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CHINA MAIL CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT, 1930.
ASTRAY IN THE SNOW.
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"Listen, Kit"-Derry was talking into her ear so softly that the maniac behind him could catch no word-"we're in a mess- don't scream!-knocked up against the excaped lunatic. Keep your courage, and humour him. Trust me?"
turned to the table. Had she not been already sure, this would have convinced her of the stranger's madness; fór did they not frequently imagine themselves perfectly sane, and those around them mad?
"What, finished already?" cried the unice in his strange voice. "You've had no sweets. Won't you try one of these merin- gues?"
Kitty shook her head speechlessly. Meringues were Jimmy's favourite sweet, A cough from the maniac enused Derryshe knew, and the thought of eating one
now made her feel almost physically sick. to spin round. Now for it!
There was a two-minutes silence fraught with horrible tension. Then Derry abruptly jumped to his feet. "I say, there's a gramo- phone. Perhaps Your Majesty might like a tune," he suggested.
"You-you are Charles the First?"
The "No. Charles the Second." maniac's voice was queer and unnatural. "And you?"
"I? Oh, I am Dick Turpin, of course. Good old Dick!"
ch?"
case,
moment."
21
owned to being Dick Turpin, so I tried to humour him by anying I was Charles the Second, which was easy, as I was just try- ing on my costume for the fancy dress affair at the Palais next week. Oh! ha! ha!
Derry's face was a study in mortification and bewilderment. "But I was only trying to humour you," he burst out. "Jim, what does it mean? Do you know this--this gentleman?".
Jimmy was grinning himself now; he was just beginning to appreciate the joke.
"Know him? Why, certainly! This is Arthur Daye, pal of mine, and one of the best. You are in his house at the present moment,'
"Great Scot? II-isn't this 'Rose Cottage, then?"
"Why not a dance?" cried the maniac. "Yes, old man, but not my 'Rose Cot- "And the lady ?" The maniac was of "A dance, that is the thing. I pray you, one tuge. When you began to walk from the He crossed to the instrument, station you forgot the small detail of cross- the persistent order. "I suppose you-er- picked her up, and-er-knocked her down, but his shaking fingers refused to hold the ing the line; consequently every step you needle, and it was Derry who, finally, started took carried you further away from Dovecote the "That is exactly
Your up the machine with "Love Light In Your Heath. I started out to meet the train, but had a breakdown on the way. When I got Majesty. Plucked her from her coach under Eyes.”*
The lunatic thrust the table into a to the station you were nowhere about, so I her father's very nose. Ha! ha! was there ever such a joke?" and Derry laughed up-corner und, bowing, requested the honour of dug out the porter, who told me you had roariously while he marvelled inwardly at dancing with Kitty. As she made no demur gene towards Little Heath. I was on my the mun slipped his arm about-her-and-be-way there when I heard Kitty's voice.calling his own stupendous powers of invention,
"Ha! hu! clever fellow!" cried the mud gan to move with her to the rhythm of the for help. Lord! it gave me a turn. I knew man, joining in the laughter with a thin, music. She expected him to fall into some this was Daye's bachelor house, so decided high-pitched note which made the other two stately minuet, but apparently his mediaeval to invetigate, and —"
instincts were not proof against the allure-
shudder.
Kitty had risen to her feet now, and was staring around with a hunted, terrified expression. Then she caught sight of the With a door by which they had entered. bound she reached it and wrenched at the knob. Perhaps the screws were loose: at all events it came away in her hand, and the knob on the outer side, together with its connecting rod, clattered to the floor on the further side of the door. They were fasten- ed in as securely as if by a dozen locks- fastened in the room with a maniac!
"I was just going to dine; won't you join me? The table, you see, is already laid."
The madman's voice was quite calm now, although it seemed to the unwilling guests to threaten unutterable things, and neither of them dared to disobey the invitation, Immediately they were seated the lunatic assumed the role of host with amazing ease. "You will take turkey, of course?" he asked. brandishing a wicked-looking carver, and Kitty nodded stupidly. That must be the Masters' turkey, the sixteen-pounder they had talked of. A feeling of sickly horror came over the girl. Where were the Masters?
