The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1916-12-15
N RAINY WEATHER
BY ELIZABETH SHIELDS.

| guns. lucitStubly pipSu
lalie. Here's that creature again -
The creature referred to was for
lorn little woman in cheap black who
slipped into the hotel lobby
Then mother fiuttered over. Jane
run over to father and interrupt him."
she begged of me. "lt's perfectly dis
graceful the way he neglects his daugh-
ters"
Poor father had been having de-
lightful time during the whole three
blessed days of rain. He smoked and
smoked and smoked and talked war
and finance to the-well, really, the
stunningest man / ever saw! did yeu
ever see anyone so distinguished"
gushed mother.
Just then the stranger looked about
and, after giving me mere passing
glance, his eyes rested on the face of
the woman in black. The kindest ex-
preston came into his eyes-the way
one looks at helpless, pretty babies.
His eyes wandered on to Eulalie.
Leave IT to our mother to follow up
the slightest chance where her daugh-
eSiS ahS NohNSlhNu. ohC oNtudily
pounced on the mani Father was
startled and got fused. Eulalie trailed
languidly into the same armchair IA
Their had occupied and soon father dis
appeared. / made up the fourth in the
party.
I'll confess that although Eulalie and
l did our very prettiest, to say nothing
of mothers amiability, everyone watch
ing knew the man simply could not
keep his eyes off that shrinking figure
in rusty black.
His name, we found was Donald
Slater, and his stay at the mountain
resort was uncertain. His desire to
keep his eyes on the perfectly lovely
profile of the little creature in black
dampened even Eulalie's irrepressible
vivacity.
I'd been trained to be the tactful one
of our family, being the palmer of the
girls. SO, remembering about it in
time, gracefully approached the wom-
an, taking chair directly in front OF
her.
"Beastly weather." l began, smiling
at her kindly.
Would you believe it-she opened
her lips to answer and they stayed
that way. Tears filled her eyes and
drlpped over, running down her cheeks.
The girl looked about, in a pathetical-
iy confused way, then rushed to the
yeranda door. She tried to open it
but couldn't. But the girl persisted in
trying to wrench it open and, with the
assistance of tremendous gust, it
opened, laying her fiat on the floor.
From his seat on the big divan, sur
rounded by pillows and Sister EuIalie,
the Slater man leaped to the middle of
the lobby, stopped over the little fig
ure and picked her up in his arms.
i want to go away from here" the
little thing moaned. With Donald Sla-
ters arm supporting her, the woman
sobbed her way up the stairs.
Then for two hours everyone sat
about staring at her neighbors. Slater
and the girl did not appear again.
When l could no longer bear the ac-
cusing eyes of mother and Eulalie,
fled to my room.
l UNASSIGNED Il string of pearls from
my throat, threw them on the dresser
and myself on couch.
In another second / was sitting ND
straight dumb with terror! l wanted
to shrek, but could not. | saw NV
string of pearls disappear, bead by
bead, over the side of the dresser.
the opening of the curtain.
My dresser was close to the door lead
ing into the hall. 1t was fully five min
utes before / came to my senses. Then
rushed downstairs, through Eulalie's
room. l was, | confess, too scared to
leave through my door. / whispered
to mother about the necklace.
We'll go upstairs and look for it,"
replied mother, with simple confidence.
You might be mistaken, you know"
! suggested darkly, "that funny little
thing ia black-no one knew her"
She left the hotel bag and baggage
Just before you came down." serenely
assured mother. Her eyes were still
red from weeping, poor thing"
Where is the Slater nan?" / wanted
20 know.
HE loaned her his motor. She was
still nervous and crying"
BY that tine we had reached nv
'oom. Eulalie stood in the doorway
hat separated her room from mine
Her eyes, dilated, were framed 30 n
White, scared face. She held out mute
y her empty jewel case and her silver
mesh bag, minus its contents.
There must be dishonest maid
'bout the house." walled poor, dear
mother.
A piercing shrek from the floor
'oove echoed through the halls. We
III ran out. Such a sight as met our
guests running hither
md thither holding in their hands
mpty pocketbooks, jewel cases and
Such an uproari Every
oom apparently had been entered.
10 Think" breathed Eulalie, II
anne up stairs intending to go to the
little creatures room to make friends