The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-04-30

Il don't know about that" resoluteiy
answered Miss Hall. She walked over
20 the speaking tube
Peter she called. task Mr. Chester
70 come up here.
Mr. Chester came. Miss Hall talked
with him in . JoW voice for some min
utes- Flore-1a was extremely uncom-
Portable She felt sure they were talk
ing about Der; bes i6es. the other girls
withdrew from her. eating II haste and
for the nos, part silently. OF with only
slight muruurs 70 one another. she
began 20 think she didn't want any din
nez after al. She took OF her hat ana
went 70 making eyelet holes again Mr.
Chester approached Der.
What about this stud - said be,
brlsguely. Don't you think you could
find il by hunting little lo1ger?
F-Oretta looked a. him u silence. she
did lot know how 70 met his words and
manner. Her trembling mouth and
tear-dlled eyes were eloquent, however,
aud Air. Chester softeped little
You see sid be. you're response
bic for il You rad Il last. Now. Il it
got into your pocket-by accident, ron
know, o. fOr sate-keeplng-all you've
got 70 DO < 20 hand il out Save lots Of
trouble"
Il haven't II, said Floret-a i don't
know where Il IS. thought Miss Hall
came and took il after I 20, through
measuring"
Miss Hall. terrified by the loes Of the
ucoDstOre. uttered al angry exclama-
tlon.
Well, Z that isn't inPudence." said
she. Serves ne right for taking d girI
without any reference: first time / ever
did il, too. Might have known We
should get in some lig31-hngered per
son
The gathering storm had broken; the
accusation had been put into words.
F-oEe1la started % her feet; her eyes
dried OF the instant.
You asked me for no references; ]
could have given you plenty, said she.
with dignity. Anybody al my home
vii. speak for nse-the minister, OF the
high school teacher OF the postmas-
ter"
How long viii II take 70 hear from
theu?" asked Miss Hall. sarcastically.
Il think" she added 70 Nh Chester,
the quickest way VIII be 10 send for
the police and have her searched"
VIII you turn your pocket inside
olt?" asl Cd Mr. Chester.
"No, unless all the other girls DO and
Miss Hall. too replied Floretta. indig-
naEtly.
Mss Hall gasped with resentment.
NJ. Chester looked puzzled.
Have you made q thorough search.
Miss HaIl?~ he asked.
VERY she replied with emphasis.
He said no more, but with an anxious
brow left the room
Downstairs Mr. Chester went 70 the
telephone and rang - his wife. who
By this time had reachI home: and this
IS what Peter heard:
"Flossie-Flossie, Is that you? =
slant be home 10 dinuer-You could
hear ne 7 you didn't Try 70 talk while
I'm talking-I shan't be home 10 din
ner. Did you hear me then ?-Becasse
I've got to hunt up a customers stud
II got lost in the ygorkroom somehow.
I'm in hurry. Good-by."
FIoretta was faint for want OF food.
and she had received q nervous shock
from the accusation uttered by Miss
Hall
Il feel sick l ought 70 20 home"
she said 10 Dolly, who Immediately Of
fered TO get a glass of water, 70 make
cup Of tea, TO fix z place for Flo-etta 70
lie down. and Eumberless other things.
But Floretta rose reluctantly and
moved toward Miss Hall
IF you have no more work for me, l
think l viii 90 home" she said.
"No. you can't 90 home I'll Mr. Ches-
ter comes back" snapped Miss Hall.
Should think you'd know better than
TO propose such q thing"
One by one the girls finished and
folded their work. Those whose duty
Il 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
tinkle that had been heard once before
that day, and Mrs. Chester burst upon
the scene. her voice preceding her.
Here's THAI 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 ii would
look as a pendant. and wore at home.
and forgot all about it till you"-turn-
ing 10 her husband-"spoke through the
telephone about lost stud"
Of the sewing girls present, some
laughed, others exclaimed; Miss Hall
stiffly said she had already begun to
think she was mistaken about Miss I
Simpson: Mr.. Chester gravely apollo I
yized for his wife in the fewest words 4
possible: Mrs Chester exclaimed and 1
Floretta alone said nothing.
She looked exceedingly white. how (
ever. and Mr.. Chester called a carriage /
10 take her to her boarding place Dol I
II accompanied her. and. as the carriage /
rolled away, exclaimed: THE idea OF .
Mrs. Chester wearing that stud home! (
l should think you'd be mad enough +
u the feather-headed little thing to
shake her."
81 am too glad the moonstone is f
found TO be mad at anybody" said /
l3retta-Housewife