The evening Republican., 1902-08-20
A WINSOME
VILLAIN N&&
BY JOHN II, RAFTERY.
THE advent Of Helen Barr as stenog-

He advent or Helen Barr as StenOg-
rapher created a genuine sensa-
ton in Hotel Packinghom. The staid
manager, broad of pauneh and bald
of head, began to dictate his own let
ters. instead of leaving them to his
assistant. The chief clerk surpassed
even his own high standard of sartor-
ial splendor ana curled the ends of his
mustache so high that the points
served him as "a sight" for the aim
ing of many gIances of admiration.
The captain of the be!lboys began to
throw out his chest and take on the
airs of a grown man, the clarion tones
OF "front" became music to the ears
of the buttons" for it required a
sudden appearance within range OF
Miss Bars incompatible eyes. Even
the house detective, the stewart and
the door men lighted up, and as for
the male guests, they suddenly de-
veloped into continuous and most vol
luminous letter writer's.
Miss Barr was beauty, as anyone
could see. Her hair was auburn and
her eyes dark blue. The clerk insist
ed that they were royal purple" and
bet box of cigars with bold travel
ing man that she would say SO herself
if asked He lost the wager, however,
for, when the saucy question was put
to her she blushed beautifully, and
said: Il never noticed, SIR" But. as
the inquisitor attempted to prSh his
investigation, the girl turned back to
her typewriter and murmured: ANY
way, there's no green iR-them." This
innocent retort had the effect of a
rebuff, and Miss Bars popularity
"went off point" with the clerk. But
she could be very gracious without
stepping across the limitations of per.
feet decorum, and her calm amiability
of disposition and habitual cheerful
ness of expression intrenched her pop
ularity without permitting familiar
ity
Capt. Hugh Baldwin, U. s. A., came
to the Buckingham to "recuperate"
after period of detached service in
South America. He was tall, sum
burned, blond, good to look at and
distinguished, with all the frank gem
tility of soldier and an officer. OF
all her Gust omers Miss Barr had found
Capt. Baldwin the most interesting.
He was friendly without being obtru-
sive, gay without being silly and re-
spectful without being distant. The
alert beauty had found out a great
many things about him in the course
of a week, for he wrote to Mrs. Bald
win every day. He had assured her
that "he didn't know how soon he'd
be home" because he was still "far
from we'll" etc. These seemingly UNI
warranted explanations gave Miss
Barr the idea that the handsome cap
tain was something of a rogue, for she
had never seen a finer example of ro-
bust manhood.
The number OF gay young men who
called on him seemed TO indicate that
he night be what she vaguely sus-
pected as lone of the boys" Some
times he wrote letters to other women
than Mrs. Baldwin, and, although
these were usually noncommittal and
of the jolly sort that might well pass
between jolly bachelor and his So
ciety acquaintances, yet Miss Barr
fancied that they were not the kind
of letters she would like her husband
to be writing If she were married.
Then, thought the girl "he has chill
dren. Let's see. He mentioned Amy,
Tom. Catherine and Baby Hugh.
Umph! ] think he is pretty gay for a
man of family" 1t was not till he be-
gan the practice of leaving flowers and
bonbons on her desk that Helen awak-
ened to realization Of Capt. Bald
wins possible .villainy. without re-
fecting that his character, good or
bad, should in no way interfere with
her peace of mind, she began to worry,
grieye and get pale. She knew that