New Britain herald., 1916-01-27

morning. l wanted to be in the kitchen when Katie came, if she came back at all. She might be so angry, I told myself, at being barred from the apartment by the janitor the day before that she would never return.
 Would I be glad or sorry if she did not come? Frankly, I did not know. On the one hand I did not know just how l was to get along without her. Dicky's mother was to arrive in a little over A hours. Then in a week began my series of talks to the history class of the Lotus Study Club. | needed a good deal of time to out line the course I was to give. If ever I needed Katie, I needed her during the week before me.
 But, on the other hand, the know ledge that had come to me the day before that Katie had been rummag- ing in my trunk, and had taken my prized lavalliere from it's case, had been distinct shock. True, she had put the ornament back, but I could not decide whether she had returned it from fright at some ones sudden entrance or whether she never had intended to steal it at all.
 If she were a thief at heart, of course, I could not keep her. But if she were simply curious and med dling-well, those traits were an- Doying, I reflected, but Katie's good qualities certainly outweighed them.
 With a sudden thought, I took the 1avalliere from it's case and fastened it about my neck, the beautiful black opal pendant resting outside my simple blue morning gown. l knew tnat Katie would not fail to notice its ap- pearance for I never wore the Orna- ment unless I went out in the even ing. and then only with my prettlest gowns. She, of course, would realize that I had discovered her tampering with the case I had seen enough of the mental workings of these alien girls in my teaching days to know that she would betray herself in some manner.
 As walked into the kitchen, heard the sound of a key being turn ed cautiously in the lock, and I knew that Katie had returned. Of course, she supposed us to be still asleep, and this was the reason for the quiet- ness of her movements. The knob but the door refused to move as I had not yet drawn the bolt I had slipped the day before. I heard a muffled exclamation and I hurried to the door, drew the bolt and threw the door open.
 "Come in, Katie.'' I strove to make my voice cordial. "The door was bolted, that is all.'
 Katie came in, pale, wide-eyed utterly unlike her usual noisy, cheer fuI self. She looked at me and tried to smile then she caught sight of the lavalliere around my neck. She lifted a stacking finger and pointed to it.
 "why you got dot on?' she de- manded.
 '.Whv do you ask that, Katie?" I returned, speaking very slowly, and looking her squarely in the eyes.
 Her answer was to throw herself on her knees by my side and grasp my hand in hers.
 How Katie Explains.
 "Oh. Misses Graham, plees forgive r1e. I no mean steal locket. I never steal nothing, but I tink it so pretty, I want to get me one, so l sneak one cay, watch you put it away. Den one day you out, I go look at it, try it on. Bell rink queeck, l put it back, but not nice put back, not like YOU. and go to door. Dot Misses Underwood she dere, Den you came den no chance since to feex. Oh, so sorry Don't send me to Jail oh-.'
 She began to howl, and l. put my hand on her shoulder and shook her
 Get up Katie" I said sternly "and stop this nonsense. Nobody is going to put you in jail. But I am
 1yt, how dangerous it is to meddle with that you meant to steal the lavalliere whether you really did or not, and would discharge you"
 "Oh, Missis Graham, dear Missis Graham. You not fire me. You keep me? Oh, you so gOOd!' The girls face was convulsed with grief. thought of the time. only two or three days before, when Katie had declared that she would leave because Dicky' s mother was coming to live with us What a bundle of contradictions she was. this untrained, undiscipline e6 girl. But there was something about her that appealed to me. l determin- eG to give her another trial No, Katie, I will not discharge you this time, but you must promise that as long as you live you will never meddle with anything that does not belong to you"
 NO, I never, I promise. See, swear.'
 l. Very well, Katie. Wash your eyes now and get breakfast We have i long day before us, and there is much | to do. You know MT. Graham. mother comes tomorrow, and I want | to have everything nice for her. i "Yes, I know. I feex so nice. Yor I sec" She smiled through her tears with the familiar little phrase I haC | grown to look for
 I I had turned toward the door when a sudden thought made me turr :, back again.