Putnam patriot., 1913-09-26

has business relations with them and wants them invited. and of all times for Betty to leave this was the worsti" She had unconsciously fallen into a tone of equality with the strange girl.
 T should like to help you said the girl. but I must find somewhere to stay before night, and if I find a place I must take it. I just came to the city this morning. and have nowhere to stay overnight"
 The troubled look fitted acfoss the woman's face for moment. but her desire got the better of her.
 T suppose my husband would think I was crazy to do it." she said aloud,
 but 1 just cant help trusting you. Suppose you come and stay with me today and tomorrow. and help me out with this dinner party. and you can stay overnight at my house and sleep in the cooks room If like your work, I'll give you a recommendation as waitress. You cant get a good place anywhere without 1t, not from the offices, I'm sure A recommends tion ought to be worth a couple of days work to you. I'd pay you some thing besides. but I really can't afford it, for the washerwoman charges a dollar and half day when she goes out to cook; but if you get your board and lodging and reference. that ought to pay you.
 You are very kind" said the girl. T shall be glad to do that"
 And so they got into car and were whirled away into pretty suburb. The woman. whose name was Mrs. Hart. lived in a common little house filled with imitation oriental rugs and cheap furniture
 The two went to work at once, bringing order out of the confusion that reigned in the tiny kitchen. In the afternoon the would-be waitress sat down with a box of water-colors to paint dinner-cards, and as her skill ful brush brought into being dainty landscapes. lovely flowers. and little. brown birds. she pondered the strange ness of her lot.
 The table the next night was laid with exquisite care, the scant supply of flowers having been used to best advantage, and everything showing the touch of a skilled hand. The long hours that Mrs. Hart had spent puck ering her brow over the household de- pertinent of fashion magazines helped her to recognize the fact that in her new maid she had what she was pleas ed to call the real thing
 She sighed respectfully when the guest of honor, Mrs. Rhinehart, spoke of the deftness and pleasant appear ance of her hostesss waitress.
 Yes" Mrs. Hart said, swelling with pride. she is a treasure. I only wish I could keep her"
 She's going to get married. I sup pose. They all do when they're good" sympathized the guest.
 No. but she simply won't do cook ing, and l really haven't work enough for two servants in this little house."
 The guest sat up and took notice.
 You don't mean to tell me that you are letting girl like that slip through your fingers? l wish 1 had known about her 1 have spent three days in intelligence offices. Is there any chance for me, do you think?"
 Then dtd the little woman prove that she should have had an @ in her name, for she burst into a most vol uble account of the virtues of her new maid, until the other woman was ready to hire her on the spot. The result of 1t all was that Mary" was summoned to an interview with Rhinehart In the dining room, and engaged at four dol lars a week. with every other Sunday afternoon and every other Thursday out, and her uniforms furnished.
 The next morning MT. Hart gave her a dollar-bll and told her that he appreciated the help she had given them. and wanted to pay her some thing for 1t.
 She thanked him graciously and took the money with kind of awe. Her first earnings, It seemed so strange to think that she had really earned some money, she who had al- ways had all she wanted without lift ing a finger.
 She went to store and bought hair-brush and a few little things that she felt were necessities, With a fifty cent straw telescope in which to put them. Thus, with her modest baggage, she entered the home of Mrs. Rhine hare, and ascended to a tiny room on the fourth floor, in which were a cot and a washstand cracked mirror, one chair, and one window.