The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-04

and the girl did not appear again.
When 1 could no longer bear the ac-
cusing eyes of mother and Eulalle,
fled to my room.
had been in the room out a rev
moments when I felt as if some one
were standing close to me. 1 turned
suddenly. Everything was still Ihe
ehostly sensation had been so sharp
and sudden 1 stepped into the halfway
and looked about, expecting to see one
of the maids. The hallway was clear.
Feeling sleepy and wretched, the con-
slant rain beginning to tell on my
nerves, 1 unfastened string OF
pearls from my throat. threw them on
the dresser and myself on couch.
In another second I was sitting up
straight, dumb with terror! L wanted
to shrek, but could not. 1 saw my
string of pearls disappear, bead by
bead. over the side of the dresser,
thru the opening of the curtain. MY
dresser was close to the door leadins
into the hall. The couch was resting
on was the other side OF rhe room
near the window. No visible thing
grail bed the beads, but they flnally
were gone. I was simply too horrl-
fled to move. 1t was so gnastly. no
human hand had appeared thru the
opening of the curtain, but the beads
certainly were gone. 1t was fully five
minutes before / came to my senses.
Then I rushed downstairs, thru Eu-
lalie's room. 1 was, L confess too
scared to leave thru my door
Father was not about. Mother ana
Eulalie sat with the other gloomy wo-
men. watching the hated rain as 1t
smashed in the road, forming NINA
ture rivers and lakes Eulahe yaWneo
and dragged herself to the STAIRS ana
mounted them I Whispered 70 ni ,
or ahout the necklace. Not the least
flicker of an eyelash from mother. In
her best manner, she said: IL was
the chambermaid, that new one.
didn't like having her on our iioor;
Don't make a scene wait LOT ldehel-
But, mother dear, lmpioreo'
| 1--WE must do something.
| .sWe'u go upstairs and look for 1t,
replied mother. with simple conf
| dence. s'You might be mistaken, you
know -.
I suggested darkly, THAT funny lit,
tle thing in black-no one knew her.
..She left the hotel bag and baggage
| inst before YOU came down., serene!V
ooss,,red mother. Her eyes were still
red from weeping, poor thing
Forgetting my lost necklace TOT az,
as we assembled. where is the Slater
man." 1 wanted to know.
HE loaned h-r his motor. She was
| still nervous al ling ana ne naon
the heart, presume, to permit ner 10
| start alone for the station. He has
wonderful du1l-green touring car.
EulaIie is planning a picnic in it, some
day soon" Mother was trying hard
not to be agitated.
By that time we had reached my
room. Eulalie stood in the doorway
| that separated her room from mine.
Her eyes, dilated. were framed in a
white scared face She held out mute
| w her empty jewel case and her silver
mesh bag minus its contents.
'SThere must be a dishonest maid
about the house, walled poor, dear
mother.
| piercing shrek from the floor
above echoed thru the halls. We all
| ran out. Such a sight as met our
eyes women guests running hither
and thither holding in their hands
empty pocketbooks. jewel cases and
handbags. Such an uproar. Every
room apparently had been entered.
| ITO Think breathed Eulalie, 81
came upstairs intending to go to the
| little creatures room to make friends
with her for his sake and she-she
| had been here before me-"
"who had been here?" demanded
| mother.
For answer, Eu1a1ie silently held up
| a small torn piece of rusty black
| goods, an exact duplicate of the ma
/ teriaI the beautiful small woman had
| worn for three days. sit was hanging
| on that tiny nail between your door
| and mine."-(Copyright 1916, by the
| Mcclure Newspaper ssyndicate.)