Tensas gazette., 1915-07-30

Tor honesty! That showed how little
a reference meant. Helen was walk
ing excitedly up and down.
You know what I'm going to do!"
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 1t 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 a maid. Emma
Anderson. believe she had a ref.
erence from you;"
"Yes. gave her a reference" In
questioning voice.
And think you said she was hon.
est: Well. I'm sorry to say I
haven't found her so-that is in small
things"
WAS it ribbons?" laughingly.
"Why-how do you know"
That was Emma's weakness. She
would take ribbons to run in her un-
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 q
year and l trusted her with every
thing. I consider her very good girl.
and I didn't hesitate to give her .
reference. You know most of them
have worse faults than"
Yes. 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
she's really honest in every other
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, Nov 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 II 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. It 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 II
Emma insisted that there was no
more ribbon in her room, then she
would go straight to the closet and
lift up the bundle of clothes. With
a 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 "mew" Does Pussy want
some milk?'
Helen drew back into the dark -
Emma's door opened with q flood Of
light. She was going out to the
kitchen for the milk, still talking to
Pussy Purr-Mew In her cooling. girl
ish way.
Standing irresolutely in the DARK
ened dining room. Helen thought Of
what Mrs. Lewison had said-that the
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 Dwere waning.
She thought, too. of the trouble and
worry OF breaking in another girl.
who might have worse faults apd
more of them. Might 1t not be easier
to simply lock up her ribbons and say
nothing?
Another moment of indecision, and
Helen noiselesly left the dining
room.
We'll. how about it," demanded
Warren, when she came back and
took up the magazine with an edac-
ing, uncommunicative air. did che
own up?"
Il didn't ask her. I-Ithought IL
let 1t go this time.r
"Petered out, eh? Kicked up dust
about nothing? Give the girl some
ribbon. tell you. II that's all she
wants. Can't expect q paragon for
FIVE week. Where's the other part
| NJ this naDor3"