The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-01-07

4
Jim's II was like him Qui-tness
and value-the description applied To
both. Twenty ono dollars they took
from her for II. aud she hurried
horn. with tho 81 cents. With that
chain on his watch. Jim might b.
properly anxious about tho time In
any company. Grand as the watch
was. he sometimes looked at II on
the niy on account Of the old leather
strap that he used In place Of q
chain.
wh~n Della reached home. her In
toxication gave way 10 a little pru-
denos and reason. Th. got out her
curling irons and lighted the gas and
went to work repairing tho ravnses
made By generosity added to love.
which In always n tremendous task.
dear frs~nd@--a mammoth task
Within 20 minutes hcr bead was
covered with tiny. 1 eiosso lying cursr
that made her look wonderfully Like
a sruans schoolboy. She looked at
her reflection in the mirror long.
carefully and critically.
~If Jim doesn't kin me- sho said
10 herself. before he takes n second
look at me. heTi say I look like n
con~y island chorus girt. Bu, what
could I do--ohi what could I do with
a dollar and eighty .seven ceutsr
A, I o'clock the coffee WAS made
and IN. frying pan war on tho back
Of the stove hot and ready to cook
tho chopa.
Jim was newer fsse- Delta dcubi~i
the fob chain In hor land and sat
on tho corner Of the table near the
door that he always entered Then
she heard his STRIP on the STAIR
away down ON the first flight and
she turned white for Just mo
ment she had habit Of saying
little Silent prayers about the sim
plset everyday things. and now che
whispered: rTleaso Cob make him
think I am stin pdctty.-
Tho door opened and Jim STEPPED
In and closed H. He looked uan
and very serious. Poor fellow. he
wa. only 1s-and To be burdenod
with family Hs needed q new
overcoat and hs Was without
Eiovcr.
Jim stopped inside the door. AZ
lmmovabie AZ q scttcr At the SCENT
OF quail His eyes were fixed upon
Della. and there was en- expression
in them thar she could not Rad.
and /, terrified her. II was not
anger. nor surprise. nor disap.
prevail. nor horror. nor any OF the
sentiments that she had been pre-
| pared for. lie simply stared at
her fixedly with that peculiar en-.
preston on his face
Della wrirEied off the table and
went for him
Jim. .inrilng.- she cried. don't
look at me that way. ! had my
hair cut off and sold n because l
couldn't have ihvsi thru Christmas
without giving You a present ith
Irow out again--you won't mind.
win your just had 10 do H. Ny
hair grows awfully last Say
Merry Chrlstnasr Jim. and let's be
happy. You don't know what a
nice-what q beautiful nice Eft
I've 20, for YOU
You've cut of your hairT
asked Jim. laboriousiy. ~ " he
had not arrived at that patent
fact yet even after the hardest
mental labor.
-cut It of and sold IT. said
Della Don't you like me Jus,
as well. anyhow I'm me without
my hair, amt II
Jim looked about the room cur
ously.
"You say your hair Is roner he
said. with an air almost OF idiocy
"You needn't look for It." said
Della. ITS sold. tell you sold
and gone. too. It's Christmas Eve.
boy. BE good to inc. for 1t went
| for you. Maybe the hairs OF my
head were numbered she went
en- with n sudden serious sweet
ness. but nobody could ever count
my love for you. Shall ! put the
chops on. JlmY-
Out of his trance Jim seemed
! quickly to wake. He EMBODIED his
Della For 10 seconds let us re-
gard with discreet scrutiny some
inconsequential object in the other
direction. Eight dollars a week or
million n year-what is the diff.
| ference7 A mathematician or a
wit would give you the wrong an
swer. The maGi brought valuable
| gifts. but that was not among
them. This dark assertion will be
| Illuminated later on.
Jim drew a package from his
overcost pocket and threw 1t upon
the table.
Don't make any mistake. Dem he
said, about me. | don't think there's
anything In the way Of haircut or
a shave or shampoo that could
make me like my girl any less. But
IL you1i unwrap that package you
may see why you had me going "a
while at first"
White fingers and nimble tore at
the string and paper. And then an