New Britain herald., 1916-03-04
Why Madge "Bribed" Katie.

| the day before starting on my sight
 seeing trip with my mother -in-law Katie was standing by the sink, 1 slamming things around as if she ] were venting her feelings upon the 1 kitchen utensils. Her eyes were
 bright with unshed tears, her face was unnaturally flushed; she was 1 evidently in a towering temper.
 Of course, I knew that she must have overheard part of our conversa-
 tion but hoped if I pretended not 1 to notice her anger she might recover ] herself.
 ! Mrs. Graham and I are going 1 out, Katie,'' I said pleasantly. Her
 trunks will be here some time this l morning, I think, perhaps not until l this afternoon There is large trunk and a steamer trunk. I am sure the charges are all paid, but if the expressman should claim they are not, pay him what he asks out of this, and make him give you re- Ceipt for the money"
 I held out tWo-dollar bill to Katie.
 Katie put her hands behind her, and shook her head mutinously T no be here. I go nome right away. Dot old womans, she call me sneak tief. I nevaire touch her things. I not stay while I called dot" I did some rapid thinking in the next minute I felt that I simply
 must keep Katie for a. while. She knew my ways, and was a fairly efficient housekeeper, and above all she was capable of preparing nutri- tious, appetizing meals. The history class of the Lotos Study club which I l,o +1 gin in another week. If I tried to do that work either without maid os. while I was trying to break in a new one l knew that the work or my home must suffer.
 I thought I knew the surest way to retain Katie's services, and resolved to take it, although not without misgivings.
 How Katie Heard.
 Katie, I am ashamed of you," I said coldly and firmly, in much the l tone that would have used to a sullen child-and, indeed, she was no more. Mrs Graham did not call you a, sneak thief at all. You heard her say sneak thief, and the only way you could have heard the word was by listening the the keyhole. Were l you doing that >
 Purposely I made my voice con- 1 tcmptuous as possible. Katie drop l ped her eyes and her lips quivered. 1
 TT want to hear what she say 1 about me- She said sullenly.
 That wasn't the only reason, Katie" I said, and you know it." Then, peremptorily: Katie, look at mel
 Katie raised her eyes to mine re- luctantly. I knew the next minute Or two would decide whether Katie was to stay submissvely pr go re- belliously
 You know, Katie I went on, that your greatest fault is curiosity. l do not think you mean any harm by it, but it leads you into all kinds l of trouble and mistakes. I have known that you have listened to con- versations before.''
 "Oh, no, no, I nevaire," began Katie protestingly, but I put up my 1 hand authoritatively . "Oh, yes, you have, Katie" said, "and-it was curiosity that led l you to go into my trunk that time" I paused I hoped impressively, and said slowly: Suppose I had told my mother-in-law about that Katie What do you think she would have sa aid ?'
 Katie looked at me in startled sur ] Irise. 1
 "You no tell her?' she queried 1 "I thought you tell her and dot req ] son she call me tief.'' 1
 A Masterly Stroke.
 'You see, Katie" I said slowly, ! s that is the punishment of people ] who listen to conversations not in- 1 tended for them. They get things all l mixed up. Now I as going to tell 1 you just what was said, and then ! you'll see how foolish you were." l
 could not tell from Katie's man. ! ner whether she were in a receptive 1 mood or not Her eyes were stead 1 fastly fixed on the floor, and her face 1 vas still flushed. Mrs Graham, of course, does not , know you, Katie" I began, and 1 naturally she is nervous about leav- ing her things in the care of a stranger. She asked me if you were honest and I told her that I was sure you were. Then she asked me how 1 long I had know you, and I told her cnly two weeks, but that you had ! come well recommended and that l MT Graham had known you before. Then she said: There is noth- l l ing to be done but to trust her. She 1 can't get into the trunks withou keys unless she is a sneak thief, and I do l not think she is that 1 "So you see, Katie,' I went on l smoothly, there is nothing for you ] to get angry over. Instead, you ought to be very grateful to me-" 1 I paused significantly. Suppose | had told her of the time you opened 1
 my trunk ! Katie looked up at me, her eyes i swimming in tears ] "Oh, I know, Mrs. Graham, I such l q bad girl. I sorry 1 so mean to you.' "Very well Katie" 1 said, and