The Washington herald., 1916-10-16

rresh paper on the pantry shelves. What
other girl would wash out the mop and
noor cloths before she left? Dora's vir-
tues loomed largely.
But perhaps she was really not going.
Her effort to make the place immaculate
might be only to show that she wanted
to stay. Helen caught at this hope. II
she waited, Dora might even make the
overtures herself.
Trying to seem unconcerned, Helen
went back to her sewing to await de-
velopments. But at. twelve o'clock she
heard the door OF Doras room close. She
had gone in to dress-that meant she
was going.
Half an hour later, the girl came IN
ready for the street She stood awk-
wardly. her suit case in her hand
"Tn send for my. trunk tomorrow,
ma am. IL 1t won't be in your way?"
mo, Of course not: It can stay here
as long as you like" Then hurriedly:
Dora don't you think you're foolish to
leave. You say you haven't place yet
why not take a weeks vacation and
think 1t over?"
I'm not very strong, ma'am, and the
work here's pretty hard" With down.
cast eyes. Dora twirled her umbrella.
! And IL can't take up them heavy
rugs"
A moments pause, then Helen gulped
back her pride.
well. Dora II you really think you're
| not strong enough to handle the rugs
why. I'll have the house man take them
up"
Yes ma'am," but without enthusiasm.
Then, still intent upon the umbrella,
/ 'Well I'll see, ma'am-pn let you know"
"Oh, don't want to persuade you"
flushed Helen. resenting the girIs un-
responsiveness "If you are not happy
here, don't want you to come back.
Now, Dora, here's your money I am
giving you s15-though IT doesn't come
to quite that. Did you leave the key7"
Thank you, ma'an," as Helen handed
her the three five-dollar bills. IT left
the key on the bureau-and all the
aprons is in the top drawer"
| A moments embarrassed silence, then
Helen rose to end the interview. With
an awkward "Good-by, ma'am," Dora
was gone.
When Helen went out to inspect the
maids room she found It in perfect Or
der. On the bureau. with the key were
Jar Of cold cream. a spool OF thread,
pen and the kitchen scissors. Dora
had been scrupulously careful not to
take anything that did not belong to her
/ Even the laundry bag that she had en-
broidered, and which Helen had intended
her to keep. hung on the door.
With a feeling of desolate depres-
sion. Helen looked around the room.
Would she come back? Should she
have done more to persuade herr
card lay on the window-sill. IDLY
she picked It up. "Kelley's Employ
ment Agency. Domestic Help OF All
Nationalities." and on the back was
written Mrs. W. G. Willis, s25 Park
avenue" Helen stared at II blankly.
So Dora had another place! Her
story about going to ner aunts mad
been only an excuse. But the card
was soiled-it might be an old one.
The next moment Helen was in the
front room, turning hurriedly through
the telephone book. She would hnd
out If Dora had been lying to her!
willis W g. s25 Park av.. Plaza
2s4s"
Hello? 2s4s Plaza7 Are you ex-
pecting a maid of the name Of Dora
Mcclure"
NO. ma'sm." the voice of a man
servant Then. quickly, "Oh. that's
the new waitress-she's comm today.
D'you want to leave q message7'
mo, thank you. as with flaming
cheeks she hung up the receiver.
So Dora had deliberately lied to her!
She must have taken this place last
Thursday-for she had not been out
since. Helen'a indignation increased
as she thought of her humiliating ef-
fort to keep her.
All afternoon the apartment seemed
drearlly deserted. Even Pussy Purr-
NEW wandered about disconsolate. At
FIVE o'clock. with a sick shrinking
from her task, Helen went out to get
dinner. Everything reminded her OF
Dora, of her neatness and efficiency.
Even the plate Of stale bread saved
for bread crumbs was eloquent of her
economy.
A bang of the hall door and a heavy
step coming kitchenward.
Hello, Kittenr' as Warren breezed In
Want to go out to Morristown7 I've
got to look at some property out there
part of the Winthrop estate. Well have
ing around here.
"Oh, I'd love to!" joyously, eager to
get away from the kitchen that seemed
haunted by Dora. Then irrelevantly:
You know. she's had a place all along!
She told me she was going TO her aunt s
to rest" Indignantly. land she'd already
taken a place-somewhere on Park ave-
nue."
well. what of it7 If she got chance
at a better Job. less work and more
money-why shouldn't she take It? She
was mighty good maid while she was
here-so don't see that you've any kick
coming"
But why didn't she tell me the truth
Why didn't she say"
Probably wanted to let you down easy
You needn't set up as a model of verac-
ity. Haven't noticed that you stick so
Internally close to the truth. Now, see
here, II you're going with me.get your
duds on. Move fast! I've got to get
out there before dark"