The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-09-23

| times given to outsiders, and that II she
cared to call every morning at o'clock
there might some day be a chance for
her.
| So she had called-day after day, week
after week. and no chance had ever
come; and day after day her money
dwindled and she went from bad to
worse until now Dickie was i'll and she
had reached her last penny.
She knelt down by the mattress upon
which Dickie lay upon the floor and
bent low over him.
ooh. Dickie! Oh, Dickie!" she said,
II don't know how to 60 on! [ think if
we were both dead"-and she took his
little wasted hand in hers-"I think if
we had both died with daddy in the sea
it would have been better for us. Oh,
[ am so tired! | am so tired!"
She would make one more effort-she
would try once again before she gave
up. She hurried through the streets to
the office that had become so familiar
to her now. She pushed open the swing
doors.
sTs there anything for me this morn
ing?" she asked.
On the answer depended the life of
her little child.
A clerk, busy over some letters, looked
up and began to shake his head. At that
moment someone came out from an in
ner Office. He was talking to another
man.
"a woman?" he said '1t's woman
we want for this job. Who's that yon-
der?''
"She's a Mrs. Mayce," the other an
swered, "but she's never had any work
from us yet"
"Send her in to me. I'll see what she
is made of" He stepped back, and
Ethel turned with beating heart. Work
at last!
The man who had spoken, whom she
knew as the manager, looked at her
sharply.
"You're Mrs. Mayce?" he said. well,
sit down. We've little thing here that
you may be able to undertake for us.
Anyhow, you can try. Here are the
facts: A client of ours, Godfrey Horner,
merchant in the city, has lost dia-
mond ring valued 925. He left it lying
on his desk, and while it was there it
was stolen. The only person who had
access to his room was young man,
son of friend of his, whose name he
will not give and whom he refuses to
believe guilty. The young man leaves
| the house nightly at about o'clock.
We want you to get his name and ad-
dress and any other information you
can about him. Here is his description.
furnished by our detective. You will
have to follow him, of course. You can
get your days expenses from the cashier
here's memo for Ell, for which you
will account to us later-and, of course,
any reliable information you bring we'll
pay for.'
She went out treading on air. A pound
in her pocket meant food and medicine
for her little Dickie.
| At 5 o'clock she put on black skirt
and blouse, which had been too shabby
| to pawn, and over an old black Lat she
put thick veil.
Ten minutes later she was on her way
| to Godfrey Horner's house.
| She walked UP and down. She crossed
the road she went up to the corner and
back, she rounded the square. And now.
as 6 o'clock came and passed, and she
dared not go far from the house, she
grew alarmed. She fancied that the
policeman looked at her suspiciously.
and twice she had to risk losing the
man she had to follow in walking around
the square out of the policeman's sight.
But it seemed she was in luck at last.
T.! Just as she rounded the corner again
the door of the house opened and some
one came down the steps. She followed
J him breathlessly, waiting an instant as
he stood at the bottom of the steps to
take out his latchkey and then followed
boldly.
In the dingy window was small card
with the word Apartment upon it. An
idea came to her instantly-she would
engage a room there and then, and
search his next day while he was out.
| In a moment she was standing level
with him upon the top step, and eagerly
she looked at his face. 1t was bent and
| turned from her in his effort to fit the
kew and open the door, but something
about it made her heart throb sharply.
1t was thin and white; it looked
drawn and sad-it-good heavens! He
turned and the key dropped from his
fingers and rang sharply, springing from
step to step to the pavement beneath
them.
He uttered one word brokenly:
"Ethel"
She put out her hand wildly and then
reeled into his arms.
1t was Jack-Jack returned from the
sea- alive-and thief!
In his room they faced each other.
Jack, they say you are thief. I've
been set to watch you. I followed you
tonight and that is why I am here
to watch you."
He looked startled for an instant.
Then he gave laugh.
us it the ring?" he cried 'Mr. Hor-
ner's ring?"
She nodded. He laughed again.
Darling, the thief confessed and re-
turned it tonight just before I came
away 1t was one of his servants"
He took her in his arms, and looked
down into her face.
Tive had a CHASTITY time," he said,