Gilpin observer., 1920-02-19
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z The BUTTERFLY &
* BY JACK LAWTON. *
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BY JACK LAwToN.

morning.
When the black-haired girl in dar-
ing but becoming crimson entered the
of expectancy in the murmured voices.
'Who," asked a certain fine-loOking
man, "is that?" He leaned forward
alertly as the crimson-clad figure
passed the couch upon which he and
fair companion were seated.
The girl questioned raised supercii-
ious eyebrows. "That," she replied, 'is
the grand dowager's new companion
secretary. Rather dashing for her
position, don't you think? And at pres
ent the sensation of the hotel. Mrs.
Mills-Forbes, it seems, accepted hast
lily this unknown young woman's serv-
ices. Marietta May-charmingly un-
usual name. you see-presented her.
self in answer to Mrs. Forbes adver-
tisement with but one recommenda-
tion-that of the daughter of n former
family of unquestioned standing. This
formerly well-knOwn Young woman has
been, since the death of her father and
the unfortunate ending of his business
career, in humble circumstances. In
fact, no one knows, or perhaps no one
has troubled themselves to ascertain,
just what has become of Celia Sanders.
But her word still imbues confidence.
SO-MrS. MillS-Forbes engaged Mariet-
ta May upon the strength of that rec
ommendation, which may have been,
for all we know, forged letter. How
ever, the conpanion-secretary IS at
present under suspicion of having stol-
en-nOt only valuable necklace of her
employers but wonderful string of
pearls as well, belonging to another
habitue of this hotel. The jewelry was
found missing from the guests room
one evening, having been taken dur
ing a ballroom affair when Miss May
was the only person remaining upon
that floor of the building. A plainly
marked handkerchief of hers, crumpled
and lying in the very secret drawer
from which the pearl necklace was talk
en-, was the first clue to the culprit.
AS there was no actual proof as to the
beautiful Marietta's guilt, it was de-
cided not to put her upon her guard
with an accusation, but to have her Sc
cretly watched.
His eyes followed the dark-eyed, at
tractive face of the girl suspected, re-
gretfully as his chatty informant left
him with nodded, "GOod morning"
Beneath all the bravery Of. the COM
panion's attire, her eyes seemed to gaze
wistfully from her white face. "a
pity" John Calvert muttered, while
for the first time he became aware of
a small, brown-clad figure. seated upon
wide-cushioned hassock almost d.
rectly at his feet.
"You are sorry for Miss Mayw she
asked in n swift. soft tone. "You doubt
the evidence of her guilt?"
81 am inclined to doubt it." Calvert
replied. "Her face seems to express
patient suffering, n sort of resigned
martyrdom to misunderstanding"
Impulsively the little figure before
him arose. the girl held out her hand.
"It is true" she said breathlessly,
Marietta May is misunderstood, mis-
represented. All her life has been
that way. She is good. She tries
to do her best, even that scarlet dress
which she wears and which attracts
so much unkind criticism, Is worn to
crafty old Nine. Forbes whim. She
likes gay colors about and cannot
wear them herself, but do you think
that she troubles to explain this? No."
When he returned from business that
evening the hotel was in commotiop.
'What is it?" he asked of the girl
who had ben his former informant,
and she told him.
"Such surprising document" she
began. "You remember about the lost
jewels and the companion-secretary uu-
der suspicion? Well, she has been
proven innocent and the culprit-
whom do you think? No less
person than the great Nine. Forbes
herself. She possessed an insane
desire, 1t appears, for the pearl neck
lace of her friend, and after having
taken 1t, decided to allow the blame
to fall upon Miss May. For this rea-
son she gave the hue and cry about
her necklace also. and left handker-
chief belonging to her companion lying
In plain view in the drawer where
her friends necklace had reposed.
Isn't 1t scandalous?'
Shameful" Calvert emphatically
agreed.
But who" he asked, discovered
the real culprit?"
The girl pointed across the room to
where n small creature sat at work
upon n golden butterfly.
"IhIS Is thp clinny nf tho saasc
fion." she said. "Wben Celia Sander
son heard of the accusation OF her
friend, she came here and begged to
be allowed secretly to unravel the mys.-
terry. So she has snt among us, lis-
tening, waiting. absorbed apparently
In her emhraidery vet eycr nlnrt Cor