The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-03-24

felt something was wrong. She looked
different, somehow, and her voice was
different
Good morning, good morning" she
repeatedly said. 81 told your husband
I'd be here this morning; so here !
am" setting down her suit case and
bundle and leaning heavily against the
wall. But l can't begin work today
I'll leave these things and come in
the morning."
"Yon can't begin today Helen ex-
claimed IN establishment. why, I've
been depending upon you. I haven't
any one to DO the work"
But you see. dearies"-Helen
started in Amusement at this term. but
Mary O'Connor went on blandly-
you see, I've got to go over to
Brokolyn today on some business.
really can't come fore tomorrow"
Then why didn't you tell us that
yesterday" persisted Helen. You
promised Mr.. Curtis you'd be here the
first thing this morning"
$50 l did, dearie," with smile that
now seemed to Helen curiously -
And I'm here, amt II"
Just then Melen got Whit of her
breath. She had been drinking. II
was unmistakable. Helen drew back
with a feeling of unmingled dismay
disgust and pity. She remembered
what Warren had said about so many
middleaged servants drinking.
What should she do? Should she
discharge her now? Yet she had such
excellent references. Could this be
only an incident which might not oc.
cur again? With a good home and
;r1,x IN oil fohf
In a second all this flashed through
Helen's mind, while Mary O'Connor
still leaned against the wall and
smiled namely at her.
At least she would keep her until
she could telephone Warren. If he
would only come-he would know
what to do.
Where shall | put my things
| dearie?" asked Mary.
Helen shrank from the obnoxious
"dearie," but it would be useless to
| reprove her now.
You can set them in here. Mary
opening the door of the maids room
But | don't want you to go just
yet Mr.. Curtis is coming home in a
| few moments and I want you to speak
to him first
All right" amiably. but I've got a
friend downstairs, Mrs. Casey. She's
very fine woman" confidentially
| She owns three houses in Newark
and her daughter took beauty prize
| worked for Mrs. Casey two years
I'd like for you to meet her, and
don't want to keep her downstairs
Dearie, won't you send for her to
come up?'
"Why-why, yes stammered
Helen, more bewildered than ever
What did it mean? Who was Mrs
Casey and why was she waiting down
stairs At any rate, she would have
to let her come up.
Before she could reach the tele
phone the bell rang shrilly. 1t was
the hall boys voice.
Mrs Curtis, there's woman wait.
ing down here who wants to know II
Mary O'Connor is coming down
You can tell her to come up and
wait here said Helen.
And when moment later Helen
opened the door, this time she was
almost frightened at the weird look
ing woman that stood there. A pond
erously fat woman in shabby black
dress, with red blotched face. under
a bedraggled black bonnet. She came
in heavily, without speaking.
This is Mrs. Casey beamed Mary.
"She owns three houses in Newark
and | worked for her two years, didn't
T."
That she did" in deep base voice.
She's a fine girl, too
will you both wait in here" fall
tered Helen five got to telephone
a moment
All right, dearies," assented Mary
cheerfully I'VE can wait bit, just
80 gets to Brooklyn fore the bank
closes. You see I've a little saving
bank account over there, and I've got
to tend to that
Leaving the two women sitting side
by side in the dining room, Helen hur-
ried in to the telephone, closing the
door so they could not hear. In a sec
ond she had called up Warrens office
and had him on the wire.
"Oh, the most AWFUL thing has
happened excitedly. THAT woman
has come and she's been DRINKING!
Oh, she talks so queer! And the most
dreadful woman is with her! I'm al
most frightened don't know what to