Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-10-16
Wherein a Woman
Proves Her Theory
That ParagOns Do
Not Exist
IN TWO PARTS-PART ONE

On, II you please, Madam, could
speak to you moment?"
1t might be thought that this re-
quest was in the nature of an absurd
ity, since Edna, Miss MARBLES little
maid, was actually speaking to her
mistress at the moment.
Recognizing the idiom, however,
Miss MARBLE said promptly: Certainly
Edna, come in and shut the door.
What is it?"
Obediently shutting the door, Edna
advanced into the room. pleated the
corner of her apron between her fin
gers and swallowed once or twice.
Eyes, Edna?" said Miss MARBLE en-
couragingly.
"Oh please, Nam, it's my cousin
Gladdie."
Dear me-" said Miss MARBLE, her
mind leaping to the worst-and, alas,
the most usual conclusion. "Not-not
in trouble?"
Edna fastened to reassure her.
"Oh no, Nam, nothing of that kind
Gladdie's not that kind of girl It's
just that she's upset. You see, she's
lost her place."
Dear me, am sorry to hear that
She was at Old Hall, wasn't she, with
the Miss - Misses - Skinners?"
Yes, Nam, that's right, Nam. And
Gladdie's very upset about it - very
upset indeed"
GLADYS has changed places rather
often before, though, hasn't she?'
"Oh yes, Nam. She's always one
for a change Gladdie is. She never
seems to get really settled if you know
what mean. But she's always been
the one to give the notice, you see!"
And this time it's the other way
round?" asked Miss MARBLE drily.
Yes, Nam, and it's upset Gladdie
something awful"
Miss MARBLE looked slightly sur
prised. Her recollection of Gladys,
who had occasionally come to drink
in the kitchen on her days OUT, was
a stout, giggling girl of unshakably
equable temperament.
Edna went on: You see, Nam, it's
the way it happened-the way Miss
Skinner looked"
"How?" inquired Miss MARBLE pa
tiently, did Miss Skinner look?"
This time Edna got well away with
her bulletin.
Oh Nam, it was ever such a shock
to Gladdie. You see, one of Miss
Emily'S brooches was missing and
such hue and cry for it as never was,
and of course, nobody likes a thing
like that to happen, it's upsetting,
Nam, if you know what I mean. And
Gladdie's helped search everywhere
and there was Miss Lavinia saying she
was going to the police about it, and
then it turned up again, pushed right
to the back of drawer in the dressing
table, and very thankful Gladdie was.
And the very next day as ever was
plate got broken, and Miss Lavinia
she bounced out right away and told
Gladdie to take months notice. And
what Gladdie feels is it couldn't have
been the plate and that Miss Lavinia
was just making an excuse of that,
and that it must be because OF the
brooch and they think as she took 1t
and put it back when the police was
mentioned, and Gladdie wouldn't do
such a thing, not never she wouldn't,
and what she feels is as it will get
round and tell against her and it's
yery serious thing for a girl as you
know, Man,"
Miss MARBLE nodded. Though hav-
ing no particular liking for the bounc-
ing, self-opinioned Gladys. she was
quite sure of the girls intrinsic
honesty and could well imagine that
the affair must have upset her.
Edna said wistfully: Il suppose,
Nam, there isn't anything you could
do about it? Gladdie's in ever such
taking
Tell her not to be silly said Miss
Marble crisply. IF she didn't take
the brooch-which I'm sure she dldnG
then she has no cause to be upset
It'll get about" said Edna dismally.
Miss MARBLE said, "I-er-am going
up that way this afternoon. I'll nave
word with the Misses SINNERS"
"Oh, thank you, Madam said Edna
Old Hall was big Victorian house
surrounded by woods and parKland.
Since it had been proved unlettaole
and unstable as it was, an enter
prising Spectator had divided II IN
to four flats with a central hot water
system, and the use of the GROUNDS
to be held in common by the tenants.
The experiment had been satisfactory.
rich and eccentric old lady and her
maid occupied one flat. The old lady
had a passion for birds and enter
tanned a feathered gathering to meals
every day. A retired Indian judge ana
his wife rented a second. A very
young couple, recently married, &C.
cupied the third and the fourth mad
been taken only two months ago by
two maiden ladies of the name OF
Skinner. The four sets of tenants were
only on the most distant terms with
each other, since none of them had
anything in common. The landlord
had been heard to say that this was
an excellent thing. What he dreaded
were friendships followed by estrange-
ments and subsequent complaints to
him. -.
Miss MARBLE was acquainted with all
the tenants, though she knew none OF
them we'll The elder Miss Skinner,
Miss Lavinia, was what might be term
ed the working member of the firm.
Miss Emily, the younger, spent most
of her time in bed suffering from var
ious complaints which, in the opinion
of st. Mary Mead, were largely i'm
aginary. Only Miss Lavinia believed
devoutly in her sisters martyrdom and