The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-24
Et,ening Story
A Hornets Nest.

MARTHA McCULLOCH WILLIAMS
you surely are a goose green
goose at that!' Mrs Barney said
acidly to her niece, Susanah. SUI
sanah giggled wickedlE and went on
with the matter in hand-that of put
ting her hair in papers all over her
head. Ash-blond hair, silk-fine, album
dant, it had been cut short the night
before while she was staying with
Mary Peters.
Hence Aunt Barney's Indictment
after the strictest cross examination
has not shown her a reason for the
change. 81 just wanted to see myself
hair grows again. you know" was
all that Susanah had said audibly.
Her eyes, however. twinking like mad,
held quite another story.
"Humph! Your head looks exactly
week" Mrs Barney shifted as Su-
sanah swathed the biggest silk ban
danna Grandfather Main had left
behind, deity into a perfect turban-
Again the girl giggled-but this tine
with bow. and murmured: Glad
you think So" as she ran away up
stairs. A little later she called from
the front steps:
Miss Betsy, I'm going visiting for
maybe a week. Don't you worry
it's a missionary effort" Then she
ran down to where the Peters flivver
and singing roll Jordan!"
That afternoon Mrs. Clarice Dent
explained tearfully to En- Smith. the
maid she had just hired: Don't you
mind anything I may say: I'm ALL
ragged out: You heard about the
you come from? Down beyond
thought everybody knew Burglars
took all my jewels night before last
and my husband is so cruel-instead
of offering a reward worth while and
getting back my pearls and diamonds
without any fuss. he would have in
detectiyes-that's how I need you
they took away my good Felice-said
it was inside work-when I'm certain
she knows no more about the-the
loss than I myself do
Amt dat des too bad!" Em-Smith
murmured, casting up her eyes, and
shaking her head. 1t was a very well
turbanned head with reassuring
maps" breaking up the turban lines.
Mighty trim in a blue cotton frock,
folded kerchief, and low-heeled shoes,
with a walnut brown complexion and
horn trimmed spectacles. she seemed
to the disfraught employer a special
providence. 81 sho'ly am sorry for
you, Ma'am," she went ONT got two
strings O. coral Old MISS give Nanny
when I was a baby, and a jet neck
lace from the ten-cent sto'-I wear
how you must feel. Did you keep your
things 'twenst your mattresses, or jes'
under your head"
Mrs. Dent smiled hysterically-such
naivete was refreshing. Il have
jewel-hox," she explained-"and
wall-safe to keep it in. Here, let me
show you," touching the frame of a
mirror close to her seat. See! 1t
opens with a spring-we thought no.
body knew of it but Mr.. Dent and my
self. We've must have been spied
on-for the thieves took everything
but my baby pins. They left the box
open on my dressing table-my hus-
wake me-he had been away-and I
slept till all hours-so soundly must
have been drugged-''
..You right sho' that Fills woman
didn't know?" E1n-Smith interrupted,
nodding toward the mirror-door.
Perfectly sure,'' Mrs. Dent an
Fswered eagerly. "Besides-she wasn't
here-I let her spend the evening with,
a friend in the village-she never dis
turbs me until I ring for her"
We'll sub. all dat beats de Dutch,
as Ole Granny ulster say" Em-Smith
calculated. you must a-been mighty
feared. stayin' all night by yourself
in this big house.
THE cook and butler were here
besides We had visitors-Captain
Lowry and his sister, Madame Je-
vonne. Most distinguished both-that
is the hardest part of it-of course,
they left after insisting on being
searched, trunks and everything. AS
If they could be suspected-but Arthur
my husband, said it was only right
and proper"
well, Ma'am-I like the place-but
CANT stay on wild you, fess'n you
femme sleep OUT got a friend lives
jes' little piece off," Em-Smith said.
after ruminant ten seconds. "Som'p'n
else might happen-you got so much
fine wealthy plunder-my crackter is
the mos I've got-so I don't mean ter
git any smears on hit
Mrs. Dent objected violently-but,
spent and nerve-wracked, gave in at
last. Two hours later she was glad
-Em-Smith almost magica1iy had
brought order out o1 chaos-had min
most soothing fashion, withal deft.
Then she had counseled: You better
fsleep-a long. nice nap" and vanished
after tucking fluffs of eiderdown about
the tremulous figure on the couch by
the window.
A butler, several shades lighter than
herself, babe her tidy up the guest
chambers, still in wild confusion. At
the door he volunteered EFF them
'tectives had a-asked me 1 could a-told
'em somp'n.''
''Whut sompn?'' Em-Smith asked.
He wagged his head solemn1y. It'd
a cut short thar job" he said oracular-
body-madame hates her stepson like
pizen-but she'd hate worse ter see
him in stripes-and the Master! Lordy,
he'd a-kilt me eff I hadn't rum"
80 you think that boy EN-
Smith began looking away.