Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-12
THE LOVE GAMBLER
BY Virginia Terhune Van de Water

mistress's purse, or some bit Of
tinery from drawers or closets. But
nothing had ever been taken. No
Norah was surely not to be suJ-
pected.
Had either of the maids had any
callers while the heads of the house
were absent?
Desiree thought this unlikely, but
surely none of the girls would have
brought any guests upstairs. Ard
If they had done so any dishonesL
person would have taken the box
and its contents. Nobody would
have had the opportunity to open it,
remove chain and pendant, and re-
wrap and tie it,
Well, then, who could have had a
chance to do this?
She remembered that which she
had tried to thrust from her
memory - Mr.. Perry's suggestion,
about her chauffeur.
And, as when he had voiced his
suspicious, Desiree Leighton felt
the blood leave her face. Her heat
seemed to miss n beat, then race
on faster than ever.
The very idea was outrageous.
Smith! She would as soon think OF
doubling one of her own friends.
Yet what did she know about
him?
His Doubts Absurd
Only that he had excellent ref
ferences from a man who had been
acquainted with him for years.
Samuel Leighton had made inquiries
about the man who had sent these
references and had learned that
he was respected member of the
community in which he lived.
All of which proved that Jacob
Perrys doubts of Smith were
absurd. And Desiree leighton knew
that these facts carried less weight
with her than did Der own inner
feelings about her chauffeur.
Something did not know
'what-assured her that he was in
capable of any act that was not
right and honorable.
Mr.. Perry had advised her to tell
her father at once of the loss of the
pendant. She shrank from doing
this. Not because her father would
be distressed. He would regret her
loss-but that made little difference.
What she dreaded was the chance
that he might put into words the
doubt expressed by the jeweler.
OF course, her father would not,
after mature deliberation, suspect
Smith. But he might, just at first,
say that appearances were against
him - that matters looked very
queer" Perhaps she was a coward,
but she did not want to hear her
parent say that.
She need not tell him about the
matter just yet, anyway. She
would try to do a little private
detective work herself first.
rl..
! and had removed her hat and coat,
she made occasion 70 speak with
Annie, the chambermaid.
Annie" she said to her, II have
| not secured a waitress yet. You
will have to try to help us out with
/ the waiting until l do get one.
will, of course, pay you something
extra for this additional work. But
| | cannot get regular waitress be-
| fore next week."
oh that's all right ma'am, ="
| Annie grinned. Il don't mind a bit,
| so long as were not havin' COM
pany."
You won't be lonesome withou,
| Norah?" Desiree questioned.
Annie's grin grew broader. In
| deed, no ma'am I'm not sorry to
see the last of her. She's a spiterul
| thing-that she isl"
Her temper is not always pleas
! ant" Desiree admitted. But she's
a good, honest girl"
"Oh, for that, ma'am, she IS
| Annie agreed. IF she hadn't beeI.
! I'd never put in a week in the
! same house with her, seein' the
cross fits she'd have sometimes"
But Desiree did not care to dis
| cuss Norah's temper. Annie's state
ment had confirmed her in her faitl.
| in her eX-maids honesty.
| To be continued.