The Washington herald., 1915-01-11

Mabel Herbert Urner for four years.
"rhe Married Life of Helen and War
paper, Is the only series now being
written by Mamel Herbert Urner.
GID UT we can't keep a girl that's
n dishonestp
Warren's only answer was
an Indifferent shrug as he Tipped the
ashes from his cigar to the edge of
his salad plate
itP persisted Helen indignantly. "She
kept saying it was hers! l had to get
the bolt and show her where she'd
cut it off before she'd admit she'd
taken it."
"Oh, we'll, what's few ribbons?"
IF she takes ribbons, she'll take
other things. I'll always feel l can't
trust" Then as kmma 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 sh. goes
through my things when Pm 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, l can't lock up things! l won't
have girl l can't trust"
"Well, it's up to you. Fire her if
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
Influence on Early Spring Fashions"
Many of the new coats show a
military tendency in both cut and fin
ish. Braids and brass buttons are
much in favor, and there is marked
= -"
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 it,
several yards might have been cut off;
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
movies" with Mrs. Carson's maid.
The kitchen was dark, but in
Emma's room The light was still
burning. AS Helen went in to turn
it off, she glanced about Disappearing
ly,
The dusty bureau was Uttered with
hairpins, curriers' anc picture post
cards. One of the drawers was half
open, giving a glimpse of the confu-
sion within. A soiled corset and
some old slippers were on the win
dow sill.
Helen stood with her hand raised
to switch off the light, struggling with
a sudden impulse to look through
Emma's things. She had always re-
spected the privacy OF girls room,
but Emma had taken that ribbon and
she had a right to know if she had
taken anything else.
Hesitatingly she turned to the
dressed and opened the top dIawer.
Underneath a tangle of soileG hand
kerchiefs, collars and ribbons, Helen
was amazed to find a number of
things she hac thrown away-a
broken comb, a velvet rose, an
empty perfume bottle and some old
white gloves.
Why had she saved those worthless
things? 1t could hardly be called dis
honest, but it showed a desire to
hoard that Helen did not like.
In the next drawer were an old
silk petticoat and a lace yoke that
only last week she had wrapped in
a bundle and put on the dumb waiter
So Emma had unwrapped the bundle
and taken them outl
Helen turned from the bureau to
the narrow closet. AS she opened the
door an old straw hat of Warren's
tumbleG down from the upper shelf.
What could the girl want with that?
A hasty search disclosed nothing
else. With a thorough distaste for
the work, Helen shut the closet door,
but a roll of clothes kept it from
latching. AS she lifted the bundle to
push it back-underneath, in torn
bit of tissue paper, cleaned some
thing pink and satiny.
Helen caught it up. 1t was over
two yards of wide ribbon-enough to
run in Il skirt. ..-..
- The next moment she was in the
library, shaking the ribbon at War
ren with an excited, vehement This
settles it, She'll have to gol Look