The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-06-14
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
8Brookes
nv LlLY MANnEL,

Particularly hard on the fam
addc6S Ted, getting them all
gntiof bed on a cold winters night.
ray, why does this family al
ys %congregate on the front
alrs when there's something the
mater eh? Nasty, d~raughty place
always knew she'd get in an
Eful pickle some day" this from
ttpen.year.old seuah, "and now
g AZ persons, this horrld old Mr..
Hseekest'
Mother. wont you make them
stcpg begged Dulcle desperately,
ing ITO keep her teeth from chat.
tesingj and suggest something"
Mgs Driscom yawned as much as
HIN strap would permit. "AlI
think OF is a nice, warn bed
and Sleep. I've been up since six
You're not a bit like mothers
on read about" accused Duleie
eattully, I'D think you'd DO brok.
en:hoarted having a thief for d
laughter"
We're not SO brotcn.hearted.
put Ia Ted, "ss we are annoyed. old
EItl Derilish inconsideratc Of you,
discovering at 3 O'Clock in the
morning that you'd lifted your
'bpbsss diamond scarfpin."
ITS all because you're so care
leEhI supported Senah primIy;
Anyadecent person would have dis,
covered It before retiring"
Your story IS so confusing,
pl e.9 murmured Mrs, Drisconl
sleenily. would you mind repeat,
ing and start from the beginning
this time"
soh I've told 1t Just as it hap
penad You see, | was the last
PERSON In for dictation, and then
MI Brookes comes out OF his pri
yate Office"
Not that shorrId old Mr..
Bgpokes?" interrupted Senah.
Hpt course answered Dulcle ir.
rltably. you know perfectly well
there Is only one Mr.. Brookes in this
fifin
Wei, why don't you say old
Mt Brookes or somethlng-you've
Always called him horrid or cranky
Or beastly.n
pulcie went on ignoring the
Younger sister. HE came out and
said he'd lost his scarfpin, a plati
mum one with diamonds. very pre-
ciotls TO him. And we all began Il
hunt 4 went into his private Of
flee and looked there, and oh
everywhere, because you see, II
was very embarrassing for me
was The last one in-and-we
couldn't find 1t. Nobody could set.
lie down to work and we all felt
dreadfnlly uucomfortably and each
,n2erson kept protesting he had mol
the PIN"
And old Brookes, what did the
Old crab say?. questioned Ted.
soh. Int Is the worst Of lt!sHe
said he was sure he'd find the
thief" sobbed Dulcie pitifully,
well 80 on with the story,",re.
minded Senah impatiently.
That's all there is, except, oil
course that | woke up In the night
and-and-I found the pint"
Mrs. Driscom broke into a loud
caschooi This settles IL = we're
going TO bed. I'm catching cold
Go TO sleep. Dulcie. and forget all
about it till morning."
Bat mother" pleaded senah
poor Drlcle. That horrid old Mr.
Brookes may have a detective out
side this very minute!"
pnlcie gave a little scream, but
he mother pushed her gently to
ward Ler bedroom. III not close
an eye,s walled the daughter.
And Ted from his room door
leased .J1st keep your eye OF my
\ scaffnins sis?"
Dnlcis gave a little angry snort
and flung herself In bed and
4 promptly fell asleep. 1t was moth,
er. % course, who lay awake an
hotr or more planning what to do
In the morning the little thtel
Was enjoying a hearty breakfast
when Ted, having answered this
doprbel came In with a big, long
shaped box and placed II on hel
lap: THE rest OF the family immedi
ateIy rose to its feet.
For me?' asked Dulcie, turning
white and red alternately.
Ted cut the string for her ant
opened the lid, and DulcIe with colo
fingers pushed aside the tissue pa
per Red roses! "Long.stemmet
aud dozens OF them. Such a thing
had never happened before In the
Drfscom family. They hoveret
around Dulcie's shoulders, and wher
she drew a white card from the box
the entire family read the message
\ With heri
AS long as you have taken m,
scartpin--1 saw It glittering in YOU
hair all afternoon-wont you take
my roses TOO? And my love ant
ANY life and everything ! possess
i'd give me In exchange just tbl
nope of being my wife some day
u Brookes."
The first thing DuTcie was con
scious OF was that the family hat
read the intimate message. Sht
jumpedgto her feet, splitting the ros
Us, turning an indignant, burning
face 10 the amazed little group.
Ted after a long, low whistle
smoke first $50 that's where yot
found the pin-in your hair!, Ant
though you'd simply discovered /
hi your handkerchief Or"
You never brushed your hair be
fore YOU went to bed" scoldet
senah precisely, "or you surel!
lrntld have found Il. told Won ShI