The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-08-21
A WIN SOM f
VILLAIN G@@
BY JOHN II. RAFTERY.


THE advent of Helen Barr as stenog-
rapher created a genuine sensa-
ton in Hotel Packinghom. The staid
manager, broad of paunch and bald
of head, began to dictate his own let
tiers, instead of leaving them to his
assistant. The chief clerk surpassed
even his own high standard of sartor-
ial splendor and curled the ends of his
mustache so high that the points
served him as "a sight" for the aim
ing of many glances of admiration.
The captain of the bellboys began to
throw out his chest and take on the
airs of 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 Barr's 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 a 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 a bold travel
ing man that she would say so herself
ii asked. He lost the wager, however,
for, when the saucy question was put
to her, she blushed beautifully, and
said: 81 never noticed, SIR But, as
the inquisitor attempted TO push his
investigation, the girl turned back to
her typewriter and murmured: "Any-
way, there's no green in them" This
innocent retort had the effect of
rebuff, and Miss Barr's popularity
went off a 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. .. A., came
to the Buckingham to "recuperate"
after a period of detached service in
South America. He was tall, sun
burned, blond, good to look at and
distinguished with all the frank gem
bhity VI a SpitiCl anu al vi
all her customers 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
ilert beauty had found out a great
many things about him in the course
If a week, for he wrote TO Mrs. Bald
win every day. He had assured her
that she. didn't know how soon he'd
oe home because he was still "far
rom WELL" etc. These seemingly un-
warranted explanations gave Miss
Barr the idea that the handsome cap
ain was something of rogue, for she
iad never seen a finer example of ro-
1ust manhood.
The number of gay young men who
ealled on him seemed to indicate that
ie might be what she vaguely sus-
,ected as "one of the boys" Some
ines he wrote letters to other women
han Mrs. Baldwin, and, although
'hese were usually noncommittal and
# the jolly sort that might well pass
etween jolly bachelor and his So
iiety acquaintances, yet Miss Barr
ancied that they were not the kind
# letters she would like her husband
be writing if she were married.
fhen, thought the girl, "he has chill
rem. Let's see. He mentioned Amy,
'om, Catherine and Baby Hugh.
Imph! | think he is pretty gay for
nan of family" 1t was not till he be-
an the practice of leaving flowers and
ronbons on her desk that Helen awak-'
ned to a realization Of Capt. Bald
wins possible villainy. Without re-
,ecting that his character, good or
rad, should in no way interfere with
er peace of mind, she began to worry,
,rieve and get pale. She knew that
is wife was urging him to come home,
nd she was sure that his trumped-up
xcuses were either frivolous or ut
erly untrue. Finally she asked him
o "please stop giving her presents"
mt try as she might she couldn't find
n excuse for mentioning his wife and
MS duty toward his family. I'm not
imposed to know anything about
hat" she thought, and yet she puz-
led over the question whether his
andid display of his own duplicity
vas not proof positive that he was a
ihameless wretch, making love to an
innocent girl without even taking the
1recaution to conceal his life ol.liga-
lions.