Omaha daily bee., 1922-06-12

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IN splte NJ the proteses Of
mrs. miss.. her lsndisdy. 10 .whe she
s y % dsst. pscessds e .sthss the little
Ing. of hl. dress . note irsm The tssA
Ronald Hssiinss. who dsserted her esA
the baby. and appealing. in case Of her
on With the storyi
She had taken the ring to a pawn
shop in the early morning. Many
times before she had thought OF
pledging il. Necessity is hard
driver. but her heart had hitherto
always failed her at the last moment; !;
there were memories bound up in
that bahd OF gold. with its simple
blue stones-memories OF happier
days. days that were gone forever.
She had been conscious OF an odd
choking sensation in her throat
when she left the shop with the gold
pieces held fast in her hand; she felt
as II she had sold a friend, and yet
she sighed as she hurried along in
the spring sunshine.
In Regent street she took a bus.
There were no other passengers, but
a man got out just as she entered.
He left a paper on the seat. Vio-
let took it up casually; she had in
despair given up buying the papers
and answering the advertisements
they contained, it was so useless, and
she could i'll afford the stamps.
Her eyes fell now on big flaring
headline:
ESQ REWARD!
"The above reward will be paid
to any person giving information
concerning the Whereabouts Of Z
child belonging to a woman who
was run over and killed in M
street last night between the hours
. Of 7 and 8 o'clock by a private
motor car. The ehild-a boy-is 8
years Of age and known as "Ron-
ME-" Finder please communicate
Box 80, office of this paper"
Violette's was a new and exceed
ingly smart millinery establishment
in a fashionable suburb.
1t was an imposing looking build
ing with huge plate glass windows
wherein one or two special and ex-
pcnsive models of the latest vogue
reposed daintily on white velvet up
holstery.
The name Violette was stamped
in gold letters on the corner of each
window, and on the shop facia; ;
dainty silk curtains draped the
windows with suggestion of re-
serve that was most attractive. a
commissionaire in a smart green and
gold livery stood in all his magnih-
cence at the. doorway, ready to hand
ladies from their motors and car
riages, or hold their pet dogs until
they had transacted their business.
Violet eyed him rather nervously
as she walked slowly up the street in
the spring sunshine-even the splen-
dor of her new costume did not give
her confidence; when she neared him
she hurried by with averted head:
she passed and repassed three times
before she could make up her mind
to enter.
Then he saw her turn toward the
door; the commissionaire glanced at
her, but made no effort to move
forward; probably he recognized the
stamp OF Gatwick on her 30s cos
tune and the IS, cd hat with Il,
imitation osprey.
Violet was glad that he let her
SO severely alone; she pushed open
the heavy glass door with a nervous
hand and closed it carefully behind
her; then she stood still, looking
round her with. a terrible conscious.
ness OF her own unimportance.
She found herself in a wide shon
that looked like luxurious drawing
room. Soft green velvet carpets Gov.
cred the floor: deep padded arm
chairs and small inlaid tables with
g,lt-tramed mirrors were dotted
about; It was unlike milliner's as
one could we'll imagine; there were
not half a dozen hats to be seen. and
those were lying, apparently careless
iy flung down, on chairs or on 4
sofa. as if they had been dropped
there by their wearers.
In one corner of the luxury two
fashionably dressed women were
taking tea from dainty china serv-
ice; tall show girl in a black velvet
gown that fitted most wonderfullv
paraded slowly before them. turnina
her head, crowned with large mai
that seemed mostly composed Of the
paiest blue ospreys, from side to side
as she walked with graceful move
ment.
Violet stood just inside the closed
door. not knowing what to do; she
wished she had not come; she would
have given anything to turn and 90
out again, but she was as afraid ol
the commissionaire outside as she
was OF the splendor inside.
Somebody rustled across the vel.
vet carpet to her-a slim, graceful
woman with a wealth of black hair;
she had the dark beauty of Span:
lard and beautiful, melting, brown
eyes.
What can I do for you?" she ask.
ed. She eyed the girl up and down
as she spoke, with a not unkindly
glance.
Il have come to ask il there is Z
vacancy for me here" Violet found
her voice with little nervous gasp
her face turned from red to white