Show the A STO HE green glass thing gleamed like an eye as olivia took it from its holly paper wrappings and looked at it ruefully she had been excited and hopeful about this christmas gift from aunt matilde and it was disappointing polli ting a hit 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 horion of a vigorous young artist of a niece certainly it was surprising to have received this gift at all tor for the aunt and the artist niece had heretofore known little ol of each other but olivia gathered up the tinsel cords and papers and pranced to her shining kitchen today was the day of 0 her great chance tor for draheim Dra helm decorator of homes beautiful was coming to take tea and she was looking for a junior partner olivia had joys prepared but the green glass thing was a problem if matildes card had not promised a visit on this day of days the way might have been easy although there were few hiding places within the little flat but now the gift must be displayed in all its discordant greenness everything else was perfect the silver twinkled softly in a polished heap bes side 1 d e carefully folded linen serving trays were ready with a smart array ot of nuts and candied violets and fruits and creams almost an entire pay checks worth the giblet salad subtly suggestive of opulence was cooling properly in its mold of aspic jelly and the rolls were heating piping hot in the little glass walled oven the boy left the lees ices in the back entry and tipped his hat respectfully very olivias chin went a trifle higher quite without her knowing and the worried little lacy puckers across her forehead suddenly turned somersaults she laughed she fingered the purse in her pocket doubtfully three lit es exactly pay day yesterday and the next nest one when ben everything was delightfully expensive but the green thing still grinned on the mantle piece olivia had a swift disturbing vision of this aunt whom slie site lad had never seen rind and she made a little grimace at the picture oh that draheim and aunt matilde should not have to meet olivias rooms were in exquisite taste soft warm browns with dashes of chinese reds and blues that shone on old mahogany and teak an etched brass bowl on the table a real maxfield parrish on the wall between the window and the green glass thing on the mantel three cents in olivias pocket she regarded the glass ornament thoughtfully and wondered it if it might have been smashed in the mail and decided no olivia was not a good liar she considered a headache or a broken leg and thought of the giblet salad and the pickled cantaloupe the borrowed maid had not n at nr ar rived but madame draheim had olivia knew by the positive well be bayed way in which the doorbell door bell jingled what can I 1 do interior decorator 1 I with a green glass thing like that on my mantel piece yes draheim will ve be impressed very the doorbell door bell rang again insistent suddenly olivia knew what she would do and she would get the coveted position Dral draheim leim decorator of homes beautiful had bright little beady blue eyes that leveled at once fiercely above her flitting quail of a body they approved energetically 0 of the file chinese chinese reds and blues and the polished mahogany and teak of the etched brass bowl and the parrish picture and then they tell fell on the green glass thing it lad never grinned so boldly from out the lively lavely room an ugly mask in a gallery ot of olivia quaked as she studied the expression on dra helms shrewd little face it was halt half disgusted halt half gratified with an appraising impersonal antagonism about it olivia swallowed swallowed the lump in her throat and straightened her shoulder for the battle she forgot the giblet salad and the pickled cantaloupe she forgot the little niceties ot of hostess courtesy she and draheim were two individuals unclothed by a world ot of manners measuring each other the green glass thing between them they seemed conscious ot of nothing more olivia broke the taut silence its lovely it what madame Dra heims hearing was excellent its odd a rare piece would you like to see it closer ill get it no 19 1 I beg your pardon there was a hint ot of interest in Dra Drall heims elms inflection tills oils time and a relief from monosyllables 1 I suppose its very old with a shade ot of sarcasm olivia was glad she bad made dra helm take the offensive no she answered and was silent what then very new 1 I thought so there was no insolence in madame Dra heims tone she sha spoke simply youre not a good liar are you olivia was suddenly calm no she said then why 1 I supposed hide it or break it IL olivia was off her guard for a moment she stared openly what 1 I said I 1 supposed break the thing why you its plain of course you know its hideous there was a penetrating keenness in her birdlike bird like eyes olivia felt it this was her test she had no time to wonder that would come later very carefully she chose her words but there was no suggestion of uncertainty of contusion confusion in he her r manner im afraid you are mistaken madame draheim Dra helm or perhaps I 1 am I 1 believe that you were interested la in my green glass decoration which was a gift to me and the value of which can scarcely be named perhaps you thought I 1 wished to sell it to you I 1 am sorry you misunderstood me ill give you fifty dollars for it olivia could hive laughed and cried with the knowledge of her power she had done the impossible she had succeeded in selling the green glass thing to madame draheim better slie she had made draheim Dra helia buy it it if she had done that she could sell her services 0 s she knew the position was hers suddenly the green glass thin thing 7 became very precious to her no she said 1 I wot wont sell it Is there anything else I 1 can do for you yes les eyes twinkled with mirth now cow without appraisement the test was over you tou can be a niece to your aunt matilde draheim Dra helm the firm needs a resourceful young woman olivia laughed at the green glass thing fixing and it grinned back at her it was a merry merry christmas present truly a 1927 castera newspaper union |