Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-03-17

you know, Richard, paid $25 a dozen
at wholesale, and it was a great re-
duction, too"
Suspect her? l should say mott"
Wilbur answered as he swung into
his overcoat, I'D as soon accuse our
Freddie. Why, she's a lady-and look
at the care she's been taking of Kath-
arine the last two weeks"
Il know, and, as | say, l don't sus-
pect her in the least. However, the
fact that she seemed so ladylike or
that she has taken good care of Kath-
arine has no bearing on the case, in
my opinion. There is such thing as
kleptomania, | suppose you've heard"
But Wilbur was halfway down the
steps and escaped being crushed by
this sarcasm.
"Kathie, darling said Mrs. Wilbur
to her convalescent daughter 81 want
you to look over your jewelry very
carefully and see whether you miss
anything. l hate to put such an idea
into your head about an apparently
lovely young woman, but the fact of
that pearl-handled, silver-mounted din
ner knife having mysteriously disap-
peared right when l was doing the
work and handling all the dishes my
self, is so strange"
Mother! You don't suspect Miss
Darling?" cried her daughter THE
very thought makes me creepy about
her having been in my room for two
weeks"
Don't be so extreme, child. Of
course ! don't suspect her. She's prob
ably as honest as you or l, but the
knife disappeared when she left, that's
all, and I've searched every nook and
Granny in the house. I've even
looked in the garbage barrel, when
knew all the time | couldn't have
thrown it out"
My high-school class pins missing,
mother" Katharine reported from her
bedroom.
When did you have it last?"
I'm not sure, but it couldn't have
Eeen long before was taken ILL.,"
Mrs. Wilbur shook her head gravely.
Il should be very sorry to believe she
took it.. And l really don't see Whist
she could want with high-school pin.
It's barely possible you lost it some
other way, or it may be found on some
waist. Never suspect any one with
out good reason"
Answering friend through the tele-
phOze next day Mrs. Wilbur said:
'Yes--as nurse-I can recommend
her highly. What! You noticed a
reservation? Well, don't like to say
any more, especially through the tele-
phone, Somebody might be listening,
and | believe in being careful about
injuring any ones reputation.
oh, it isn't really anything tangible,
only used my best knives for dinner
the night before she left, and the maid
was away, so that took them out of
the case myself, and positively know
that the whole dozen was there when
/ set the table. 1t isn't a case of guess
ing. If hadn't seen the entire dozen
might have lost one some other time.
We'll, after dinner one was gone.
No, l don't suspect Miss Darling, but
* | were to do so 1t wouldn't be so
absurd as it seems at first thought.
She and two other young women live
in a fiat together and naturally they
would have use for such things. Co
Ing from house to house, as a nurse
does, you know, one could actually
pick up Z set.
Ny feeling is this: l wouldn't
prejudice any one against her for the
world, but wien you're thinking OF
la .ng h9r right in your home it does
zes.a As if | ought to warn you con-
fidel ally. Yes, If you can just as
vel have some one else | should feel
easier. If you had her and then
Missed anything valuable / couldn't
Lcip LoldiuG myself responsible"
"Augus;9, one of my best dinner
k2iTes lisar peared while you were
aa.H5 - III Va ation, Mrs. Wilbur In
?2rr'ai l,er MAJ. who was giving the
i;,caen o thorough scrubbing on
tie first l.,y OF her return. 81 don't
knog unere it went, and l don't sus-
pect Il :urse we sd to take care of
ha lar. br-"
Jco,. u ,- claimed Augusta
rs II clvtter followed her moving of
Tie haaYy llit - table.
la,ie CT. taa i.oor lay the missing
katie aaw5 ,sed, just as it had come
f.ats il { L-AG-eoom on the night of
rs Ara Il had slipped over
r -e~ a2 wedged perpen-
q IA ~ i've = the leg of the kitch.
"a an 3nd ne val.
"beii ly- rs Wilbur. Il knew
it - .eshere And only
$50 IA .l.is.ice l might have
cero A,i = r,l.s II had allowed
myself !, ,geet 2fr Of taking IT'LL
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