The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-01-04
THE
SPOON
PARTY
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
tl0 by d j. Walsh.l

VERIFYING ready? cailed
X Esther as she saw her sis
H. ter Minnie running swiftly
along the garden path.
Ready" repeated Minnie with a
frown. "Everything's ready except
for one thing-the gypsy hasn't
Gomez
"Oh, WE'LL" said Esther, THAT
doesn't make any difference. Any
one of the girls can dress up and play
gypsy for the evening. OF course, a
spook party wouldn't be complete
without the gypsy to provide the fun.
Clara would dress up for us know
she would"
"Clara-with her big blue eyes !"
scoffed Minnie. "Who ever heard of
blue-eyed gypsy? No, Clara's no
good-for a gypsy. We just can't
have the gypsy. guess-and I'd
counted on her providing most of the
fun for the party, too"
"What happened to the gypsy you'd
hired DOWNTOWN" asked Esther.
'Ch," said Minnie with shrug,
'they told me when talked to them
at the bureau that they'd send one"
Did you see herr" demanded
Esther.
Minnie shook her head mo, they
telephoned to her while | was there
and told her what we'd pay and she
said she absolutely would not fail us.
She agreed to be here an hour ago
and she hasn't come yet-say, there
she is now"
IF her skin were creamy instead Of
brown and il her dress were conven-
tional she would look much like Sal
ly," Esther remarked
Minnie and the gypsy girl were now
coming up the path. Esther gazed at
them in surprise.
But, no." Esther heard the gypsy
girl say as they neared the house,
"tnis is not the place-I-I-I am
not the gypsy you are expecting. No,
no. IL"
Now, don't talk about it." Minnie
cut in hastily, "if you don't care
about the money-dO it, one girl for
another.
The gypsy girl hesitated an instant
and then put her hand impulsively
on Minnie's arm: .I'll do it." she
promised. 'but | absolutely must not
stay more than one hour.
Minnie thought for an instant
Then she nodded. Eyes, and-thanks
My party would have been spoiled
for me if-why what wonderful
chain you have"
Esthers eyes travelled down the
chain about the gypsy's neck. Where
had she seen that chain-or one like
it before?
"What is your manner? Minnie was
asking.
"CalI me-Roxana," answered the
gypsy girl, with little hesitation.
''Roxana,' repeated Minnie. "Roy-
ana, it's a lively name, isn't it? Well.
come and see the tent. Have you
told fortunes at party?"
RoXana stared at her long while
before replying "Pve-never-told a
fortune-in-my-lff ~
Then Esther watched them go
down the garden path slowly and
over and over in her mind she turned
this queer little gypsy girl who wore
the beautiful amethyst and golden
chain, the gypsy girl who, contrary
to gypsy tradition, had never told
fortune.
The ringing of the telephone
aroused her and at the other end of
the wire she was startled to hear
the voice of the agency woman. did
that gypsy girl come" asked the
voice in low tones.
"Why-" replied Esther, "why-no
and yes! That is, there is gypsy
girl here but she says that she was
not coming here at all. That is, we
waited and waited until past the time
for her to be mere. Then gypsy
girl walked past our place and Min
ME, thinking it was the gypsy we
had had coming. rushed out and
stopped her."
"Did this girl give her name?" in
terrupted the agency woman.
"Why, yes, her name is Roxana,"
answered Esther.
"Roxana! Well, | declare to good
ness! 1t is the girl-the very same
girl-has she-has she a-necklace on
gold set with amethysts?' The
voice now had dropped to whisper
"Yes." replied Esther. Yes. she
has"
well" said the other voice. now
hard. Don't let her get away-she
stole that necklace from Sallie
Marchand's grandmother-she was at
the Marchand house this afternoon
and later the necklace was gone"
The telephone at the other end was
hung up before Esther could say an
other word, This pretty gypsy girl.
Roxana, a thief! 1t seemed incred-
iblei
Then Esther left the telephone
desk and walked heavily into the
yard. This lovely young gypsy girl
"a thief. The night seemed sudden
ly chill to Esther. She could hard
ly believe it.