I hitched closer. "What does--er--this poet chap say about it? What's it like, you know?"

She laughed. "I'm afraid it's wicked, d.i.c.ky, a good deal like the haunted pajamas." She leaned forward, chin upon her hand again, looking into the fading coals. "I'll tell you what he says."

Then her voice went on:

"Ship me somewhere east of Suez, where the best is like the worst, Where there aren't no Ten Commandments an' a man can raise a thirst."

"By Jove!" I said, interested.

"For the temple bells are callin', and it's there that I would be-- By the old Moulmein paG.o.da, lookin' lazy at the sea."

I brought my hand down on my knee.

"Oh, I say, you know--er--Frances," I exclaimed with enthusiasm, "we'll go there for our honeymoon, by Jove! Shall we--eh?"

And then the jolly rubies rolled unheeded to the floor. And nothing stirred but the ashes of the haunted pajamas!

And then--Oh, but Frances says that's _all_!

THE END

t.i.tLES SELECTED FROM GROSSET & DUNLAP'S LIST

_A CERTAIN RICH MAN._ By William Allen White.

A vivid, startling portrayal of one man's financial greed, its wide-spreading power, its action in Wall Street, and its effect on the three women most intimately in his life. A splendid, entertaining American novel.

_IN OUR TOWN._ By William Allen White. Ill.u.s.trated by F. R. Gruger and W. Glackens.

Made up of the observations of a keen newspaper editor, involving the town millionaire, the smart set, the literary set, the bohemian set, and many others. All humorously related and sure to hold the attention.

_NATHAN BURKE._ By Mary S. Watts.

The story of an ambitious, backwoods Ohio boy who rose to prominence.

Everyday humor of American rustic life permeates the book.

_THE HIGH HAND._ By Jacques Futrelle. Ill.u.s.trated by Will Grete.

A splendid story of the political game, with a son of the soil on the one side, and a "kid glove" politician on the other. A pretty girl, interested in both men, is the chief figure.

_THE BACKWOODSMEN._ By Charles G. D. Roberts. Ill.u.s.trated.

Realistic stories of men and women living midst the savage beauty of the wilderness. Human nature at its best and worst is well portrayed.

_YELLOWSTONE NIGHTS._ By Herbert Quick.

A jolly company of six artists, writers and other clever folks take a trip through the National Park, and tell stories around camp fire at night. Brilliantly clever and original.

_THE PROFESSOR'S MYSTERY._ By Wells Hastings and Brian Hooker.

Ill.u.s.trated by Hanson Booth.

A young college professor, missing his steamer for Europe, has a romantic meeting with a pretty girl, escorts her home, and is enveloped in a big mystery.

_THE SIEGE OF THE SEVEN SUITORS._ By Meredith Nicholson. Ill.u.s.trated by C. Coles Phillips and Reginald Birch.

Seven suitors vie with each other for the love of a beautiful girl, and she subjects them to a test that is full of mystery, magic and sheer amus.e.m.e.nt.

_THE MAGNET._ By Henry C. Rowland. Ill.u.s.trated by Clarence F. Underwood.

The story of a remarkable courtship involving three pretty girls on a yacht, a poet-lover in pursuit, and a mix-up in the names of the girls.

_THE TURN OF THE ROAD._ By Eugenia Brooks Frothingham.

A beautiful young opera singer chooses professional success instead of love, but comes to a place in life where the call of the heart is stronger than worldly success.

_SCOTTIE AND HIS LADY._ By Margaret Morse. Ill.u.s.trated by Harold M.

Brett.

A young girl whose affections have been blighted is presented with a Scotch Collie to divert her mind, and the roving adventures of her pet lead the young mistress into another romance.

_SHEILA VEDDER._ By Amelia E. Barr. Frontispiece by Harrison Fisher.

A very beautiful romance of the Shetland Islands, with a handsome, strong willed hero and a lovely girl of Gaelic blood as heroine. A sequel to "Jan Vedder's Wife."

_JOHN WARD, PREACHER._ By Margaret Deland.

The first big success of this much loved American novelist. It is a powerful portrayal of a young clergyman's attempt to win his beautiful wife to his own narrow creed.

_THE TRAIL OF NINETY-EIGHT._ By Robert W. Service. Ill.u.s.trated by Maynard Dixon.