CHINA MAIL CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT; 1930.
CHRISTMAS EVE MYSTERY.
Continued from Page 7.) dumbly and then, with a reckless smile, Phil Landers broke the silence,
"You knew me from the first,” he said. "I knew you from your first word, Phil," Muriel said, trying hard to keep her voice even and cool, but I couldn't under- stand how it was that you didn't seem to know it was my room, you had entered. Then somehow I got the queer idea that you were the burglar who had, last night, stolen a necklace from Mr. Ellis, and I thought that to-night you had come on a similar errand, and I hoped to get you away by letting you take my jewels. I couldn't have you caught and handed to the police."
"You care for me as much as that," Phil Landers remarked cynically, "but not enough to marry me when there's a rich man to be had. So Mr. Edward Ellis is the niun. I wonder if I envy him."
Muriel was silent, afraid to speak lest agitation overcame her.
away now. There would always be a doubt in Ellis's mind. I'll see that you don't suffer. I am just a burglar to-night, nothing more--and, thank goodness, the man doesn't know me."
9
HARD - WORK MOTHERS.
ARE CHRISTMAS GIFTS A TYRANNY ?`.
Giving Themselves.
He had almost succeeded in releasing THERE will be hundreds of mothers at Christmas-time worn out with all the himself when through the window, with a services they have been doing for others. man's cap and coat over her pyjamas, came So much to think about, so much to buy, and Molly Fermall. She ran eagerly to Muriel nowadays, except in a few homes, so little to and Phil Landers, who gazed at her in as-buy it with! Sometimes Christmas gifts seem rather a tyranny. Most of us cannot tonishment.
"I've been watching Mr. Ellis and afford them, but we feel we must give them, listening to him, and I've come to help you," because if we don't, it will seem as if we were she whispered hurriedly. "He thinks he neglecting friends. And, then, of course, the saw a man enter the window, but he's not children must have them. Yet, behind the sure that it's a man's voice he heard. Phil. idea of Christmas gifts and all the sacrifices you must go at once, and then Muriel and I they entail, there is something very lovely. can open the door and pretend we've been "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New having a joke, and that I'm the man he Year." Just the same old sweet greeting, thought he saw and heard.”
but it means so much, and we would not miss With a hopeful expression on her face it for the world. and an apprehensive glance at the door, where Ellis was angrily rattling the handle;
Luckily it is not the expensive toys that Muriel would have accepted the suggestion, and looked appealingly at Phil for coneur-muke kiddies the happiest, and it is not the mothers who can give their children the "You were not far from the mark rence. But he shook his head definitely.
"Muriel," he said, putting an arm most costly gifts at Christmas-time who about me, Muriel," Phil Landers continued.
It is the "Burglary is not a habit of mine, but, as a round her shoulders, "you're a great little have the happiest children. matter of fact, I did steal a pearl necklace pal, but your clever plan won't get us out mothers who give most of themselves to. from this house last night. When I got o1. this mess. That man Ellis is positive their kiddies whose homes will radiate the your letter; cold-bloodedly throwing me there's a man in this room, and I'm going real Christmas spirit of happiness that over, I think I must have run amok:-1-let-to-show-him-that-there-is. The best way makes children so gay. And the actual sense my work go to the dogs. I was mad, crazy. you can help us, Molly dear, is to hurry back of joy in a home on Christmas Day is much more dependent on the humour everybody is Yesterday I left London, bent on making
in, than on the amount of presents given cr you tell me with your lips what you had
the value of these gifts, written; then I changed my mind and, not knowing or caring where I was, I turned turglar, hoping to get enough plunder to enable me to leave the country, make a fresh start, and forget you. To-day I became sane again, and I returned to-night to restore the necklace to the house from which I had stolen it. That it is your house is the queerest thing that could have hap- poned."
Muriel's face as she listened to him was working pitiably, her hands were tearing to shreds a handkerchief she held in them. Suddenly she had heard the door-handle
turning-she smothered a cry of fear, noved swiftly to Phil, placed a hand over his mouth, and glanced panic-stricken at the door.
