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Show I . I j Christmas j ; and Hearts j ; j 4soas ! ; By Lily Rutherford Morris ! PNN luid the newspaper aside with a quizzical smile, "Won rter U he la a bachelor or a widower! Well, III not be long finding out," hurriedly hur-riedly Jotting down the address. ad-dress. Ualf an hour later she was ringing the doorbell of pretentious pre-tentious bouse on one of the city's best streets. "I rnme In answer to the ad about Christmas-making," she suld sweetly to the somber-looking man who opened the door. "Are you the gentleman who wants a lady assistant!" "Yes. Please come in." The man possessed poise. Ann waa at once I Impressed by his manner and began I to enlighten him about herself. I "I am Miss Thomas. I live at the Britllng on Broadway. Your ad ap-I ap-I pealed to me because I, too, am alone j la the world and tired of going out I for my Christmas ; dinner wltb no one about to do something some-thing for. I'd Just love to get ready for a real Christ mas In a sure enough home. Oo rou think 1 will dor Jim Hilton's face lighted. "1 see no reason why you wouldn't If yon are willing to nnder-tuke nnder-tuke the task of trying to cheer np an old bachelor who has grieved through Christmas for the last ten years since my mother was taken. There's a cook, of course, but," shrugging shrug-ging significantly, "who wants to eat turkey alone?" "1 see," said Ann, laughing with him at the picture. "A sympathetic feeling exists between us, at any rate. I should like to begin preparations prepara-tions at once if you think 1 look like the right person for the joyful work." "Good I The house Is at your service, serv-ice, Mlsa Thomas. Don't mind expense. ex-pense. Get what you want and If 1 can help I shall be delighted." "Then we'll go shopping right away. There's no time to lose with Christmas only three days off." Til get the car," he announced, reaching for bis coat "Let's make tlio old house look gay and festive It bos been gloomy long enough. Why, you know, I feel pepped up already," "So do L replied Ann. "I'm getting 1 the spirit fast Let me have a pen-ell pen-ell and papefi please. TU make a list while ' you fetch the car. We must have wreaths and candles In every window, of course; and a tree and the trimmings and I hope the cook hasn't made the ' fruit cake. I have a grand recipe and I'd Just love to go to the kitchen and stir up the mixture. Do you think she would object!" ob-ject!" "Not Carrie. But I hadn't thought to Impose the cooking on you." "ImpoBel For five years I've wanted want-ed to make a fruit cake. But bow could I without a kitchen to work In! I'll mafc' It tomorrow, to-morrow, if you don't mind, even If Carrie has one already." al-ready." "Ob, certainly. I want you to feel privileged to manage man-age as you wish." What a Jolly morning for Ann and Jim, thcugh it was the mere beginning be-ginning of a three-day three-day period of In-creasing In-creasing fun. j Christmas eve showed the house ' ablaze with light and glowing with R Christmas cheer. The tree glistened 6 wltb its varicolored lights, and gifts c were piled beneath It for neighbor- P hood children who bad been asked to p come next morning. Ann rushed In late, having missed her car, for Jim e wn told to remain at home to re- R ceive the kiddies. Not in years bad G the nilton borne seen such revelry. Later the old couple across the way c were brought In for dinner. The ta 2 ble was beautiful with polnsettla, red candles In sliver holders, and j sprigs of holly at eacb plate. a "Why. Mr. Hilton!" exclaimed the frail little woman, "bow did you ; learn to make things so pretty!" ' "I haven't learned, Mrs. Dean. Please give Miss Thomas credit for everything," and Jim bowed gracious- i ly to Aan. There was a merry twin- ' kie In bis eye aa be smiled upon her, and la bis heart there was a grim '2 determination to try to persuade $ Ann to become the permanent man- ager of his home. Her answering j smile, at least, seemed hopeful. 3 (ffl. Hit. Walin Nawnwiwr Dntoa.) S |