The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-08-25

Dora not to use
the lemons for her hands, but the girl
persisted in disobeying.
Opening the icebox, she counted the
lemons in the far corner of the wire
shelf. There were only three. Satur-
day she had ordered half dozen, and
they had used only one for the mayon-
naise. So since Saturday Dora had
used two lemons for her hands
In the bedroom, with cloth tied
over her broom, Dora was busting the
molding. There was something in her
capable, upturned face under the blue
busting cap that checked Helens in
dignant outburst.
She had promised herself never to
speak to Dora when she was irritated,
for the girls temper was most inflam-
'mable, and she was too good maid to
lose.
Hurrying out to answer the bell,
Dora returned with the announcement,
''It's the man with the cockroach
powder"
Once month the house sent around
insect powder to be sprinkled about
the kitchen and pantry of all the apart
ments.
"No, we haven't any reaches" Helen
Informed him briefly.
"Any waterbugs?"
''No, nothing at ALL"
'That's good" picking up his can of
exterminator. 'It's the only apart
ment in the house that amt got one or
the other"
1t was strong tribute to Dora's
cleanliness, and Helen, closing the
door after him, glanced appraisingly
about the kitchen. No other girl had
ever kept the range SO clean, and the
freshly scrubbed shelves and tiled
wafnscoting were spotless.
Yet in many little ways Dora was
-~extruvagant. She used more gas than
any maid they had ever had. Even
now she had the largest burner turned
on full under the soup-with the lid
half off so it would not boil over.
AS Helen lowered the burner under
the soup, again her glance fell on the
lemon in the soap dish 'oscaeth.as. e.. sink.
No other girl would presume to cut a
fresh lemon for her hands.
1t was mistake to let these things
go on. Dora was deliberately taking
advantage Of her leniency. She would
speak to her now!
Then came the thought of a more
tactful way. She would give Dora
some cold cream and tell her to use
that instead of the lemons.
A hurried search through the medi-
cine chest and Helen found an empty
vaseline jar into which she spooned a
liberal hunk of cold cream.
"Dora," going out to the kitchen
where the girl was emptying the
sweeper, ''you don't have to keep soup
at hard boil all day. That's how you
waste the gas. You use this largest
burner for everything! Now l want
you to use the other burners, and the
simmer-you never use that"
Without turning, Dora angrily clat-
cred the dustpan and sweeper into the
broom closet and banged the door.
"And there's something else want
to speak about" more sharply, irritat-
ed by her insolent silence. You're not
supposed to use the lemons for your
hands. I'm giving you some cold
cream-this is what use."
''You don't do no scrubbin' nor oilin'
the floor" in sullen anger. i've got
to have somethin' that'll take the
stains off. But I'll not make a fuss
over q little thing like that" with a
shrug that was almost contemptuous.
'Ill buy my own lemons" And, turn
ing to the s.nk, she ran the water
noisily.
Flamingly indignant, Helen left the
kitchen. She would not let any maid
speak to her like that. What II she
did leave? There were plenty OF 9th
er girls good girls, who were neither
insolent nor extravagant.
'Dora," turning back, now reckless
of consciences, II can't allow you to
speak to me that way. AS long Us
you work here, you must be respect
full"
II guess you'd better get another
girl" rinsing stewpan under the
noisy faucet. :.
every well," quietly, though a chill
tremor gripped her. "When would you
like to go, nora"
Tomorrow"
'That's all right with lofty dig
nifty. 81 don't want any girl to stay
with me who isn't respectful and will
ing to take my orders
But 1t was with a sick sinking at hef
heart that Helen went into the front
room and stood broodingly by the WIN
dow. The thought Of new maid Ill
ways filled her with dread.