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"Listen!" Kitty held up her hand. Faintly on the wind came the sound of merry bells.
"Christmas day! A happy Christmas to you all. Fill the glasses," cried the cavalier. Jimmy took the drink and held it aloft. Here's to the Christmas lunatic, which- ever of you it is," he chuckled.
But neither Derry Amberly nor his host were sufficiently disengaged at the moment to acknowledge the claim.
MAKING THE TABLE BEAUTIFUL.
REALLY delightful centre for the
A christmas dinner table is intended for
arranging under the centre lamp which is found over almost every dinner table. The principle note of decoration is the big bell, ment of the tune, for he waltzed in as up-to-which is to be covered with gold paper; from date a fashion as she knew of. Round and the bell are festooned golden ribbons, each round, backwards, forwards; swaying gently end fastening round a cluster of gold and this way and that. Never, never could the blue crackers. Of gold lace on a red founds- girl forget that awful dance. The eyes oftion is the table centre, and the big centre the lunatic seemed to be boring into her basket of fruit is gilded to repeat the beauti- brain; a thousand ghostly figures were glid-ful note of gold which predominates through- ing past her. She was rapidly reaching the out the decoration. The candlesticks, richly painted, are of the Eastern design now' 30 limit of her endurance when
"Honk, honk, honk!" The strident notes popular. They are finished with golden of a motor-horn were flung to them from shades. somewhere outside.
The entire decoration can be achieved at "Help! help!" shrieked Kitty, as her very little expense; the bell is made on any last remnant of self-control snapped; and suitable foundation at hand-a round wicker Derry joined his voice with hers.
paper basket; the bell-shapes at the top out- There was a confused noise outside, a lined In wire, or the wire foundation for a A moment's hesitation, then: "Oh, I-er-just disposed of them, you voice shouting excitedly, rushing feet, then crinoline lady are all equally suitable. Any woman with quick, neat fingers can add a know. That was in order, I suppose. Dick?" a thunderous knocking upon the door.
"Quickly! quickly! The knob-it has little wire to improve the shape at top and Derek inclined his head; it was the only
An-bottom and deftly cover inside and out with thing he was capable of doing. Jimmy, fallen to the floor," Kitty screamed. good old Jimmy, and the dear little wife, other moment's delay, then the door was gold paper. The clapper is wire, with the "disposed of," hacked to pieces upstairs, flung open, and framed in the opening stood end enlarged with a wad of tissue paper, then
the entire clapper covered with gold paper. maybe, or strangled and lifeless in the out--Jimmy Masters.. hause, or simi
"Come, come! you're not eating." the maniac prompted.
"I-I was wondering where the owners. of this cottage are," she faltered; for she would know the worst, come what may.
"Dick, the King would drink. Reach the bottle from you sideboard," commanded the mad cavalier.
Derry sprang to obey, and as he turned the lunatic thrust his white, face close to Kitty's ear.
"Jimmy, you're safe!" gasped Derry. "This awful lunatic-I-we
Gold tinsel ribbon is inexpensive to buy, and for the gold lace centre a circle can be cut from the best bit of an old lace curtain and gilded. When cutting out follow the de-, sign at the edge, as a lace-like edge is pretty' and will achieve the effect of a very expen-
Jimmy Masters gazed at each occupant of the room in dazed astonishment "Lunatic? What the dickens are you talking about?" he spluttered. Then the lunatic suddenly began to laugh; he threw back hissive lace centre.
A little red is needed with the design of "Have courage: I'll save you," he whis-head and yelled.
"Oh, my hat! I believe I understand," gold and blue, and this can be introduced as pered, and the girl felt his hot breath on her cheek. "I don't know whom you are, but he gasped at last, when he could manage to a lining to the gold lace centre.
Ingenuity can also be exercised with the that man is a dangerous lunatic; he must speak. "This gentleman evidently thought be humoured. Do you understand?" went I was the escaped lunatic; and the funny gold basket for the centre. An old work- part of it is that I thought he was." He basket or fair-sized strawberry pummet can on the fierce, low voice.
Yes, yes, I understand." she returned, marched in here with blood upon his face be gilded and any weak spot concealed with and gasped with relief as her husband re-and an unconscious lady in his arms, and sprigs of holly.