El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-09-12

| entered the restaurant 1t was in the
basement or another huge office build
ing. The head waiter came toward
door.
Isis Mr. Curtis here?"
He looked surprised.
He lunches here almost every day."
she explained, hurried, and I thought
you might know"
Many hundreds lunch here every
day, madam" smiled the waiter. But
II you care to glance around"
IL think he usually takes a table
on the other side Oh! There he is
She started forward eagerly, only to
table with Warren. For moment she
stood in uncertain confusion--and then
Warren saw her. He rose quickly and
came toward her, frowning and puz-
zled.
why. what's the matter? What's
happened?'
She Finds Him.
Helen was suddenly and miserably
conscious of the awkward looking
package dn her arm, her disordered
hair. her flushed face. now flushing
deeper at the gaze of the three men,
the head waiter and the people at the
surrounding tables
''Why-why, dear-nothing has hap
pened. ] just come in to get some
things and thought I'd lunch with
YOU"
Lunch with met Then why under
heaven didn't you 'phone?"
II wanted to surprise YOU"
Well, you've succeeded"
'Oh, I'm sorry-I never thought of
anyone being with you, But I'll not
ask about something. They wont know
L came for luncheon"
''Thatn look worse still. Women
don't dash into places like this and
out again. Come on. We're in for It
now.
He turned back to the table and she
was forced to follow him.
My wife. Mrs. Curtis-Mr. Slater
Mr.. Cartright and Mr.. Reed"
After the introduction there was an
awkward pause. while the waiter
placed a chair for Helen and another
for her package and parasol.
ooh, I'm afraid this is an intrusion
she murmured, trying to cover her con-
fusion.
I'm sure it's very great pleasure,
Mrs. Curtis" answered Mr.. Reed. gal
lantly.
The waiter had placed her chair be-
tween Warren and Mr.. Reed. And it
at ease. who talked to her of the down
town section, the popularity of Sthis
particular restaurant and its excellent
service And Helen was dumbly CRATE
1Q1 1Or his 6llOFtS, lot w aIIen IildQ0
no attempt whatever TO make her COM
Portable. He was discussing Brooklyn
real estate with the other two men
and hardly noticed her.
In spite of Mr.. Reeds tact and kind
illness for Helen. it was q wretched
hour. And to her further dismay, she
found when the waiter brought the
check-that it had been Mr.. Reeds
luncheoni
Such a possibility had not occurred
to her. No wonder Warren was furi-
Gus. She had deliberately forced her.
self upon them-an unlimited guestl
And now Mr., Reed, to her an utter
stranger, was paying the bill and War
rem was helpless to prevent It. For
him to have insisted on paying her por-
ton would of course have been i'm |
possible. The whole situation was most
embarrassing.
1T was even more embarrassing when |
they rose to leave. Mr. Slater had |
his car outside and they were all GO |
ing over to look at some Brooklyn |
lots. But now they insisted on first |
taking Helen to the 34th street ferry.
And the fact that she was causing |
them to gro so far out of their way |
only added to her distress.
"Oh, Warren, I can't tel you how |
sorry I am about Il alll'' she murmured |
under cover OF the noise as they passed |
beneath the elevated. 'I'll never come |
down for luncheon again without let |
ting you know"
'sWell. I should hope NoTr'