The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-04-29
IT haven't it, said Floretta.

Eyes. know you did," said Floretta,
''and l measured an eyelet by it; but !
haven't seen it 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 Mt
ALL" said a sewer who breathlessly arose
from a prolonged dive under table.
| II 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"
with him in a 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 little longer?"
| Floretta looked at him in silence. She
did not know how to meet his words and
manner. Her trembling mouth and
tcs1-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-an you've
got to do is to hand it out. Save lots of
trouble
II haven't it, said Floretta. II don't
know where it is. I thought Miss Hall
came and took it after l got through
measuring"
Miss Hall, terrified by the loss of the
moonstone, uttered an angry exc1ama-
ton.
'Well, if that isn't impudenceI!" said
she. "Serves me right for taking girl
without any reference; first time ever
did it, too! Might have known we
should get in some ight-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 houne
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
1.-THE quickest way will be- to send for
the police and have her 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? -
Slant be home to dinner-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 a customers stud.-
It got lost in the worlroom somehow.
I'm in a hurry. Good-by."
Floretta was faint Tor want of food,
and she had received a nervous shock
Hall.
II feel sick. ought to go home,'
she said to Dolly, who Immediately Of
fered to get 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 will go home" she said.
NO, yOu Cdll ~ uOIlc I'LL NIL. Cuco-
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 stew the same rustic ard
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 all making such a
fuss about!" she cried. II fastened it
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