The Washington times., 1920-08-05


bility for Daisy's gravely re-
sponsible position with Tom
Mason was one thing. To face the
actual fact that / had sponsored
girl whom l felt to be a thief and
had endangered the possessions of
Jim's friend was another,
This came to me with growing
force all through the morning after
Daisy had gone to take charge OF
Toms antique shop. My warrant
of Daisy's honesty was dishonest.
I was playing fairy godmother at
Toms expense. The ethics of what
l had done seemed questionable to
me as / thought it all over.
One thing was clear. however. If
I had it to do over I'd have to do
the same thing.
put in a miserable morning
and started off in a pretty unhappy
mind after lunch to call for Uncle
Ned and Aunt Mollie. Driving the
car wasn't a pleasure process. but
for their sakes, l felt / must do 1t.
In a traffic block, as my car stood
still waiting for a side street to
empty itself across the avenue, my
attention was attracted from idle
staring to half-awakened but eager
interest. On the curb, waiting like
me stood girl dressed in black.
unnoticeable but for the uneasy
way she was watching me out or
the corner of her eye and trying
to hide something or some one from
my notice. Naturally, as soon az
! became aware of that l focused
nv attention on the girl and tried
to place her.
In moment or two | realized
that the girl who was watching me
SO uneasily and trying to pretend
that she wasn't watching me at all
was Bertha, my ex-maid. On the
inner side of the walk. instead of
the outside, where he would nat
urally be, stood a man. He was
slight, slim, pale and stoop-shoul-
dered, and wore broad-visored
cap pulled down so its shadow made
his features an indistinct blur Sud
denly he seemed to become consci-
Gus Of Bertha's attempts to block
him from view. At once he turned
and stared past her through eyes
narrowed and squirting. For one
second we focused on each other.
Then traffic moved, but without
Bertha's ever acknowledging that
there was some one near to whom
she. should have bowed.
Needs Mothering.
knew from the girls actions,
as we'll as from the mans tcll-talc
pallor. that this must be her con-
yIct husband. But on arriving at
Aunt Mollie's hotel. a few minutes
later. ] dismissed it from my mind
because of the greater problem
which / couldn't dismss-the prob
lem of my unfairness to Tom
Instead OF sending word that the
car was waiting and asking Uncle
Ned and Aunt Mollie down to join
me. I went up to the suite where
there are always bowls or old
fashioned flowers. Uncle Ned's per-
netusl gift to his bride" The lit
lie old lady. radiant in one of her
,irht-bodiced, full-skirted silks,
greeted me with hug and kiss.
Then she held me off at arms
length and called:
"Neddie come here! Our little girl
looks a mite peaked and worried.
You sec whether she neds somo
aromatic or lcetlc OF my black
berry juice
Uncle Ned came striding out i'm
mediately from tho inner room as
he always does when Aunt Molllc
summoned him. He marched over,
took my hands in his big ones ana
led me to the nRnt. luell' oi'''
grave inspection from his deep blue
eyes. he marched me back to MS
wife.
"What this child needs is mother
ing" he said quickly.
at is. oh. It Isl! I replied SOL
cmnly and with deep conviction.
I'D like to cry on your shoulder
Aunt Mollie."
Come on, dearic, cry on your OLD
auntie's shoulder and then let your
wise uncle know just what's both
cring you so he can tell YOU what
to do" said Aunt Mollie, pulling me
down on tho big old-fashioned sota
that they had managed to have in
their suite.
And all In a second I was blurt-
ing out my story:
A Friendly Warning.
"Once upon a time" | said, "a
dear lad 1 know brought his wife
beautiful pearl ring for n birth
day gift. There were thrcc per-
sons there NJ tho time, and circum-
stances left each Of them alone
with the valuable jewel. II disap-
peargd II night haNo hpcn taken