The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1915-08-13

Eth. what's that" irascibly, glaring
oyer his paper.
Il knew she took a lot of narrow
ribbon-but didn't know she took
this! She had it hidden in the bottom
of her closet! Now do you want me
to keep herr"
Who said | wanted you to keep
her? All want is to be let alone!"
Wrought up to . feverish indigna-
ton. Helen could hardly wait until
Emma returned. She would tell her
tonight that when her month was up
she would have to go. Why, the girl
was brazen-absolutely brazen.
And she had come with a reference
for honesty! That showed how little
reference meant Helen was walk
ing excitedly up and down.
You know what I'm going to dol"
tempestuously, again confronting
Warren. I'm going to call up
Emma's reference right now and ask
what she meant by saying the girl
was honest!"
Go ahead, Whoop it up" with
aggravating unconcern.
A hurried search through her desk.
and Helen found the address-Mrs.
Lewison. Lenox STA
A moment later she had Mrs Levi
son on the phone
This is Mrs. Curtis! I'd like to
speak to you about maid, Emma
Anderson. | believe she had a ref
erence from you?"
Eyes, l gave her a reference" in
questioning voice.
And think you said she was hon.
est. Well, I'm sorry to say
haven't found her so-that is in small
things
WAS it ribbons?" iaughingly.
"Why-how do you know"
That was Emmas weakness She
would take ribbons to run in her I'M
derwear-but as long as she was with
me she never took anything else"
Then you think she can be trusted
with the silver and other"
Absolutely. She was here over a
year and ! trusted her with every
thing. | consider her very good girl
and ! didn't hesitate to give her a
reference. You know most of them
have worse faults than"
Eyes, ! know" murmured Helen.
only | wanted to be sure"
When she hung up the receiver she
| turned to Warren with a puzzled,
Dear, she says it's only ribbons! The
| girl has a mania for ribbons, but
no. In, OtH ~
way"
why In blazes don't you give her
some ribbon-if that's all she wants. "
But she was so untruthful about
| it, unheedingly "She insisted the
ribbon was hers," Then, with sudden
intensity, Now ! know what I'll do!
I'll give her another chance. I'll put
this piece back, and when she comes
in I'll ask her If she's sure she re-
turned it ALL
With deliberate care Helen put the
ribbon back under the bundle of
clothes in Emma's closet, then left
the hall door open so she could hear
her come in. 1t was ten now, and
she rarely stayed out after half past
While she waited. Helen rehearsed
just what she would say. She would
not seem angry or excited, but If
Emma insisted that there was nc
more ribbon I'm her room. then she
would go straight to the closet and
lift up the bundle of clothes. With
grim satisfaction she pictured this
scene and the girls confusion.
At last came the sound of clos
ing door-Emma had come in.
Resolutely Helen went out to her
room At the door she hesitated. The
transom was open. and she could hear
the girl humming. and talking to
Pussy Purr-Mew.
rs Pussy hungry A faint. an
swering NEW" Does Pussy wan
some milk?'
Helen drew back into the dark as
Emmas door opened with food o.
light. She was going out to the
kitchen for the milk. still talking t,
Pussy Purr-Mew in her cooling, girl
ish way.
Standing irresolutely in the dark
ened dining room, Helen thought o
what Mrs Lewiston had said-that thC
girl was young and vain and had ,
weakness for ribbons, but that she
was absolutely honest about every
thing else. Somehow Helen's indig
nation and resentment we're waning
She thought, too. of the trouble ant
worry of breaking in another girl
who might have worse faults ant
more of them Might It not be easie
, to simply lock up her ribbons and sa.
nothing?
Another moment OF indecision. an
} Helen noiselesly lie the dinin
room.
: We'll. how about it?" demande
Warren, when she came back an,
, took up the magazine with an effaS
, ing, communicative air. Did sh
own up?'
: Il didn't ask her. Thought T.
let it go this time"
r "Petered out, Ell? Kicked up dus
D about nothing? Give the girl som