Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-04-04
:. :. "PEARL." - ~
CHAPTER H.-lContinued.l


must lie wrong" she said. Oh. how
thankful she was that she had not given
vent to her angry feelings! I'm put on
nv Jacket and go down to the office this
minute" she continued: and selling her
hat and jacket, she hastily donned them,
and before Patience could find it in her
heart to demonstrate, she had opened and
shut the door, and was gone, leaving Pa
thence alone, with foreboding of evil.
Then she sat, conjuring mp all sorts of
imaginary misfortune, poor child, little
thinking how wrong she was in her APP
prehensions, and how far from guessing
the truth.
1t was a full two miles walk to the
office, but Pansy went at such smart
pace, even running when she saw no one
in sight, that she covered the distance
in considerably less than half an hour,
arriving out of BREATH and excited with
an unknown fear.
The place was closed and not light
was visible anywhere. The Office was one
of several, but the others were hkeMl Use
shut up, and net = soul was to be seen i'll
any direction.
However, she. knew where the house
keeper lived, and thither she directed her
steps After minutes delay, the door
was opened in reply to her knock, and the
housekeeper herself appeared in the door
way--a portly, cheerful looking soul.
Mrs. Locke had taken a great fancy to
the girls, and interested herself in finding
out all she could about them; and she
was surprised to see Pansy at this hour,
and to hear her errand, as she explained
that Miss Davenant had not been at the
Office all day.
"Lor', Miss Pansy" she exclaimed. 81
thought the young lady was at home, and
must be i'll, when she didn't come this
morning. And haven't you seen anything
of her since? Lawks- a mussy; where can
she be-"
Where, indeed! Pansy was now thor
oughly frightened.
"Nou must be making a mistake" she
said "She left as usual for the office at
o'clock this morning, and said she did
not expect to be back before 9 tonight
So she must have come here"
81 amt made no mistake, MISS" re-
piled Mrs. Locke, in an injured tone
"And as for bein' late-why, the offices
was all closed before half-past 6, and the
Young ladies was all well ON their ways
home, by that time"
"But she may have come in while you
were not looking" said Pansy, impatient
". "You are not standing watching at
the door all the time, l suppose? You
must have other things to do"
Sure, vest" retorted Mrs. Locke, high
ly nettled Better things than watching
them young misses walking in and out.
But if you don't believe me, there's the
book as they leave with me every even
ing;" and she produced the book in which
each girl had signed her name that morn
ing.
"AIrs. Locks" said Pansy, after anx
iously examining the entries, and speak
ing with a shaking voice, my sister left
us at the hour she is accustomed to this
morning, as | told you, and we have seen
and heard nothing of her since. Can you
help me?"
She spoke beseechingly--in a very diff
ferent tone from that which she had pre-
viously adopted, and Mrs. Locke relented
at once.
"Poor lamb" she exclaimed, in moth
erly tone. "If you are after finding her,
| don't see what you are to do. They as
belong to the office can give you no in
formation, no more than me. But per-
haps she has taken il into her head to do
something unusual I should think, from
what Tve seen of her, that she's rather
cratic young lady-always SO full of
spirits. Still. it were very inconsiderate
Of her to 60 off and leave you in such a
way"
Seeing that no further inquiry in that
direction was of any use, Pansy cut short
her visit, deeming it wiser not to discuss
the possibilities of this strange disap-
pearance with a woman about whom she
knew literally nothing, and, bidding her
good night she beat retreat, and turned
her footsteps homewards with q heavy
heart. What could it all mean? What
was she to say to Patience? What was
to be done? The thought flashed across
her mind that she would go round to the
police station and ask for their helps but,
on consideration, she deemed it wiser not
to do this, and perhaps expose herself
and her sisters unnecessarily and use
lessly.
Perhaps, after all, it was some freak of
Pearls, and they would see her safely
home in the morning. Possibly, even now
she was at home, pleading for forgiveness
for her misconduct.
Thus Pansy argued to herself, as she
walked along, and at the last thought
involuntarily quiekened her already brisk
pace to a run.
When at last she arrived home. it be-
ing IheA cIOsB On man pdSI II, shc lOulu
Patience still alone.
What news?" cried Patience, running
out to meet her, as Pansy turned the
handle of the door. and came into the
small hall, breathless and warm with her
recent exertion. Have you found her?
Is she safer Is she well?"
Dear Patience, do be calm" said
Pansy, soothingly. 81 have not found
her, nor even got news of her where
abouts. She has not been to the office
all day, and they closed at the usual
hour. It's my belief she has played us
some trick. A mean thing to do, know
ing, as she must, how it would brighten
US"
"0h, Pansy, where is she?" cried Pa
thence, wringing her hands in an agony
Of fear. What shall we do? Are you
sure your information is correctf'
he tears stood in her frightened eyes,
and Pansy threw her arm round her, and,
drawing her into the warm sitting room,