The San Francisco call., 1904-07-10


me every inch Of the way-till got to
ss1, at the end OF the hall, Mrs. King
don's door.
And the goods still on me, Tom'
mind that
Ny, but Mrs. Kingdom was wrathy
when she saw me!
why did they send your" she cried.
'''Why did you keep me waiting so
long7 I want a chambermaid- I've
rung a dozen times. The whole place
is crazy about that old ball tonight,
and no one can get decent attention"
Cant do what you want, ma'am?"
I Just yearned to get inside that door.
NO" she snapped. ''I don't want a
boy to fasten my dress in the back"
We often do. ma am" said softly.
you do? Well"
"Yes'm.' breathed again.
"Well-it's indecent. Go down and
send me a maid"
She was Just closing the door in my
face-and Norway waiting for me to
watch me down again.
Mrs. Kingdom"
well, what do you want7"
Il want to tell you that when I get
down to the office they'll search me-"
She looked at me amazed.
"And-and there's something in my
pocket I-you wouldn't like them to
find"
What in the world-my diamonds
You did take them, you little wretch?"
She caught hold Of my coat. But
Lordy, I didn't want to get away
little bit I let her pull me in, and
then I backed up against the door
and shut il.
Diamonds, Oh. no, ma'am. 1 hope
I'm not a thief. But-but 1t was some
thing you dropped-this."
I fished Moriway's letter out Of my
pocket and handed it to her.
The poor old lady! Being a bellboy
You know just how old ladies really
are. This one at evening, after her
face had been massaged for an hour,
and the manicure girl and hairdresser
had gone. wasn't so bad. But to-day,
with the marks of the mornings tears
on her agitated face, with the blood
pounding UP to her temples where the
hair was thin and gray-Tom Dorgan,
il I'm a vain old fool like that when
I'm three times as old as I am, just tie
stone around my neck and take me
down and drop me into the nearest
water. won't you?
You abominable little wretch" she
sobbed. 7 suppose you've told every
body in the Office"
How could I, ma'am7"
How could you?" She looked UP,
the tears on her habby. flushed cheek.
u didn't know myself. I can't read
writing"
It was thin, but she wanted to be-
lieve II.
She could have taken me in her arms,
she was so happy.
"Therei there!" she patted my shoul-
der and gave me a dollar bill Il was
a bit hasty, Nat. It's only IA little
business matter that Mr.. Moriway's
attending TO for me. We-we'n finish
It up this afternoon. shouldn't like
Miss Kingdom to know Of 1t, because
about business, you know. So don't
mention IL when she comes to-mor-
row"
Nom. Shall I fasten your dress?"
I simply had to stay In that room till
I got rid OF those diamonds.
With a faded old blush-the incest
thing about her I'd ever seen-she
turned her back.
It's dark to-day, ma'am," I coaxed.
Would you mind coming nearer the
Window"
No, she wouldn't mind. She backed
up TO the corner like a gentle little
lamb. While hooked with one hand,
I dropped the bag where the carpet
was stin turned UP. and with the toe
Of my shoe spread II fat again.
You're real handy for a boy" she
said, pleased.
Thank you. ma'sm," answered,
pleased myself
Norway was still watching me, Of
course, when I came out, but I ran
downstairs. he following close, and
when the Major got hold Of me.
pulled my pockets inside out like a lit
tie man
Norway was there at the time. I
knew he wasn't convinced. But he
couldn't watch q bellboy all day long.
and the moment was sure his eyes
were of me I was ready to get those
diamonds back again.
But not a call came all that after
noon from the west side Of the house,
except the call Of those pretty. precious
things snug under the carpet calling,
calling to me to come and get them
and drop bellboying for good.
At last I couldn't stand 1t any long
er There's only one thing to do when
your chance won't come to you; that
is, to go to It. At about four o'clock
lit out, climbed to the second story and
there-Mag, I always was the luckiest
girl at the Cruelty, wasn't I? Well.
there was suite 231 torn up. plum
bers and painters in there, and nothing
in the world to prevent a boys skin
ming through when no one was watch
fAnMsA. Mss>1