The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1911-03-11

closing windows for fear of drafts.
She refused to help with the house
work. and looked quite exalted, but by
what, and she and Max shook dice.
Betty was really pleased when Aunt
Selma sent for her. She took In a
bottle Of cologne to bathe her brow,
and we all stood outside the door and
listened. Betty tiptoed in in her pref
ty cap and apron. and we heard her
cautiously draw down the shades
What are you doing that for?"
Aunt Selma demanded. Il like the
light"
ITS bad FOR your poor eyes," Betty's
tone was exactly the proper bedside
pitch. low and sugary.
"'Sweet and low. sweet and low,
wind of the western seal" Dal hum
med outside.
Put up those window shades,"
Aunt selina's voice was strong enough.
What's in that bottle?"
Betty was still mild. She swished to
the window and raised the shade.
I'm 30 sorry you are ILL.," she said
alphabetically. This is for your
poor aching head. Now close your
eyes and lie perfectly still, and I will
cool your forehead"
There's nothing the matter with
my head" Aunt Selma retorted. And
I have not lost my faculties; l am not
child or sick cow. II that's per-
fumery. take 1t out"
We heard Betty coming to the door,
hut thoro 70
She had dropped her mask for a min
ute and was biting her lip. but when
she saw us she forced a smile.
She's Ill, poor dear" she said. IF
you people will go away. can bring
her around all right. In two hours
she will eat out Of my hand"
Eat piece out OF your hand" Max
scoffed In a whisper
We waited little longer, but 1t was
too painful. Aunt Selma demanded a
mustard foot bath and a hot lemonade
| and her back rubbed with liniment
and some strong black tea. And in
the intervals she wanted to be read
to out Of the prayer-book. And when
we had all gone away. there came the
| most terrible noise from Aunt Selina's
room. and every one ran. We found
| Betty in the hall outside the door. cry
ing. with her fingers In her ears and
her cap over her eye. She said she
had been putting the hot-water bottle
to Aunt Selina's back. and 1t had been
too hot. Just then something hit
against the door with soft thud. fell
to the floor and burst. for trickle of
hot water came over the sill.
she won't let me hold her hand"
Betty walled. "or bathe her brow. or
smooth her pillow. She thinks of
nothing but her stomach or her back!
And when I try to make her bed look
decent. she splits at me like a cat.
Everything do Is wrong. She spilled
the foot-bath into her shoes. and blam.
ed me for It."
It took the united efforts Of all of
us-except Bella, who stood back and
smiled nastily-to get Betty back into
the sick-room again. I was supremely
thankful by that time that l had not
drawn the nurses slip With dinner
ordered in from one of the clubs, and
the omelet ten hours behind me. my
position did not seem 80 unbearable.
But a new development was coming.
| While Betty was fussing with Aunt
Selma. Max led search Of the house.
He said the necklace and the bracelet
must be hidden somewhere. and that
no crevice was too small to neglect.
We made a formal search all to-
gether, except Betty and Aunt Selma,
and we found lot Of things in differ.
ent places that Jim said had been
missing since the year one. But no
| jewels-nothing even suggesting q
jewel was found. We had explored the
entire house. every cupboard. every
chest. even the insides Of the couches
and the pockets of Jim's clothes
which he resented bitterly-and found
nothing. and must say the situation
was growing rather strained. Some
one had taken the jewels: they hadn't
walked away.
| 1t was Flanagan who suggested the
roof, and as we had tried every place
else, we climbed there. OF course we
didn't find anything. but after all day
in the house with the shutters closed
on account Of reporters. the air was
glorious. 1t was February, but quite
mild and sunny, and we could look
down over Riverside Drive and the
Hudson. and even recognize people we
knew on horseback and in cars. 1t
was a pathetic Joy. and we lined up
along the parapet and watched the
motor-boats racing on the river, and
tried to feel that we were in the world
as we'll as Of 1t, but 1t was very hard.
CTO BE CONTINUED)