Evening journal., 1897-05-01
I'd haren,t ~ sald Floretta.

land measured an eyelet by it; but !
haven't seen it since"
A hurried search took place, in which
oil the girls present joined.
Floretta stood on the top stair, nos
knowing whether to go or stay.
"Niiss Simpson," said Miss Hall,
sharply, you'd better be hunting for
that stud"
Il don't believe it's in this room at
ALL" said a sewer who breathlessly arose
from a prolonged dive under a 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 a low voice for some min
utes. Floretta was extremely uncom-
Portable. She felt sure they we're talk
ing about her; besides, the other girls
withdrew from her, eating in haste and
for the most part silently, or with only
slight mur1nurs to one another. She
began TO think she didn't want any din
ner after all. She took off her nat 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 little longer?"
Floretta looked at him in silence. She
did not know how to meet his words and
manner. Her trembling mouth and
tear-flled eyes were eloquent, however,
and Mr.. Chester softened little.
you see" said he, you're response
bic for it. You had it last. Now, if it
got into your pocket-by accident, you
know, or for safe-keeping-all you've
got to do is to hand it out. Save lots of
trouble"
II haven't it." said Floretta. Il don't
know where it is. / thought Miss Hall
came and took it after 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 girl
without any reference; first time i ever
did it, tool Night have known we
should get in some light-fngered per-
sonl"
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; l
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.
"I 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 do and
Miss Hall, too" replied Floretta, indig-
nantly.
Miss Hall gasped with resentment.
Mr.. Chester looked puzzled.
"Have you made thorough search,
Miss Hall?" he 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? 90
slant be home to dimer-You could
hear me if you didn't try to talk while
I'm talking shan't be home to din
ner. Did you hear me then because
I've got to hunt up a customers stud.-
1t got lost in the worlroom somehow.
I'm in q hurry. GOod-by."
Floretta was faint Tor want of food,
and she had received a nervous shock
from the accusation uttered by Miss
Hall.
81 feel sick 1 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 a place for Floretta to
lie down, and numberless other things.
But Floretta rose reluctantly and
moved toward Miss Hall.
IF you have no more work for me, I
think l will go home," she said.
"No, you can't go home till Mr.. Ches-
ter comes back" snapped Miss Hall.
SHOULD think you'd know better than
to propose such a 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 few the same rustic and
tinl1le 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 all making such a
fuss about" she cried. Il fastened II
to my watch chain to see how it would
look as a pendant. and wore it home,
and forgot all about it till you"-turn-
ing to her husband-"spoke through the
telephone about a lost studl"
OF the sewing girls present, some
laughed, others exclaimed; Miss Hal