The Ordway new era., 1917-10-05

Nah.l R.,h.,, ~, num-set brooch.
With disorder
Ing, nerve-tensioned haste she rum
maged the top drawer. Gloves, veils
handkerchlefs were ruthlessly upset in
The feverish search.
When did she have 1t last? Tuesday
night she had worn 1t to the theater
But she remembered distinctly taking
It Off when she undressed, for it had
caught In the lace of her gown.
Wednesday and Thursday they had
not gone out. Both evenings she had
worn her white voile for dinner-and
had not worn the pin.
"Dora," excitedly, rushing out to
the kitchen, 81 can't find my diamond
pin! When did you see 1t last?'
"I never took notice." holding up a
steam dripping lid while she tested the
boiling asparagus.
II had 1t Tuesday night, but can't
remember whether put it in the jewel
ease or left it on the pincushion. Did
you see 1t Wednesday when you
cleaned? Try to Think"
at might n been there-but never
took notice." clamplng on the lid.
Bafled. Helen ran back to another
futile search of the top drawer. 1t
must be In the house somewhere. She
had not worn 1t since Tuesday night
IF that she was positive.
She called Dora to help move out the
iresser. The pin might have dropped
back against the wall.
With flushed face and lowered eyes,
the girl dragged out her side Of the
1resser-but there was only a hairpin
caught on the dusty molding.
"Get cloth and wipe off that dust
while we have this out" ordered
Helen. her housewife instinct opera
tive even in her anxiety.
Though the heat Of cooking always
Redeemed Dora's face, there was some
thing in her heightened color and
evasive eyes that suddenly struck
Helen with disturbing suspicion.
She had never doubted the girls
honesty, but now as Dora wiped off the
molding there was furtive conscious
ness in her manner.
After she had escaped to the kitchen,
Helen stood thoughtfully thrusting a
hatpin into the darkened pin wounds
of the lace-covered cushion. Dora's
references had been excellent, and In
the nine months she had been with
them she had seemed scrupulously hon
est.
Feeling that her suspicious were un-
Inst. Helen now began systematic
search of the whole apartment. She
was interrupted by the telephone. A
foreigners voice-a mans voice ask
ing for Dora.
"Dora. some one wants you on the
Dhone," noting the girls still reddened
/ fnce as she drained the salad in the
tink.
Even from the bedroom Helen could
hcar the intensity in Dora's rapid, gut
tural Norwegian. Though the words
we're unintelligible, the girrs voice
yibrated with anxiety, pleading ana
fear. 30
Had this something to do with the
min? Helen's intuitions were working
fast Was this the man who had been
calling on her every Sunday?
| II was a relief when the hall door
slammed and Warren swung In with
| sIuiIlilIVu "ha
brisk vigor. -,
"Well. how goes everything"
Brenthlessly Helen poured out the
story of her loss and of her GROWING
msp,elons. With incisive rapid-nre
,uestions, he came back Mt her. ;,
uyyhen did you wear 1t last? HOW'D
vou know you had 1t when you got
Iome, where'd you put It? Haven't
worn II since? How'd you know you
hoven't?" Then his curt verdict Loss
llt MT the theater." ;.
"But tell You remember TAKING IL
of-it caught in the lace"
.Huh, might've been some otner
night. You're pretty hazy about tne
rest of It, Can't accuse the giri on
Tint sort of evidence"
81 shouldn't dream Of accusing nef
n she didn't act 80 suspicious. ana
Nor voice when she talked to that man
oyer the phone! II she has taken IL. IL
lthe's nut her up to 1t. ON, I'm sur .a,,
there's something wrong-you "atci'
her Mt tiinner!" .,o,
Althouyh Dora always had dinner
,rnn,ntIv Mt seven, tonight 1t was al
most twenty minutes late.
Helen,s distress over her loss nay
,oten her appetite, but she watched
,hs M o,rl keeniy. That something was
s,orc ~ was evident. for Dora served
with awkward self,consciousnees: g
forF fetl clatterins 70 the hoor, ana ~
ssrA. eremhled noticsa1ly - sac
rlosSd me fdast on ~ {taeAe' !.
.T,enrs y jcu tnpw ~ WI nsyee :nke Us!
~ 4 M 1nerSd HsIen. = Cent "a.
- Y " : 4 lod 81 gliitS yR!en't - ssys l.