The Holly chieftain., 1923-08-23
The Girl in
Silver
By LAURA MONTGOMERY

8ssssesssssss soU
"a is1s. By Mcclure Newspaper syndioatsJ
You" smiled the girl In the silver
frock who had suddenly opened the
hall door Of the Smiths apartment.
must be the missing guest Of honor"
The man who had been near-sight-
edly peering at the cards In the mall
boxes lost as though by magic his ex-
preston Of bored resignation. Hard
ly that" he corrected, but Mrs. Smith
was good enough to answer the letter
of Introduction given me by mutual
friend, with dinner invitation"
None of the guests In the drawing
room caught the strangers name. Mrs.
Smith never remembered names and
no longer tried. She was wholly alb
sorbed BY her occupation Of hunting
out celebrities whose exploitation by
her would assist her plump person up
the ladder Of society. The hostess,
however, found herself wishing, as she
surveyed the distinguished guest. that
she had paired him with her daughter.
Ivy. She had not expected him to be
so young.
Olivia Vincent. his dinner partner,
wore an expression of mystified hap
piness. She had at last fallen Into
love with thoroughness that swept
her OF her feet. Now her smoky gray
eyes with their curling lashes Of dense
ebony were lifted to his face with the
daxed look of one who peers through
the curtains Of romance.
Il suppose you found delightful
mysteries In India?" queried the girl
on the other side Of the red-haired
guest, who felt that Olivia was being
selfish.
mysteries. yes: but some were far
from delightful" he answered, distinct
restraint in his quiet voice.
Olivia smiled up childishly. "show
me some curio you have brought back
the eye of an Idol or something un-
canny like that"
The only thing l have with me is
supposed to be very Hnlucky. am
delivering 1t to a friend and hardly
like to open the box because,
A chorus OF entreaties arose, led by
the hostess, who had seemed a bit puz-
xled when he mentioned India.
1T is extremely valuable and sure
to bring the owner misfortune. Per-
sonally, wouldn't have 1t, but 1t is
very beautiful" The big man with
his thick red hair and searching blue
eyes looked about him uneasily. THAT
being the case. don't you think 1t wiser
to leave the cat's-eye In its case7"
But when Olivia whispered her re-
quest, he at once assented, and mo-
ment later thaAantique case, with the
huge cat's-eye. was open and the
guests gazed eagerly Into the flaming
amber glow. with Its sinister vertical
band.
The colored butler craned his woolly
head as he removed dish. and an odd
expression Of terror sprang into his
face as the evil eye winked up at him.
Mrs Smith. eager to show her own
possessions, called her guests atten.
ton to a hideous Idol that squatted
upon pedestal nearby, and the cats
eye travelled around the table.
snow, we have all seen the evil eye
and nothing has happened,e smiled
Olivia, her eyes fastened upon the an
tique box lying on the lace and damask
Of the cloth.
At that instant the lights went out
and hideous scream rang through
the room.
The guests started up. and when the
lights came on again the room was in
wild confusion. Something sinister
seemed to be in the atmospheric re-
pulsive forerunner Of disaster.
The red-haired man seemed worried.
THE cat's-eye7 Where"
And Olivia looked blankly at the
spot which moment previous had
been occupied by the case.
Ten minutes later the girl insisted
that her hostess search her: II had 1t
last, and now It's gone," she said. tears
sparkling in her smoke-gray eyes.
Nonsense" intervened the guest
of-honor. his face white and stern. II
had no business to display"
But Olivia had her way and the
other guests followed suit. A detec-
tive was sent for and he searched the
servants, but there was no trace of
the baleful cat's-eye with the sinister
vertical line.
"Never mind" consoled the red
haired man as he said good-by to
Olivia, tomorrow we shall forget all
this he pushed a folded card into
her hand, "I'll call you up In the morn
Ing and In case should fail to get
you want you to know my hotel"
Olivia. crushing the card in her
hand. Redeemed under the malicious
smile Of the girl who had tried to cut
In on her dinner.
oh" squealed Mrs. Smith, pudgy
hand making rapid circles about her
Las A~A 1t