The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-12
Euening Story
The Gold Thimble.
BY KATE EDMoNDs.

Come in here, Frank" said Mrs.
Isham to her son, as she opened the
door of her private sitting-room. and
when the young man had entered and
closed the door the pretty little white
haired lady burst into tears.
Frank knelt beside her with scared
eyes. What had happened to upset
his calm mother? Something more
than the vacations of departing SER
entertainment. What has happened,
mother" he asked.
She lifted her head and smiled at
him thru her tears. Il am so foolish
to feel sad about it, but it was a gift
from your father-and I thought the
girl so charming-but you are a
lawyer and ought to help me discover
the TRUTH"
Frank smiled secretly at his
mothers colossal faith in his wisdom,
but he tried to look very solemn as
he assured her that his wits were az
her command.
Bring on your problem" he cried,
pulling forward comfortable chair.
What has happened"
MY gold thimble has disappeared
the one with the sapphires-I know
you are going to make some joke
about hunting the thimble,' but this
is serious, dear, because it involves
the girl
What girl?"
Miss Lawson, that pretty child who
comes in to read to me every day
and write letters and keep my check
book straight! She was showing ms
how to de a new kind of embroidery
and gave her nay thimbie to wear
l have not seen it since
| when was that?"
| "A week ago-and to make mat
| tefs worse, the girl has not beer
here since that day. She has mo-
| telephoned to me and I cannot FIND
her address, altho 1 called up Teresa
Benny, who sent her to me-"
| 1T looks very strange, mother, bu
little secretary I will investigate tn,
matter. Did you say that Mrs. Bonn!
recommended herr"
yves, Miss Lawson had been will
her a year, but Teresa couldn't re
member where she lived"
Perhaps may be able to trace he
III will start on it this afternoon
was planning some golf, but we mus
clear up this matter"
It have searched the house thorol
and questioned the servants closely
Land 1 am rnystified. I was very fon
of Viola Lawson"
st don't remember the girl. but her
goes for test of my superior knowl
edge, motherkins!"
He kissed her tenderly and wen
out to the speedy little car whic
stood at the curbstone. He called frs
on Mrs. benny, a large and rosy wild
ow who insisted upon taking his ca
as a personal compliment to he
charms. She was reluctant to tai
about Viola Lawson.
your mother called me up abou
Viola" said Mrs. Benny pettishly. .
cannot remember where the girl live
somewhere over on the factory sid
~ ba Che has had a SYfnariO
education and evidently had know
better days. I felt compelled to Civ
the position to a penniless little cousi
of mine, and so let Viola go to you
mother. Is anything the matter?'
Nothing serious" evaded Franl
"She hadn't been in for ten days an
mother thought she might be ILL.,"
''Pll ask the nursery soyernes.
Hilda Nelson; her people live in tha
section" and Teresa teetered out o
her hish-heeled pumps, Joking like a
animated satin-covered pineushioI
When she returnedS she bore a car
on which Miss Nelson had scrubbed
few lines. Some number on Beave
street. remarked the widow as sh
gave it to Frank.
Presently Frank found himself /
the little gray car threading a stree
of little cottages, all built of films
materials and. in spite of their new
ness, bearing a look of instability "A
the end of the street, tiny old-fash
Toned house left over from anothe
century was perched on a slope abev
the others. Frank left his car beio'
and walked up a narrow lane, thru
garden of old-fashioned flowers, fru
trees, beehives and White Leghor
chickens, to a vine-hung from porch
Repeated ringing at the bell breugh
at last a neat little old lady wins wa
so deaf that Frank could not max
her understand his erfaHd. AT last
faint, sweet voice came from anothe
room.
| please come in here" it said
Granny is deaf and cannot hear"
i The young man opened the dod
Into a delightful living room, wher
on a sagging old couch before the fir
4 he found a girl, wan and big-eye6
4 with soft brown curls tumbling int
her marvellous eyes. She was rack e
---..l.