Williams news., 1915-07-22
my room, Jim, and give me the em.

floor and presently the door of Mrs. Maria Woodworth's door closed be- hind them.
 Aunt Marias boudoir was blazing with lights when they entered. She sank into great stuffed chair and held out her hand for the necklace.
 Let me see it," she said, impa- tiently.
 Jim thrust hand in his pocket, pulled out the jewels, and then stared at them with mouth agape
 These were not emeralds that drip ped with blue fire and flame from his fingers! It was magnificent sap phire necklace that put his Aunt Ma ria's famous emeralds to shame.
 "You said emeralds, Aunt Maria?" he questioned weakly. "You are sure you didn't mean sapphires?'
 You are crazy, Jim! Of course, meant emeralds. I always believed you were color blind-now I am con- vinced of it.'
 Jim was pulling up the mattress no emeralds. The pocket in the head board was empty, but in the toe of white satin slipper, which was too small for Aunt Maria, worse luck, were the famous Woodworth emer- aids.
 ''Oh, pshaw!' exclaimed Aunt Ma ria as she ran them through her fin gers. ''I might have known they were in there! I'm going to give these to your bride, Jim, when you select one!"
 Thanks, Aunt Maria," said Jim miserably. T guess I'll get back to bed. Pm sorry about the burglar scare, but it's turned out all right" Goodnight, boy, and don't be cross with your old aunt for routing you out at this unholy hour," she chuckled as she opened the door for him to de part.
 Jim Kindleton mounted the stairs three at time, reached the wardrobe to find the door open and his prisoner gone. Where?
 Who was she, with her slender, lis some form, her frightened little voice and her subtle magnetism? Whose was the sapphire necklace? Was it hers? And who was she? For he was Aunt Maria's only guest These questions haunted him until the morning, and then he made lei surely toilet and went down to break fast. He was late, and Aunt Maria was seated at the table, for she never waited for anyone She was not alone.
 In the chair opposite Jim's seat was girl, slender and fair, with adorable face and wide gray eyes. She was rather pale and she was tell ing story to Aunt Maria with much animation, and Aunt Maria was chuckling over it in a most malicious way.
 Hester, this is my nephew, Jim Kindleton-you've heard me speak of him. All the Kindletons are color blind" She laughed at Jim's quick blush. "Jim, you've always known about the Janways, of Overbrook? This is Hester, my favorite of them all Sometimes she takes pity on me- She has come down now to attend the New Years ball at Lords. She brought some of her pretty jewels. too. More's the pity!"
 "Yes?" faltered Jim, uncomfortably aware that this charming guest must have been his prisoner of the night before
 "In the night I telephoned her that burglars were in the house and the foolish child picked up her sapphire necklace-it's her most precious pos. session-and ran downstairs to my room. She couldn't get inside and so she went back to her room on the third floor, and at the head of the stairs she met tall man with mur- derous voice, who commanded her to hand over her jewels, which she did. He locked her in the hall wardrobe, and later"
 Good heavens, I am sorry!" burst out Jim contritely, and Miss Janway looked quite bewildered until Aunt Maria explained all about it in her own way. Then Jim sheepishly pro duced the sapphire necklace, and told his side of the story, much to the de- light of the heroine and much to his own satisfaction, for an acquaintance began in this unconventional way could never be commonplace.
 After breakfast he was starting for a walk with Hester Janway, when Aunt Maria called him back into the hall.
 "Jim," she said impressively, "re- member, told you would give the emeralds to your bride"
 Jim blushed. "I'n hold you to that. Aunt Maria." he laughed.
 And don't forget-rd rather they belonged to Hester than any one else"
 '1t won't be my fault if they don't. lie called over his shoulder as he hastened to join his erstwhile pris- oner, who had now imprisoned him in the meshes of her sweetness and | charm. Copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa-
 per Syndicate.)