The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1915-07-09


over his paper.
Il knew she took a lot of narrow
ribbon-but / didn't know she took
this! She had 1t hidden in the bottom
Of her closet! Now do you want me
to keep herr"
who said | wanted you to keep
her? All want is to be let alone!"
Wrought up TO feverIsh indigna-
ton, Helen could hardly wait until
Emma returned She would tell her
tonight that when her month was up
she would have to go. Why, the girl
was brazen--absolutely brazen.
And she had come with a reference
for honestly That showed how little
a reference meant. Helen was walk
ing excitedly up and down.
"You know what I'm going to dol"
tempestuously, again confronting
Warren. "Tm 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.
Lewiston, Lenox STA.
A moment later she had Mrs. Levi.
son on the phone.
This is Mrs. Curtisl I'd like to
speak to you about a maid, Emma
Anderson. believe she had a ref
erence from your"
Eyes, l gave her reference" in
questioning voice.
"And think you said she was hon.
est, Well, I'm sorry to say
haven't found her so-that is in small
things"
WAS 1t ribbons?" laughingly.
"Why how do you know"
"That was Emmas weakness. She
would take ribbons to run in her I'M
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 a
year and l trusted her with every
thing. | consider her a very good girl.
and didn't hesitate to give her a
reference. You know most OF them
have worse faults than"
Eyes, l 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," unheedlngly. "She insisted the
ribbon was hersl" 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 1t 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. 1t 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 IL
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
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
swerlng "mew." Does Pussy want
some MILK"
Helen drew back into the dark as
Emma's door opened with a food 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. Lewiston had said-that the
girl was young and vain and had a
weakness for ribbons. but that she
was absolutely honest about every-
thing else. Somehow Helen's indig-
nation and resentment were waning.
She thought, too. OF the trouble and
worry OF breaking In another girl.
who might have worse faults and
more OF them. Might It not be easier
to simply lock up her ribbons and say
Another moment OF INDIGESTION. and
Helen noiselesly left the dining
room
well, how about it7" demanded
Warren. when she came back and
took up the magazine with an efac-
ing. uncommunicative air. did she
own ups-
4 didn't ask her. Thought "a
let It 60 this time
"Petered out. ehi Kicked up a dust
about nothing Gre the girl soma
ribbon. ] tel Jon. Il that's all she
wants Can't expect = paragon Tor