The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-08-20

M,Lal Ierher+ go away.
tt- For a second
Helen was tempt
ed to rush to the door, fling 1t open
and confront Emma with her lie. But
with the Stevenses coming to dinner, |
it was not an opportune time for
a scene.
Besides. Emmas month was up
the goth, and Helen had already 0lu
her to look for another place
She could not longer put up with her
untruthfulness, her furtlVeness anu
her intimacy with the Gordons
maid
The mayonnaise, beaten TO
creamy smoothness, Helen now put
in the ice; gave few adjusting
touches to the sideb0ard and table
and went in to dress. knowing 1t
would take several weeks to break
in a new girl, she was having the
Stevenses before Emma left
She had taken down her hair when
she thought Of the egg for the salad
Last time it had not been hard enough
the yolk was gluey.
Emma" running back to the
kitchen, but the only answering
sound was the gurgle Of the boiling
potatoes. Emma was not there!
Was she over with the Gordons
maid again? Helen opened the dool
and rang furiously their kitchen bell
which could be heard across the hall
Emma" as the girl came sheep
jshly out, cant You stay IN YOU
own kitchen long enough to get din
ner?"
Il just wanted to take back lem
on | borrowed" with evasive eyes.
How many times have | told yo'
not to borrow Of the Gordons? Whel
did YOU need a lemon? We Away
have lemons"
"Oh, it was last week, when-Whel
we had that salmon.
Emma's glib lies were ever read!
With an effort Helen let this one pass
told her CURLY about the egg, an
went back to her room.
Sitting on the floor to put on ne
slippers, she was startled by an e.
plosion that sounded alarming
near. But, as no commotion folloWe
she decided it was bursting tire
the street below.
OF fOnrhG
rang. 1t couldn not be the Stevens'
it was only half-past six! Eve
Warren had not come yet
Again the bell, a clamorous pea
Where was Emma? Why did 81
not answer 1t? Had she dared to
over to the Gordons again?
Throwing on a kim0no, Helen RI
out to the hall The Stevenses Wou
not ring like that! Standing back
the door, she opened it few inche
A glimpse of Enma's white apron
she had locked herself out!
Helen, furious, flung wide t
door. Then she saw that somethl
had happened There stood the III
dons' maid, white as chalk. Emn
her face covered with her hands, W
leaning tremblingly against the wa
"Oh-oh. the oven.' she sobbed
it exploded
That was what she had hear
Helen flew out to the kitchen,
Meeting to see it in flames, but the
was only dense smoke and stllll
smell of gas She flung up the ="
dow, TUNED eff the still escaping g
and ran back to Emma.
Her hairs all scorched, ma'ar
whispered the Gordon's maid.
Scorthed. Helen had thought s
was oaly frightened. Drawing
to the light, she saw that her b
was badly singed.
why, Emma taking the gl
hands from her face, and your
brcws, too. Oh, TLl SO sorry. Wa
Helen flew for the cold cream.
Here, rub this on-does it smar
The cir! nodded and rubbed
cream On her soot-streaked face.
"Oh. she came runnin' out SO sea
she couldn't speak," the Gordc
maid still clutching tea towel an
plate of the Gordons best China
4 heard the explosion" admit
Helen, but | didn't dream it was
our kitchen. Warren!' she called
citedly. Gone herein emma rol
The stove exploded"
Without waiting to take of mis- G
coat. Warren came rushing out.
How'd this happen? as he gu
ly examined the singed hair and
brows. Then, turning to he
Wed better have doctor here.
"Oh, no, sir I'm all right, | q
need a DOCTOR" protested Emma
81 hardly think she does, dear, l
mured Helen, thinking of the eXpe
yet hating herself for 1t.