Tensas gazette., 1915-07-30

- - ==---1 she'd admit she'd
Mabel n. Urner. taken it,"
"Oh. well. what's
few ribbons. anyway"
IF she takes ribbons, she'll take
other things. I'll always feel ] can't
trust" Then as Emma. entered with
the coffee: did you have a busy
day. dear? Many people in?"
Emma's usually placid face was
slightly flushed. Had she been lis
tening? Helen waited until they were
in the library, out of the reach of pos
sible eavesdropping, then she went on
heatedly:
Its the feeling that she goes
through my things when I'm out
that's what makes me wild! That rib
bon was in a box way in the back
of the drawer-she' had to go through
everything to find it."
Lock your door,"
"Oh, I can't lock up things! won't
have a girl can't trust!"
well, it's up to you. Fire her II
you want to-but she's an. AL cook"
And. drawing up a chair for his feet,
Warren settled back with the paper.
Helen took up the last Woman's )
Journal and turned to THE Wars In
fiuence on Early Spring Fashions"
Her mind passed unmeaningly over
the words. She was thinking of some
narrow lace in the same drawer with
that ribbon-and all that sachet she
had brought from London!
Throwing down the magazine.
Helen ran into her room and got out
the lace. There was so much of 1t,
several yards might have been cut of !:
she could not tell. But the sachet was
all there-four unopened bottles, the
one on her dresser and one she had
given Carrie.
While she had these things out.
Helen started to straighten her draw
er. her mind still revolving around
the problem of Emma.
Whats going on in there?" called
Warren complainingly. who. although
buried in his paper. always wanted
her with him in the evening.
in just minute. dear; I'm putting
away some things"
Before going back to the library,
Helen went out to the kitchen to
speak about the corn mullins for
breakfast. But Emma was not there.
She had hurried through her dishes
and was gone-probably to the
'D,ovies" with Mrs. Carson's maid.
vrhe kitchen was dark, but in
Emma's room the light was still
burning. As Helen went in to turn
1t of, she glanced about disapprov.
ingly.
The dusty bureau was Uttered with
hairpins, curriers' and picture post
cards. One of the drawers was hall
open, giving a glimpse of the confu
sion within.
Helen stood with her hand raised
to switch OF the light, struggling with
q sudden impulse to look through
Emma's things. She had always re-
spected the privacy of a girls room
but Emma had taken that ribbon and
she had a right to know II she had
taken anything else.
Hesitatingly she turned to the
dresser and opened the top drawer
Underneath a tangle Of soiled hand
kerchiefs. collars and ribbons, Helen
was amazed to find a number ol
things she had thrown away-s
broken comb. a velvet rose, ar
empty perfume bottle and some old
white gloves.
Why had she saved those worth
less things? 1t could hardly be called
dishonest, but 1t showed a desire tt
hoard that Helen did not like.
In the next drawer were an old sill
petticoat and a lace yoke that only
last week she had wrapped in Z
bundle and put on the dumb waiter
So Emma had unwrapped the bundle
and taken them out!
Helen turned from the bureau Y
the narrow closet. AS she opened tn,
door an old straw hat of Warren.
tumbled down from the upper shelf
What could the girl want with that
A hasty search disclosed nothin,
else. With a thorough distaste fol
the work. Helen shut the closet door
but a roll of clothes kept 1t from
latching. AS she lifted the bundle 4
push it back-underneath. in a tori
bit of tissue paper, cleaned some
thing pink and satiny.
Helen caught 1t up. It was owe
two yards Of wide ribbon-enough Il
run in a skirt.
The next moment she was IN th'
library. shaking the ribbon at War
rem with an excited, vehement "Thii
settles 1t! She'll have to go! Lool
what found in her room!"
"Eh. what's that?" irascibly, glarini
over his paper.
Il knew she took a lot OF marrow
ribbon-but l didn't know she tool
this! She had 1t hidden in the bottom
Of her closet! Now do you want M
to keep herr"
Who said wanted you to keel
her? All want Is to be let aIone!"
Wrought up to a feverish indigna
ton, Helen could hardly wait unit
Emma returned. She would tell he
tonight that when her month was VI
she would have to 60. Why, the gir
was brazen-abs0lutely brazen.