The Penn's Grove record., 1915-10-22
IN THE DARK
ANONYMOUS.

summer had robbed her of Jack.
Nothing had been heard of him. No
news had come to her, and bad luck
had logged her all the time. She had
had to move lodgings again and again,
every time a little poorer, every time
taking rooms a little cheaper; and the
only work she seemed to have even a
chance of getting was in the office OF
a private detective agency.
She had applied there IN an impulse
and had been told that work was some
times given to outsiders, and that ii
she cared to call every morning at
nine o'clock there might some day be
a chance for her.
So she had called-day after day,
week after week, and 10 chance had
ever come; and day after day her
money dwindled, and she went from
bad to worse until now Dickie was i'll
and she had reached her last penny.
She would make one more effort
she would try once again before she
gave up. She hurried through the
streets to the Office that had become
SO familiar to her now. She pushed
open the swing doors.
IFS there anything for me this norm
ing?" she asked.
On the answer depended the life OF
her little child.
A clerk, busy over some letters,
looked UP and began to shake his
head. At that moment someone came
out from an inner Office. He was
talking to another man.
"a woman?' he said. "It's a woman
we want for this job. Who's that yon-
der?"
"She's a Mrs. Mayce," the other IN.
swered, "but she's never had any
work from US yet"
Send her in to me I'll see what
she is made Of" He stepped back,
and Ethel turned with a beating heart.
Work at last!
The mar who had spoken, whom
she knew as the manager, looked at
her sharply.
You're Mrs. Mayer" he said.
well, sit down. We've a little thing
here that you may able to undertake
for us. Anyhow, you a try. Here
are the facts: A client Of ours, Geof-
frey Horner, a merchant in the city,
has lost a diamond ring valued at
$125. He left it lying on his desk,
and while it was there it was stolen.
The only person who had zee to
his was a young man, son of a
friend of his, whose name he will not
give and whom he refuses to believe
guilty. The young man leaves the
house nightly at about six o'clock.
We want you to get his name and
address and any information you can
about him. Here is his description,
furnished by our detective. You will
have to follow him, of course. You
a get your days expenses from the
cashier; here's a memo for SIS, for
which you will account to us later
and, of course, any reliable informa-
ton you bring we'll pay for"
She went out treading on air. Five
dollars in her pocket meant food and
medicine for her little Dickie.
At FIVE o'clock she put on a black
skirt and blouse, which had been too
shabby to pawn, and over an old black
hat she put a thick veil.
Ten minutes later she was on her
way to Godfrey Horner's house.
Just as she rounded the corner
the door of the house opened and
someone came down the steps. She
followed him breathlessly, waiting
an instant as he stood at the bot
tom of the steps to take out his latch
key and then followed boldly.
In a moment she was standing level
with him upon the top step, and Gag
erly she looked at his face.
It was thin and white; it looked
drawn and sad-it-good heavens! He
turned, and the key dropped from his
fingers and rang sharply, springing
from step to step to the pavement be.
meath them.
He uttered one word brokenly:
ETHEL"
She put out her hand wildly and
then reeled into his arms.
1t was Jack-Jack returned from the
sea-alive-and a thief!
In his room they faced each other.
"Jack, they say you are a thief. I've
been set to watch you. I followed you
tonight and that is why I am here
to watch you"
He looked startled for an instant
Then he gave a laugh.
Darling, the thief confessed and re
turned it tonight just before I came
away. It was one of his servants"
He took her in his arms, and looked
down into her face.
1--we had a CHASTITY time" he said
land you, too. Darling, you look thir
and Ill. I tried to find you when l got
back-but-it was months after the
wreck. We had drifted for weeks
we were half mad and half dead wher
we were picked up, and then I was
helpless.