Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1921-09-02
"0LD" BROOKES
BY LILY WANDEL.

III certainty is terrible TO wake up
in the middle of the night and mU
that you are thief am houcsj-lugoor
ness thiet, walled Dulcie tIuu ibr
bottom step
"Particularly hard on the fmIN'
added Ted, getting them AN Qua of
bed on a cold winters night Ald
say, why does this family always CON
gresate on the front stairs vhp
there's something Tile muuw, Ca,
Nasty, draughiy place. I'll say"
Il always knew she'd get i'm az
awful pickle some day" this from
siXteen-year-od Senah. "and now ol
all persons, this, horrid old Mr.
BrookeS >"
Mother, won't YOU make then
stop begged Dulcie desperately try
ing to keep her teeth from chatteriug.
land suggest something"
Mrs. Driscom yawned as much as
her chin-strap would permit. "Al I
can think of is nice warm bed and
sleep I've been up since six
you're not bit like mothers you
read about" accused Dulcie tearfully.
I'D think you'd be broken-hearted
having Il thief for a daughter"
Were not so broken hearted" put
in Ted, "as we are annoyed, old girl.
Devilish inconsiderate of you, discoy-
ering at three o'clock in the morning
that you'd lifted your boss diamond
| scarfpin."
ITS all because you're so careless"
supported Senah primly; "any decent
person would have discovered it be-
fore retiring"
Your story is so confusing, Dulcie, 80
murmured Mrs. Driscom sleepily
Would you mind repeating it, but
start from the beginning this time"
oh I've told it just as it happened
You see, | was the last person in for
dictation, and then Mr.. Brookes comes
! out of his private office"
'Not that horrid old Mr.. Brookes p
interrupted Senah.
"Of course" answered Dulcie irri-
tably, you know perfectly well there
is only one Mr.. Brookes in the firm
"Well, why don't you say old Mr..
| Brookes, or something-you've always
called him horrid or cranky or beast
| ly."
Dulcie went on, ignoring the young
er sister: He came out and said
he'd lost his scarfpin, platinum one
with diamonds, very precious to him.
And we all began to hunt / went into
! his private office and looked there,
| and OH everywhere, because, you see
1t was very embarrassing for mel
was the last one in-and-we couldn't
find It. Nobody could settle down to
work, and we all felt dreadfully I'm.
comfortable and each person kept pro-
testing he had not seen the PIN
And old Brookes, what did the old
crab say?" questioned Ted.
"Oh, that is the worst of it! He
said he was sure he'd find the thief ~
sobbed Dulcie pitifully.
Dulcie gave a little scream, but her
mother pushed her gently toward her
bedroom. I'll not close an eye
walled the daughter.
And Ted from his room door
leased, Just keep your eye off my
scarfpin, sis -
|. Dulcie gave little angry snort and
flung herself in bed and promptly fel
asleep. 1t was mother, of course, who
lay awake an hour or more planning
what to do.
In the morning the little thief was
enjoying a hearty breakfast when Ted
! having answered the doorbell, came il
with big, long box and placed
it on her lap. The rest of the family
Immediately rose to its feet.
For me?" asked Dulcie, turning
white and red alternately.
Ted cut the string for her anC
opened the lid, and Dulcie with colo
fingers pushed aside the tissue paper
Red roses Long-stemmed and doz
ems of them. Such a thing had never
| happened before in the Driscom fam
lily. They lowered around Dulcie's
shoulders, and when she drew a white
card from the box, the entire family
/ read the message with her!
As long as you have taken my
/ scarfp.n-I saw it glittering in your
hair all afternoon--won't you take my
roses, too? And my love and my life
| and everything 1 possess, and give me
in exchange just the hope of being my
wife some day? l.. BroOkes.'
"What | want to know" interrupt
ed Mrs. Drisc3m ~ternly, els how the
pin got entangled in your hair? An
swer me that, young lady? You were
the last one in Mir Brookes' Office
and alone, I underestimate
"Oh. mother sobbed Dulcie, as red
as the roses Senah was picking up
how can you, and before these chill
dren? 1t was all so dreadful mean
| misunderstood. | thought he wanted
TO make love to mel didn't wait to
hear what he had 10 say Oh, don't
look so dreadfully severe, mother;
iusf WELDED for a finy Gappud tbap