cooder up ab tho the which merwyn mounted also lt it was waa in time to see BOO a 0 servant open the door and to hear bear the other says say A aw A present tor for mr air worthington to be tomorrow oh ot of course that smiled the servant taking inking the box 1 I will place it ii with the other gifts ali ah mr ir mor wyn and the servant stopped stepped aside to admit him por for miss mish worthington sold bald mor ifer wyn binding banding his bis gift to the other ilia his gift was a picture ho he had painted and with it was a letter 4 4 0 0 slowly merwyn descended the steps ile he paused for a few moments on tho the pavement a to take a last look at tho the home that hold held so much for or him A blinking fiburn approached him from bo shadows mister alister he stammered im poor and I 1 need the gold coin a wan man gave me for delivering a box to that house tonight but ah I 1 remember I 1 observed A merwyn recalling man and circumstance A gold coin Is so BO rare tor for a trifling os service ervice resumed tho the other that I 1 was suspicious then again I 1 like the face of the roan man who gave it to me I 1 followed him lie met some come ethers like himself I 1 heard him laugh over an explosion about midnight great rest he avenal ejaculated merwyn comprehending and was vp up tho the steps in a flash quick open I 1 ho he cried to the servant just setting betting the chain on the inside the music VV roomi room I 1 uttered corwyn excitedly and hurried thither turned on the light switch and made a dash for the table ila ho remembered the abo shape and size of the box ills eyes made out jut one corresponding to it merwyn gave it a fling through tho the window there hero wi aps a a flash and outside a detonation that shook the house some flying object thudded against his bla head bead and lie he fell to tho the floor it was christmas day when ht 0 opened his eyes lie ho lay upon a couch pulled directly under the chandelier daylight was streaming into the room the wrecked window framo was bar ricadel rica ded life hla head was ban bandaged dared and seated at a little distance was esther oh ob I 1 am so BO gladi glad I 1 she ebo cried as she noticed that his bis eyes had bad opened the surgeon 1 n has just left and papa hn says you saved us all and that you are a herol and the beautiful picture you intended for me ina it WAS riddled with window glass but I 1 found tho the letter why did you write so eo sadly because because I 1 feared to write all the truth merwyn confessed the man who warned you told u enough to have us guess the truth spoke ethel confusedly changing the subject and then she followed tho the glanco glance of af merwyn Af erwyn his eyes rested on the mistletoe right over his bla head bead why this to Is christmas morning au sure re enough fluttered esther and we are tho the first ethel spoke merwyn irresistibly 1 I low youl you ilia hla arms were lifted towards her and a world of pleading was in his big longing eyes she did riot not hesitate their lips met strangely beautiful mom under the mistletoe |