Page:Girls of Central High on the Stage.djvu/126

116 The property don't bring me enough as it is."

"Then there's no use talking to us," said Jess, drawing her arm through her mother's. "Mrs. Prentice's house is all freshly done over, and has a heater, which this house hasn't, and everything is in spick and span order."

"That Mrs. Prentice! I might ha' knowed it!" cackled Mr. Chumley. "And she was for having you arrested for stealing once."

This was the very first Mrs. Morse had heard about the night Jess had had her queer experience, and she had to be told all about it now. She saw at once that her own regular work for the Courier arose out of her daughter's acquaintance with the wealthy Mrs. Prentice.

"And she is one of the leaders in our Hill society!" gasped the poor lady. "I declare! I shall never be able to face her again—although I have only a bowing acquaintance with her. She will very well know who is putting all the society items into the paper."

"Well, it's honest," said Jess, stubbornly.

"My goodness me! How practical you are, Jess," exclaimed her mother. "Isn't anything but bread-and-butter, and such things, appealing to you in life, child?"

Jess did not answer. She was naturally as frivolous of mind as any other girl of her age,