"Gretchen, I don't want you to tell tales about your companions, and you need not answer unless you wish to do so, but I have been told that you know facts concerning a rumor about Katie Robertson, that I very much desire to find out. Can you, honorably, tell me anything about it?"
"Some of the girls don't like her; I don't know why. She's always a very nice girl to me, and so good to her mother!"
"But the rumor is that she is dishonest, and that you saw her steal something."
"I saw Katie steal?" said Gretchen, very slowly. "Never, never in my life. Oh, I know," a light breaking over her face at a sudden recollection. "Bertha and I both saw her find a bill in an old vest-pocket one day, and put it in her own. Bertha spoke about it to me, but it wasn't my business. Finding isn't stealing."
"It isn't quite honest to keep what we find," said Miss Eunice. "We should try to restore it to the owner."
"But how could she find the owner?" said Gretchen, eagerly. "He might be away over in Germany, or—or anywhere."
"That is true," said Etta, thoughtfully. "It's strange! I can't believe that Katie's dishonest."
"Oh, she isn't; I'm sure she isn't! I only wish I could prove it; but this is all I know about the matter."
"Well, dear, thank you for saying what you have said. Don't say a word about it among your companions. I know I can trust you that far, and I will find out the mystery somehow. Good-night, Gretchen. God bless you in your new service," and Miss Eunice kissed her, little German factory-girl though she was.
"Find out the mystery? Of course we can; just as easy as possible, now," said Etta. "All we've got to do is just to ask James if such an occurrence ever happened in the mill."