The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-04-29

ming " SCtll I'll lCl DuolhCoo ROShCCs
Yes, know you did," said Floretta,
land l measured an eyelet by it; but
| haven't seen il since"
A hurried search took place, in which
all the girls present joined.
! Floretta stood on the top stair, not
| knowing whether to GO or stay.
Miss Simpson," said Miss Hall,
sharply, you'd better be hunting for
that stud"
II don't believe it's in this room at
! all, said a sewer who breathlessly arose
from prolonged dive under table.
81 don't know about that" resolutely
answered Miss Hall. She walked over
to the speaking tube.
Peter" she called, TASK Mr.. Chester
| to come up here"
Mr.. Chester came. Miss Hall talked
with him in low voice for some min
utes. Floretta was extremely uncom-
Portable. She felt sure they were talk
| ing about her; besides, the. other girls
withdrew from her, eating In haste and
for the most part silently, or with only
| slight murmurs to one another. She
began to think she didn't want any din
ner after all. She took off her hat and
went to making eyelet holes again. Mr..
! Chester approached her.
What about this stud?" said he,
| brusquely. Don't you think you could
find it by hunting a little longer?"
FlOretta looked at him in silence. She
| did not know how to meet his words and
manner. Her trembling mouth and
tcar-flled eyes were eloquent, however,
and Mr.. Chester softened little.
You see," said he, you're response
Bile for it. You had it last. Now, If it
got into your pocket-by accident, you
| know, or for safe-keeping-al you've
| got to do is to hand it out. Save lots Of
trouble"
Il haven't it," said Floretta. 81 don't
know where it is. thought Miss Hall
came and took it after l got through
measuring"
Miss Hall, terrified by the loss of the
moonstone, uttered an angry exclama-
| ton.
well, if that isn't impudence," said
she. Serves me right for taking a girl
did it, too! Might have known we
| should get in some light-fngered per
son!"
The gathering storm had broken; the
accusation had been put into words.
| Floretta started to her feet; her eyes
| dried on the instant.
You asked me for no references;
! could have given you plenty" said she,
with dignity. Anybody at my home
will speak for me-the minister, or the
high school teacher or the postmas-
| ter"
How long will it take to hear from
| them?" asked Miss Hall, sarcastically.
Il Think" she added to Mr.. Chester,
'the quickest way will be to send for
the police and have hen searched"
will you turn your pocket inside
| out?" asked Mr.. Chester.
Not unless all the other girls Cbo anl
Miss Hall, too" replied Floretta, indig-
nantly.
Miss Hall gasped with resentment.
Mr. Chester looked puzzled.
Have you made a thorough search,
MISS HILL ne asked.
Very" she replied with emphasis
| He said no more, but with an anxious
brow left the room.
Downstairs Mr.. Chester went to the
telephone and rang up his wife, who
| by this time had reached home; and this
is what Peter heard:
"Flossie-Flossie, is that you? -
slant be home to dimner-You could
hear me if you didn't try to talk while
| I'm talking.-I shan't be home to dim
| ner. Did you hear me then because
| I've got to hunt up customers stud
| 1t got lost in the workroom somehow.
I'm in hurry. Good-by."
Foretta was faint Tor want of food,
and she had received a nervous shock
| from the accusation uttered by Miss
Hall.
Il feel sick. I ought to go home
she said to Dolly, who Immediately Of
| fered to get a glass of water, to make a
cup of tea, to fix place for Floretta to
lie down, and nun berless other things
But Floretta rose reluctantly and
| moved toward Miss Hall.
"If you have no more work for me,
| think l will go home" she said.
mo, you can't go home till Mr.. Ches-
ter comes back" snapped Miss Hall.
SHOULD think you'd know better than
to propose such thing"
One by one the girls finished and
| folded their work. Those whose duty
it was covered counters, shelves, tables
and machines with large, white cloths,
even Dolly began to make preparations
for leaving. Conscious of innocence,
Floretta felt no fear, and even wondered
what the next development would be.
Her wonder was quickly satisfied
Up the stairs flew the same rustic and
tinkle that had been heard once before
that day, and Mrs. Chester burst upon
the scene, her voice preceding her.
Here's that horrid old moonstone
Peter says you're alf making such a
fuss about" she cried. Il fastened it
to my watch chain to see how it would
look as a pendant, and wore at home,
and forgot all about it till you"-turn-
ing to her husband-"spoket through the
/ telephone about lost stud!"