San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-05

believe she's going to be defiant
"She is, eh?" menacingly girdling
his bathrobe. "Well see about that"
you're not going to speak to her
nowI Oh, you'd better wait
might as we'll settle it right now"
As he threw open the doc: and
! strobe into the library, Helen fol-
lowed in flutter of apprehension.
| mora, what've you got TO say
about this:" was his abrupt open
ing.
The girl, stopping over to straight
en- rug, rose and faced him with
certain dignity. She had been
crying, her eyes were red, yet there
was a defiant CLINT in til I'm, too.
well, what about it," sternly, as
she did not speak.
at wasn't all my fault, sir. We
were going out to dance hall, but
they dared me to dance here!"
Now don't try to lay it on any
body else."
THAT'S the truth. I oughten to let
them, but it was just that once"
How about that party you had
last night?" he flung at he-.
"Last night" she stammered.
"Why, we didn't"
Her eyes'f fell before Warren's DOM
mating gaze. A deeper red dyed her
face.
"It-it was last night they dared
me: Then they begged again to-
| night"
"And the night before that?" in
exorably.
"We went to a NOVEL; with an
eager ring Of truth. II can prove
we did by the elevator boy"
But you've had two parties here!
My best china!" Helen could no
longer keep still. "My good napkins
everything! How could you?
How could you take advantage of
| our absence like that?"
"Now, Nora, this is serious!"
Warren broke in, silencing Helen
with a glance. "You ought to be
fired! But I'll think it over. We
may decide to give you another
chance. If we do, you're to do a
whole lot better. Hereafter the work
must be done as Mrs. Curtis wants
it."
"Yes. SIR" she faltered. al like
this place. / like you and Mrs.
Curtis and / want to stay"
"That's more like it. If you take
that tone We'll see what we can do.
Now how about that silver Mr1.
Curtis says you don't want to
clean?"
"The sideboard and my toilet sill
ver," interrupted Helen. THAT
should be done every Friday, just the
same as the flat silver"
"Yes, ma'apn, I'll do it every week
if you want it. Mrs. Morris where
workedelast only had hers done
every other week, that's why /"
"Never mind what Mrs. Morris
did," brusqued Warren. you're
working for Mrs. Curtis now, and
you're to do as she says. Now what
about that washing?" turning to
Helen. "Whatd you say about
that?"
Il think Nora ought to wash my
silk underwear. / don't like Mrs.
OGrady to take that down in the
laundry, so many things have been
stolen down there"
Nora murmured her willingness to
wash out the silk underwear or any.
thing else.
"And there's another thing, Nora"
persisted Helen. taking advantage Of
this rare opportunity. "You haven't
washed those top pantry shelves since
you've been here. I've spoken TO you
about it several times.y
"fes, ma'am, I'll do them tomor-
row when / do the kitchen"
well, that's all for tonight. Nora"
Warren turned away dismissingly.
We'll think it over and let you know
in the morning. But if we do let you
stay, remember you're TO do the work
the way Mrs. Curtis wants it done"
As the door closed on the retreat
ing and now thoroughly subdued
Nora, Helen flew to Warren with
an exuberant hug.
"Oh, you did that wonderfully.
You handled, her Just right"
IF she'd got lippy and tried to
brazen it out-she'd have got her
walking papers quick But she came
right down. thought she would"
Switching off the lights. Helen
followed him back to the bedroom.
Dear. how do you know they
danced here last night" q
Il didn't" with grin. "That was
bluff and she fell for it hard. Told
You l could handle her."
You did it superbly." tactfully
playing IN to his masculine egotism.
Il couldn't have done it half as
WELL"
II should say not. You'd have
made fine mess of it. And you'd
ended up by trotting around TO all
the employment agencies.
Then as he flung off his bath.
robe and nrolled into bed.
"Jove, I'm tired. Rotten job get
ting. back from trip and having to
bawl out the maid. But I've got
her where you want her now. The
way l put it to her-she's darned
glad to stay on. Things ought to run
smoothly for a while-if you don't
do something to gum the works =,