By Buzaperit Pees all our constant readers will recall, we narrated in our last issue the part which the anonymous gift of a bez of marrons olacts played in reconciling the one-time estranged Jane and Marie. Before ut her the olive branch nirrons, Jane hud, however, evedited Mra. Brown with. the kindly action and had despatched an equally benevolent box of handkerchiefs. Although ake hud no desire to remain anonymous, fate willed thet liber card should te omitted so that ra, Brown in txru found hereclf cumehaved by @ party or parties unknown, Mrs, Brown, when she returned) portunity to thank Mrs, Brown that from a final shopping bout, and|lady called her up and thanked hee found tha daintily wrapped pack- most extravagantly for the age was not as pleased as she|mouchoirs, Mrs, Taipan hesitate? should have been, In fact she was}and was lost. By not disclaiming; considerably annoyed. Her anti- responsibility for the gift at one? cipated gifts had come in accord-she found herself enmeshed in a ing to schedule, There was hardly conspiracy of silence. Her husband one which had not been checked up. jeered at her and asked how she What intruder had presumed ta|was going to explain the matier Gisturd the nice level of her|when the rightful donor demanded calculations? ~The handkerchiefs, his pound of thanks. "That's easy." however, could not but appease her swanked Mrs, Taipan. "'T've taken wrath. "They wore of the finest|out lie insurance already. When Parisian stamp., Might it be? Yea,|she thanked me for the levi no doubt it was the new Taipan's jaunty pink hankies, I erred ani wife, since she had remarked thnt|hedged a bit and finally satd 'O, she had done all her Christmas I send you pink? I some how hea during August, shopping in the Rue de la Paix|in mind blue for you, your eyes, "How exasperating! reflected mistake tu the cards. Please. for-you know. must have made a work off any of her undesired gifts|#"¥ embarrassing explanations Mrs, Brown, "One could hardly|sive me.'
Then I rang off before on this exalted personage, certainly [could be demanded, nothing which came from the im- But the guilty secret did weigh meilinte social circle of Shanghai. upon Mys. n, however, and But yest Why was not this theat the next meeting of the Ladic precise opportunity to vid herself Benevolent Society, as she dranic of that strange book which her|tea with the rector she asked him Youngest sister, the "queer" one of bluntly: Naw supposing you did one or two little tips the races," we petitioned.
"It would be a pleasure to obli said the little New Year, with lom beyond his age, "but. ae You will recall, I've not had a chance to see any of the ponies running, end therefore don't like to run the risk of making any one lose money. My advice would be, how= every—" a momentous pause—"my advice would be, to save your money by slot backing a single horse,'
"Then ity to discuss racing," we continued, "you would-n't mind saying a' few words on the political situation of China and giving a little forecast as. to what you propose to have occur during 1928."
"Excuse me," said the New Year, state of Eh things which forward 4 bit Gubiowsly to the next 365 da But one never can tell, can one?
young enough to hope for the best, and that is really. all T can say about it In fact, judging from. the noise outside Pin afraid. they are begining to see the Old Year out already, and T should be holding myself in readiness, Won't you dust wish your readers all possible happiness in our new year? I'l do my best for them, veally I
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.