Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-10-19

BEREsFoRDY" HE DEMANDED.
she's my cook! I'll be jiggered If l
will?' Then at the sight of his wfes
quivering lip he pulled himself up.
"An right puss," he said hastily. "Tll
get her here some way Don't you wor-
ry your precious little head. Goodby,
dearest"
And Mrs. Beresford, comforted, re
turned to her cold coffee.
All day long the prospect hung like
nightmare over Beresford. Suppose he
spoke to the wrong woman; suppose
she considered herself insulted and
called for the police. There was no
counting on what a woman might do
When, having but Il scant two minutes
to spare before train time, he dashed
into the waiting room 1t was with a
fervent anathema against cooks in gen
eral and this one in particular that he
pounced upon the nearest woman.
"Are YOU the new cook for Mrs.
Beresford?" he demanded breathlessly.
The woman, startled BY his impetuous
onslaught, surveyed him with n non
COmmittal glance.
"And If l amT she ventured eau
tiously.
I'VE must hurry Have you your
ticketf No? I'll get it. Your trunk?
Oh. that must wait until tomorrow.
Come along" He found time In his
rush to note and inwardly approve the
neat black dress, the gentle, almost
sad, face of the woman beside him.
Another woman, big and crowned with
a huge confcction Of flowers and lace,
stood by the door and Beresford men
tally congratulated himself on not hay
ing to travel with that
At home Mrs. Beresford regarded the
new girl with equal approval The
question of hours, wages, days out,
etc, was quickly settled. Then Mrs.
Beresford asked for references. The
woman looked troubled.
They are all in my trunk" she ex-
planned. Mr.. Reresford IS to bring IT
out tomorrow There was no time to-
day"
"Oh, very we'll" said Mrs. Bcresford.
After all, it did not matter, for with
out good recommendation Mrs. Lewis
would not have sent her.
Dinner was delicious. The soup
was dream, the roast done to a turn.
the game seasoned to perfection. When
the smooth black coffee came as fit
@ng finish to Il dainty repast Mrs.
Bercsford breathed Il long sigh Of re
lief. This woman was certainly
treasure, she mused complacently.
And Mrs. Withers suppressed a little
envious sigh. For like most country
places, Hillside was but resting place
for countless legiOns of girls.
"If she only keeps up like this |
shall regard Maggies departure In the
light of disguised blessing" contided
Mrs Bercsford TO her husband later In
the privacy of their own apartment.
II hope she Is not going to be Ill.
Norah just told me that when she was
arranging my room tonight the cook
came in, saying she felt bad. Norah
fixed her up with hot water bags and
things and thought she would be all
IlSlil III Alt llol illiS jlNlELlOt an
tired. Anyway, l think the Witherses
enjoyed themselves. Now If she Will
only stay"
But Mrs Bercsford's hope was des-
tined to be of short duration. When
NOrah came IN next morning to light
her mistress fire she brought tale OF
woe
The cook has gone, ma'am. She felt
very bad in the night. Oh, yes; she
did that so she walked to the station
and took the first train"
Gone exclaimed Mrs Bercsford.
Gone, Why, Norah"- Then, struck
by a sudden fear, she sprang out of
bed ana ram to the dressing table.
My sapphire bracelet she cried.
THAT girl came so late last night that
| had to hurry to dress and forgot half
my things 1 know l left the bracelet
here but l supposed you had put it
away. Did You, Norah; did your
Norah gave a gasp. The sapphire
bracelet, is it? Sure, didn't see It."
What's the row." inquired Beres-
ford appearing at the door Of his
dressing room. Ills wife flung herself
ut him.
The cooli-thc cook IS goner' she
painted And my sapphire bracelet
And here's a letter from Mrs. Lewis
saying that the E.rl came back to the
office last night ana said she couldn't
find you Who who did you bring out
tI,74