Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-07-18
THE CASE OF MARY FRANCES
ROBBINS.

III announced with decision that the
afternoon period of school was to be
closed Immediately. In Room 10 there
was an expectant hush as Miss Sharpley,
with dignity and coldness, stood up.
There seemed to be an unusual awful
ness in her bearing this afternoon. II
trembIed in the primness OF her pulled
hair, it followed her erect figure to the
very floor of the rostrum, it glared from
her eyes behind her glasses. More than
one little girl searched her conscience for
forgotten misdemeanor.
"Mary Frances Robbins, always full
names were announced when the occa-
sion was rious,-"Georgiana Louise
Myer, Edna Grace May, Eloise Bacon
and Gertrude Dorothy Gardiner may re-
main."
The door was opened, and far off down
the long hall came the sound OF marching
feet, joined by others and still others, un-
til Room 10 was added to the ranks, and
out of the great doorway the grades Of
School Number passed, and at last were
free.
A little group of girls fingered at the
corner before parting. One was saying
in low tone:
eyes, know left it in my desk.
brought If to school yesterday. ! just
couldn't wait for you girls to see it. 1t
was real mother-o pearl, with the sweet
est light blue lining and silver chain.
Aunt Julia gave it to me the night before.
II was the dearest little purse. wouldn't
have lost it for anything, and to think that
it should have been taken from my desk
while | was home for luncheon No,
there wasn't any other place where |
could have put it. If | had carried it
home, it would have been inemy coat
pocket. Just before ! got back to school
| felt in my pocket and it was not there
then remembered putting it in my desk,
and hurried in, for knew it was careless
OF me to leave il, and it was not there !
4 tell you, girls, there's thief in that
school p
"But not in our room p came in shock
ed voices.
"Oh, | don't know. Miss Sharpley
asked me lot of questions. The thief
will be found, mark my words p And
Isabel, with her imperious manner, fairly
forced suspicion and judgment into their
minds, as perhaps she had already done
in the more mature mind of Miss Sharp
ley.
In Room 10 the five little girls were
waiting to hear their fate. Miss Sharp
ley stood above them, with no mercy in
her heart. Miss Sharpley was not only
judge and jury she was constable; she
was attorney and counsel for the prose-
cution, and there was no one to take care
of the case for the defendant. No WON
der that the verdict was decided before
the cross examination began I! No Won
der that those little girls had white faces,
cold hands and violently beating hearts
"You may answer my questions in as
few words as possible. Did you five
girls bring your lunch to school yester-
day 2"
ayes, Miss Sharpley."
How little they looked, and how weak
their sweet voices werei
"Georgiana, did you leave the room at
any time ?"
"Yes, Miss Sharpley. EloiSe and !
ran down to the corner stand to buy an
orange to eat with our lunch"
"And you, Gertrude, did you leave this
room during the noon intermission ?"
eyes, Miss Sharpley. Edna and
went to Room 9 to speak to Louisa
Brooks"
"And YOU, Mary, did you leave this
room at all ?"
"No, Miss Sharpley, was here all the
time"
"Did any of the other children happen
to come into the room while you were
here ?"
Miss Sharpley's voice had acquired
sharpness, positiveness and awfulness as
she proceeded, and poor little Mary Fran
ces felt that she was being led in some
mysterious way into dark and dreary
place whence there would be no retreat.
"No, Miss Sharpley."
"Did you go to Isabeis desk for any
thing?
For some reason the air seemed full OF
foreboding when Mary hesitated nc
ment before answering. Was it to think,
that she might answer correctly. or why
was it? Miss Sharpley knew.
She was no longer grade teacher
she was a detective finding the clue. She
forgot that the little girl before her had
always been marked by truthfulness and
sweetness she forgot the child's gentle
bringing up; she saw only thief. sell
convicted, before her, much too innocent
looking in a white apron and modest lit
tie dress.
"Answer."
ayes. Miss Sharpley, ] put back the
history book she let me take yesterday
morning"
"Georgiana, Gertrude, EloIse, Edna,
leave the room. Go home"
All, Miss Sharpley. how could you,