the droop of his eyelids
suggested such menace. Never had the contrast of his slender hands and
feet suggested such hideous possibilities.

"Merciful God! No! No!" she kept repeating in her soul while her dilated
eyes stared at him in sheer horror of the suggestion which the jewels
had roused.

She drew a deep breath and strangled the idea by her will.

"I'll at least be as fair as a jury," she thought grimly. "I'll not
condemn him without a hearing."

Jim suddenly became aware of the menace of her silence. She had not
moved a muscle, spoken or made the slightest sound since he had entered.
He had merely taken in the room at a glance and had seen her standing in
precisely the same place beside the table.

He saw now that she was leaning heavily against it.

He raised his head and faced her with a sudden, bold stare, and his
voice rang in tones of sharp command.

"Well?"

She tried to speak and failed. She had not yet sufficiently mastered her
emotions.

"What's the matter?" he growled.

"Jim----" she gasped.

He took a step toward her with set teeth.

"You've been in that bag--Well?"

Her face was white, her voice husky.

"Those jewels, Jim----"

A cunning smile played about his mouth and he shook his head.

"I tried to keep my little secret from you till Christmas morning; but
you're on to my curves now, Kiddo, and I'll have to 'fess up----"

"You bought them for me?" she asked with trembling eagerness.

"Who else do you reckon I'd buy 'em for? I was going to surprise you,
too, tomorrow morning. You've spoiled the fun."

She had slipped close to his side and he could hear her quick intake of
breath.

"That's--so--sweet of you, Jim. I'm sorry--I--spoiled the
surprise--you'd--planned----"

"Oh, what's the difference!" he broke in carelessly. "It's all the same
five minutes after, anyhow. Well, don't you like 'em? Why don't you say
something?"

"They're wonderful, Jim. Where--where--did you buy them?"

He held her gaze in silence for an instant and fenced.

"Isn't that a funny question, Kiddo?" he said in low tones. "I once
heard the old man I worked with in the shop say that you shouldn't look
a gift horse in the mouth."

"I just want to know," she insisted.

"I'm not going to tell you!" he said with a dry laugh.

"Why not?"

"Because you keep asking."

"You wish to tease me?"

"Maybe."

"Please!"

"Why do you want to know? Are you afraid they're fakes?"

"No, they're beaut