Edward Ellis, failing to open the door, was speaking.
Muriel, who is in that room with you? I insist on knowing," he called harshly.
"Oh. Edward, what is the matter with you?" Mariel answered, managing some- how to get no more than an accent of mild impatience into her question.
to bed and not pretend to know anything of what's happening."
"No, Phil, no," Muriel broke in urgent- ly, "that's not the best way. Give me the necklace, quickly-you must!"
Almost against his will-her frantic urgency impelling him-Phil handed her the jewel-case. She thrust it at once into Molly's hands.
And be sure to let the presents you are going to give to your kiddies be a dark mystery till the day itself It is so easy when dealing with unsuspicious little souls to find out what each one really wants without even letting them know that you know. Children do love surprises, and whether your gifts are big or small, keep them safely hidden away until Christmas morning.
L
Don't overdo the housework at Christ- mas-time. Treat yourself to as much "time off" as you possibily can manage. It is lovely fun shop-gazing, even if you cannot buy; and how the kiddies adore the fairylands of the Christmas bazaars!
TH
DAINTY DECORATION.
HE little people in the nursery always demand decorations for Christmas, and "Hide that under your coat, Molly," they will love to help with this pretty and she directed, and as soon as you can, after very easily-arranged scheme. The slender
I open the door, run to Mr. Ellis's room and chain of evergreens is made on a stout "Just this, Muriel."-Ellis's voice was put it on his dressing-table-and never string, the pieces of greenery fastened on hard and cold you told me an untruth breathe a word to anyone of what you've with either fine wire or thin string. just now. I knew it then, for I had seen a done."
A large star is cut from cardboad and nan enter your window; but now I have
Molly nodded and, with a determined covered with silver paper, and to the lower heard a man's voice in your room. For tightening of her lips, hid the jewel-case part of it is attached at the back streamers God's sake."-sternness suddenly gave way somewhere on her slim person.
to appeal "what does it mean, Muriel? Satisfied that it was safely concealed, that pretty silver tinsel which is used to Are you afraid to tell me are you threaten-with a soft but imperative glance at Phil decorate Christmas trees and is most in- ed, or-or "His voice broke und died that held him motionless Muriel darted to falling from the star. The festoons of expensive, this silver represents rays of light away as though it could not put suspicion the door, turned its key and flung it open. greenery start from beneath the star and are Tu Ellis, as he entered, mingled anger and amazement in his demeanour, she said cat-caught at the corners, then are brought back to the star, making an effective triangle tingly:
design.
into words.
Ellis had scarcely ceased speaking when Phil freed himself gently from Muriel's detaining hands and, with a determination in his face, started for the door; but Muriel, agonised, caught at him again and brought
him to a halt.
"Phil, you must listen to me," she said in an impassioned whisper. "You can't go out there you must not give yourself up. I couldn't stand it-it would kill me. You can escape by the window while I keep him there. Gooh, please, go!"
Greatly moved, indecision hovering on bis face, Phil tried to put her from him.
"Just think for a minute, Muriel," he said in a tense undertone.
"I can't run
"As you have insisted on coming into my room, Mr. Ellis. I'll take the opportunity of telling you that you misunderstood me to- day when you thought I promised to marry you. You see that there is no one here but my friend Molly Fernall and Mr. Landers, the man I love and am going to marry."
Should it be forbidden to knock nails into the wall the ropes of greenery can be supported with wire or fine string from the frieze rail in the same way as pictures are hung and no damage can then be done to the walls.
Mr. Ellis, his lower jaw drooping shock- To complete the pretty decoration, set a ingly. stared at Muriel, then glanced bowl of holly and mistletoe on the mantel- hostilely at Phil, but his view of Molly was shelf, and decorate the clock with a few confined to the tail of the man's coat she spare twigs, an electric candle or a small wore, flapping behind her as she scudded lamp on the mantelpiece at night will be down the corridor in the direction of his effective and will show the silver beams of
the star very prettily.
room.