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Show SiilmitoitmiiL -w' 8 vc. ;i I . - - - - ,;f , -K f ,v - , r 5 S V ""v. 1': . : ;. 'v . -. .fr-,r' Vftr : -1 v5 w :'.: i x i h sl - - 1 v " ' i J ! J i I - h r i e ' " " , 'i'i f 4 Jerry drove from his sisler'a straight back to the big square house that had been left jointly to Molly and himself. Today he strode through the long living room to a small study where he picked up a tiny snapshot from his desk and addressed it tenderly. "Phyllis sweetheart," he murmured, "here's hoping my wild schemes won't go wrong !" Molly hustled 'through the preparations prepara-tions for her own three youngsters, who had been put to bed unduly early, and (lew into her party clothes. Peter was Inclined to grumble over the whole business but Molly bore with him good-naturedly and carried him olT in plenty of time. Jerry flung wide the door at their ring. Molly entering, stopped short. "How perfectly lovely!" she cried. "I've been so busy with shopping, Jerry, that I've hardly seen you to ask what luck yon have had witb your guests." Jerry drew down the corners of his mouth. "You were right," he said, "as always. Six absolutely could not see their way to come." "That leaves " began Molly. "You an'' I'eter, yours truly, and Phyllis Rowe. You know she has no family at all." Whatever comments his sister was about to make were not uttered, for at that moment the doorbell rang, and there stood Phyllis, n lovely vision in furs. Molly, looking from Jerry to his pretty guest, was struck with a sur-den sur-den thought. The two of them made a handsome pair. After a truly typical Christmas feast, Jerry managed an aside witb H l "I Love You, Phyllis, and Want You for My Wife." his sister as Peter was discussing a recent play with Phyllis. "Molly," he said persuasively, "coax Peter into the study and see If you can't stay there for a little. Run the radio, poke over my treasures, anything." any-thing." Then he turned to Phyllis. 'Come," he invited, "let's sit by the Hre and tell secrets. I'll tell mine first 1" he promised. "I love you, Phyllis." he said at last, "and I want you for my wife. 1 have imagined you again and again sitting here In Just this way beside me. Have I any chance, dear?" Phyllis did not speak for a moment mo-ment and Jerry's heart sank like a plummet. Then, softly, - there stole from the study the sweet strains of "Silent night, holy night." Phyllis lifted her pansy eyes to Jerry's and laid her slender hand on the arm of his chair where It was Instantly In-stantly grasped. "F.very chance In the world." she whispered. Later. Mollv took Jerry to task. "1 believe," she said accusingly, ."you asked those people on Christmas -eve just hoping they wouldn't come." Her brother looked sheepish. Then, "Right you are," he admitted. "I got an acceptance from Phyllis first, however, how-ever, and gambled on the others being be-ing too busy." "You're a fraud!" said Molly. "Merry Christinas!" said Jerry. (IB bv McClnri' N.'wstmiMT Syndicate) . 1 W Nil Service) ' |