The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-05-11
THE DAILY
SHORT s!::,T:O::R;
The Gold Thimble
Ry KATE EpMoNps.

goung man had entered and closed
the door the prett y. little white.
haired lady burst into tears.
Frank knelt beside her with
scared eyes. What, had happened
10 upset his calm mother? Some.>
thing more than the vacations OF
Departing servants or the perplexi'
lies Of social entertainment. what
has happened, mother?" he asked.
She lifted her head and smiled at
aim through her tears. u am SO
foolish to feel sad about II, but II
Was q gift from your father-anf !
thought the girl so charming-but
YOU are O lawyer and ought to help
me discover the truth"
Frank smiled secretly at his
mothers colossal faith In his wis.
dom, but he tried to look very sol
smn as he assured her that his
wits were at her command.
Bring on your problem" he
cried, pulling forward comfort
able chair. what has happened?"
"My gold thimble has disap.
peared = the one with the sap
phires-I know you are going to
make some Joke about hunting the
thimble,' but this is serious, dear,
because Il involves the girl"
swhat girl?"
"Miss Lawson, that pretty child
who comes In TO read to me every
day, and write my letters and keep
my check book straight! She was
showing ME how to do a new kind
% embroidery and gave her my
thimble to wear-I have not seen
itslnce."
"When was that?'
II a week ago-and to make mat.
ters worse, the girl has not been
here since that day. She has not
telephoned to me and cannot find
her address, although called up
Teresa Benny, who sent her to
me.e
1T looks very strange, mother.
hut before we wrongfully accuse
your little secretary I will inves-
tigate the matter, Did you say
that Mrs. Benny recommended
eyes, Miss Lawson had been
With her q year, but Teresa couldn't
remember where she lived"
perhaps ] may be able to trace
tier-I will start on it this after.
noon-I was planning some golf,
but We must clear up this natter
y have searched the house thor.
opghly and questioned the servants
closely, and3I am mystified. was
very fond OF Viola LAWSON
Y don't remember the girl, but
here goes for q test OF my superior
knowledge, motherkinsw
He kissed her tenderly aud went
ont to this speedy little car which
stood at the curbstone. He called
first on Mrs. Benny, a large and
roFy widow who insisted upon TAX.
Ing his call as PERSONAL compli,
'fIflent TO her charms She was re,
ilpetapt TO talk about Viola Lawson
"four mother called me upt
about yiola,n said Mrs. Benny pet.
tjshly. II cannot remember where
The girl lived-somewhere over on
the factory side OF the town. She
has had superior education and
evidently had known better days.
Isfelt compelled TO give the posi-
ton 10 a penpiless little cousin OF
mine, and SO let Viola go to your
mother. Is anything the matter?"
.FNothing serious evaded Frank.
ettShe hadn't been in for ten Gays
and mother thought she might be
IN"
"I'll ask the nursery governess.
Hilda Nelson: her people live In
that section" and Teresa teetered
out on her i,ish-heeled pumps,
looking like an animated satin.
covered pincushion, When she re.
turned. she bore a card on which
Miss Nelson had scrubbed a few
lines. Some number on Beaver
street." remarked the widow as she
d gave 1t to Frank.
Presently Frank found himself
In the little. gray car threading a
street OF little cottages all built
OF dimsy materials and, in spite
III their newness, bearing look OF
{ Instability. At the end OF the
street, tiny old.tashioned house
left over from another century
was perched on a slope above the
Others. Frank left his car below
land walked up a narrow lane.
through a garden of old.fashioned !
( flowers, fruit trees, beehives and
White Leghorn chickens, to vine.
hung front porch. Repeated ring.
ing at the bell brought at last a
neat little old lady who was SO
deaf that Frank could not make
her understand his errand. AT last
Q faint, sweet voice came from an.
other room.
"Please come In here" It said;
Granny is deaf and cannot hear"
The young man opened the door
into q delightful living room, where
on a sagging old couch before the
fire he found girl, wan and big
eyed, with soft brown curls tum.
bling Into her marvellous eyes. She
was rRcked with a terrible cough,
and before she could speak Granny
.,,xaye her spoonful OF medicine. AS
the old lady put the cup back on
the table she peered into It anxi.
ously. "lt's most gone. darling"
she said In the unconsciously louu
voice OF the very deaf. And where
the uext's coming from -" 70,
ptenberipg Frank, she put a finger
on her llp and hurried out OF the
Feom. The girls face was suffuseu
With bushes and there was pal,
pitating breath that Frank did not
like. He told her his name.
"oh. how kind OF Mrs. Isham to
send you'll could not get any mes.
'Sage to her-Granny is feeble and