The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-27

there is yet an instant's hesitation before he answers in the affirmative her question, Are you entirely happy?"
 Into this quiet college town comes Miss Mystery" Through her un- canny ability to compel others to do her bidding, she succeeds in estab- fishing herself at Corinth's most ex- elusive boarding house, kept by Mrs. Adams and her husband, "Old Salt" Further than giving her name as Anita Austin, the Mystery Girl" re- fuses to divulge any information re- garding herself or her business in Corinth.
 Miss Mystery BaffIes Speculation.
 The next morning Anita appeared in. the dining room at the breakfast hour.
 Mrs. Adams scanned her sharply, and looked little disapprovingly at the short, scant skirt and slim ,stlken legs of her new boarder.
 Anita, her dark eyes scanning her hostess with equal sharpness, seemed to express an equal disapproyal of the country-cut gingham and huge white apron.
 Not at all obtusey Mrs. Adams sensed this, and her tone was little more deferential than she had at first intended to make it.
 will you sit here, please, Miss Austin?' she indicated chair next herself.
 No, thank you. I'll sit by my friend" and the girl slipped into a vacant chair next Saltonstan Adams.
 Old Salt gave furtive glance at his wife, and suppressed a chuckle at her surprise.
 This is MT. Tyler's place." he said to the usurper, but I expect he'll let you have it this once."
 T mean to have it all the time" and Anita nodded gravely at her host.
 All the time is this one meal only" crisply put in Mrs. Adams. I'm sorry, Miss Austin, but we can't keep you here. l have no vacant room."
 The entrance of some other people gave Anita a chance to speak in an undertone to MT. Adams, and she said:
 You'll let me stay till Lefty comes. won't you? l suppose you are boss in your own house."
 As a matter of fact almost any phrase would have described the man better than boss in his own house." but the idea tickled his sense of irony, and he chuckled as he replied, You bet I ann Here you stay-as long as you want to-"
 You're my friend, then?" and an appealing glance was shot at him be- meath long, curling lashes, that proved the complete undoing of Sal- tonstall Adams.
 ITO the death!" he whispered in mock dramatic manner.
 Anta gave a shiver What way to put it" she cried. T mean to live forever sirl'
 "Douhtlesq Old Sa1t raturpad placidly. You're a freak-aren't you?"
 That isn't very pretty way of expressing it, but l suppose I am," and a mutinous look passed over the strange little face.
 In repose the face was oval, serene, and regular of feature. But when the girl smiled or spoke or drowned, changes took place, and the mobile countenance grew soft with laughter or hard with scorn.
 And scorn was plainly visible when, a moment later. Adams intro duced Robert Tyler, fellow boarder, to Miss Austin.
 She gave him first a conventional glance then, as he dropped into the chair next hers, and said, "Only too glad to give up any place to a peach" she turned on him a flashing glance, that, as he expressed it after ward, wiped him off the face of the earth"
 Nor could be reinstate himself in hre good graees. He tried a penitent attitude, bravado, jocularity and in- difference, but one and all failed to engage her interest or even atten- tion. She answered his remarks with calm, curt speeches that left him baffled and uncertain whether he wanted to bow down and wor- ship her, or wiring her neck.
 Old Salt Adams took this all in, his amusement giving way to curi- osity and then to wonder, Who was this person, who looked like young very young girl, yet who had all the mental powers of an experienced woman? What was she and what her calling?
 The other boarders appeared, those nearest Anita were introduced and most of them considered her merely a pretty, new guest. Her manners were irreproachable, her demeanor quiet and graceful yet as Adams covertly watched her, he felt as If he were watching an inactive vol cano.
 The meal ove~, he detained her a moment in the dining room.
 Why are you here, Miss Austin?''