The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-01-04

LOO COiu- Ne-Ws-ii iAbAsih III
to the house." Under the clear. dark
eyes of Roxana Esther fell mean II
seemed as ii II was trapping ier like
an animal, to be ready for the otii
GERS. Yet. If the girl had stolen once
might she non steal again? Who was
she, Esther, To judge? Had the
courts decided that people who stole
must be prevented from stealing an
other time?
In the house she put Roxana ano
Minnie into the study and as soon
as the first guest arrived she, TOO
was sent there. AT last all the guests
had come except Sallie. Esther had
been watching far her nervously.
Suppose she should notice her grand
mothers chain Would she speak up,
accuse this gypsy girl? Sallie was
impulsiye and should she do this the
girl might try to jump out Of the
window to get away. She could not
get out of any door save the one
leading into the hallway for Esther
had taken the precaution of locking
the other three that led into the din
ing room, the music room and the
one that led through clothes closet
into a stOrerOom. Esther had made
up her mind to speak to Sallie but
no Salie came!
Then the doorbell rang again and
Esther hurried out. There before her
amazed eyes stood gypsy girl. The
low cOntralto voice spoke quickly: II
am late; am sorry. My aunt-she
was I'LL could not get here before.
4" she had stepped now into the
open doorway. ''I-you were-ex-
pecting me?" she said as she scanned
Esthers face.
"Why-I-" stammered Esther,
what is your name?"
"My name," said the gypsy girl
proudly, sis Roxana."
wont you go into the study? It
the guests are in there-you can tell
fortunes?"
The dark eyes laughed into her
own: "Ah, you ask if Roxana tells
fortunes? The gypsies all tell for
tunes. always make pretty for
tunes for them-I tell of a diamond
ring and golden chain for the neck
-ah, then how their eyes shine!"
Esther started. golden chain for
the neck A quick look at the girls
neck showed nothing more than a
string of cheap red beads. Esther
did not know which gypsy girl was
the one to hold. RoXana-they both
seemed to be called ROxana. yet it
was the other one who wore the
missing chain. The gypsy was NOV
ing toward the door.
"Wait-cOme into the music room,
if you please" Esther said hastily.
One gypsy called Roxana; another
one of the same name! A curious
thing that. While this idea was turn
ing itself over and over in her mind
the doorbell again rang. There stood
an officer and beside him, in her
furs, was SalIy's grandmother, Mrs.
Marchand 81 can't really believe,
Mrs. Marchand said without any pre-
liminary that little Roxana stole
that necklace"
The officer entered the doorway
with shrug There can be no mis-
take, Mrs. Marchand. Miss Esther
here has seen the necklace on her
neck-on the gypsy's neck. The war
rant was all that was necessary"
"But | must make sure before any
arrest can be made" said Mrs. Mar
chand firmly. "I-I can't believe
here she raised her voice little
"Roxanal Roxanal Come here at
once. if you pleased"
And Esther, standing by helpless to
explain that there were two gypsies
in the house, suddenly was aware
that two doors were open and in each
doorway stood a pretty gypsy girl.
"You called me, Mrs. Marchand,'
one said in low tones.
Grandmother! said the other one,
sharply.
Mrs. Marchand stared at the lat
ter. GRANDMOTHER she repeated.
"Why-Salie-it isn't Sallie!'
Then the girl with the golden neck.
lace laughed: ooh, | gave it away
didn't 1? Well. might as well tell
you all about it. You see, twelve of
us started sewing club and there be
ing twelve months in the year we
decided that as sort of initiation to
the club we would each make cos
tune for our month. Well, my month
was October and so thought at once
of costume suitable for this occa-
sion. That gave me choice of gypsy
or queer witch or black cat and of
the three chose gypsy as being the
prettiest. | made up my mind To
pretend was a real gypsy and this
afternoon | asked Roxana to come
over to see if the costume was ex-
actly right. She said it was-all ex-
cept necklace. And grandmother
had let me borrow this one before
and so borrowed it again."
The officer had stepped out Of the
front door unobserved by the girls.
"It's quite all right" said the state
IL Mrs. Marchand. Good night, Rox-
ana-bOth Roxanas!"
And while she was bidding Esther
good night they heard from the 9TH
err room: "And three black cats with
long, waving tails and long, wiry
whiskers met three gypsy girls-all
of the name of-Roxana-"
Esther and Mrs. Marchand smiled
at each other. The spOok party was
success.