Show Jinx A CHRIS CHRISTMAS MRS STORY HE green glass thing gleamed like an eye as Olivia took It if q from its paper holly wrappings wrappings wrap wrap- pings and looked at It rue rue- fully She had been excited and hopeful about this Christmas gift from Aunt Matilde and It was disappointing pointing poInting-a a bit of green glass gnarled and unlovely Olivia had never seen her aunt who was childless wealthy and altogether a likely star In the horizon of a vigorous young artist of ofa ofa a niece Certainly It was surprising to have received this gift at all for forthe forthe forthe the aunt and nod the artist niece nIeca had heretofore known little oi I of each other but but but- Olivia gathered up the tinsel cords and papers and pranced to her shinIng shin shin- Ing lag kitchen Today was the day of her great chance for DraheIm decorator decorator decora decora- tor of homes beautiful was coming to I take tea and she was looking for fOl a Junior partner Olivia Oll had Joys prepared prepared prepared pre pre- pared but the green glass thing was wasa a problem If It Matildes Matilde's card had no not promised a visit on this day of days the way I Ie might have been e easy a s y although there were few hiding pia places c e s swithIn I within the little i flat But now the gift must be displayed displayed displayed dis dis- played In all Its Its' I discordant greenness green green- ness Everything else was perfect The silver sUver twInkled twinkled twin twIn- kled tiled softly In a polished heap bes beside be be- s side sId 1 d e carefully folded 11 linen n e n. n S Serving e r v 1 n g trays were ready with a smart mart array of nuts and candied candled violets and nod fruits and creams creams almost almost an entire pay paychecks paycheck's paychecks paycheck's paychecks paycheck's checks check's worth The gIblet salad subtly subtly subtly sub sub- suggestive of opulence was coolIng cool- cool coolIng cooling Ing properly In its mold of aspic Jelly and the rolls were l heating enting piping hot hotIn hotIn hotin In the little walled glass-walled oven The boy left the Ices In the back entry and tipped his hat respectfully very Olivias Olivia's chin went a trifle higher quite without her knowing and the worried little lacy puckers across her forehead fore fore- forehead head bead suddenly turned somersaults She laughed She fingered the purse In her pocket doubtfully three pennies pennies pen pen- nies ales exactly pay day yesterday and the next neat one one when when Everything was delightfully expensive But the green thing still sUll grinned on the mantle piece Olivia had hud a swift disturbing vision of this aunt whom she had never seen and she made a aI I little grimace at the picture Oh Oh- Oh that DraheIm and Aunt Matilde should not have to meet Olivias Olivia's rooms were In exquisite taste taste soft soft warm browns with dashes es of Chinese reds and blues that shone on old mahogany and teak toak an nn etched brass bowl on the table a real Maxfield Parrish on the wall between the window window win win- dow and the and the green glass gluss thing on the mantel mantel three three cents In Olivias Olivia's pocket She regarded the glass ornament orna orna- ment went thoughtfully and wondered If tr It might have been smashed in the mall mail and decided no Olivia was not a good liar She considered a headache or ora ora ora a broken leg and thought of the gibet giblet giblet gib- gib let et salad and the pickled cantaloupe The borrowed maid had not arrived ar ar- arrived arrived rived but Madame Draheim had Olivia knew by the positive well be bayed haved way In which the doorbell door Jingled What can I do Interior decorator I with a green glass thing like Ike that on my mantel piece Yes DraheIm will be Impressed ver very The liThe door bell rang again insistent Sud- Sud lenly Olivia knew what hat she would do And she would get the coveted position beautiful beautiful beau beau- beautiful DraheIm decorator of homes had bad bright little beady blue eyes that level leveled eel at nt once fiercely above her Hitting flitting quail quell of a n body They approved approved ap ap- ap proved energetically of the Chinese reds and blues and the polished mahogany mahogany ma ma- and teak of the tile etched brass bowl owl and the Parrish picture and then hen they fell tell on the green gla glass s thing It t had never grinned so boldly from wt ant ut the lively vc roots room an nn ugly mask In 1 j i. i L a gallery of Olivia quaked v vas as as' she studied the expression on Dra Dra- helms helm's shrewd little face It was half disgusted half gratified with an appraising appraising ap ap- praising Impersonal nal antagonism about It Olivia swallowed the lump In her throat and straightened her shoulder for tor the battle She forgot the giblet salad and the pickled cantaloupe She Sha forgot the little niceties of ot hostess I courtesy She and Draheim were two Individuals unc unclothed by a world of I manners measuring each other the tha green glass thing between them They seemed conscious of nothing more Olivia broke the taut silence It lovely Isn't It What Madame Draheim's hearIng hearing hearing hear hear- ing was excellent nt Its odd a n rare piece Would you like to see it closer Ill I'll get It JNo J. J No Ko I ul beg your pardon There was a hint of Interest In la I r Draheim's inflection this time and a a. a relief from monosyllables monos I suppose SQ I II I Its It's very old with a n shade of sar sar- sar- sar Olivia was glad She had made Draheim Dra Dra- helm heim take the offensive No INo sh she answered answered an an- j and was silent What then Very new I th thought 50 so There was no lass Inso Insolence f lence in Madame Draheim's tone She Sha spoke simply Youre not a 11 good liar are you f Olivia was suddenly calm caln No UNo she said Then Why I supposed you'd hide It or break it it Olivia was off her guard for a moment mo me- ment meat She stared openly What I said I supposed you'd break tha thing Why didn't you Its It's plain 1 of course you know its it's hideous There was a penetrating keenness In fa faher her like bird-like eyes Olivia felt it This was her test She had no time to wonder that would come later Inter I Ve Very r y carefully she chose hose her words but there was no suggestion suggestion suggestion tion of uncertainty uncertainty of contu confusion contusion H sion In her man man- I 4 net nero Im afraid you are mis mis- mistaken 1 I taken Madame r i Draheim or p perhaps per haps I am I belIeve believe be be- lieve that you f were Interested Interested In my green glass t I decoration which f c t was a a. a gift to me fand i f and the value of I 6 which run can scarce scarce- Iy be named Perhaps youbou you t thought g I 1 wished to sell It to you I am sorry You misunderstood me me It It dollars for tor fifty Ill g give ve you Olivia could have laughed and cried with the knowledge of her power She had done the impossible She had succeeded succeeded suc sus in selling the green grcen glass thin thing to Madame Draheim Better Detter she had made Draheim buy it If she had done that she could sell her ber services Sho She knew the position was hers Suddenly Suddenly Sud Sud- Suddenly became glass thing denly the green very y precious to her No she site said d it Is there anything elso else elseI I I wont won't sell I can do for you your 1 twinkled with Yes Madame's eyes r appraisement The i mirth now without test was over You can cnn be u a niece to o I MatIlde Draheim The your Aunt I firm needs needs' a resourceful young I woman woman Olivia OIlIa laughed at the green glass back at her ber It thing and it grinned merry Christmas present present pres- pres was a merry I truly ent Union w tD p i r 1 I r |