Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-12-21

| fell Woulu answer II IN ner absence. Sue
might phone or even call AS soon she
could Helen hurried back.
Anything while ] was gone, Della?
Anyone call or any note?"
Della shook her head. "Nothin' at all,
ma am"
But hardly had Helen taken off her hat
when the door bell rang.
Its Mrs. Barrett" whispered Della,
coming back to the bedroom. "she
wouldn't come in-she's waitin' at the
door"
Helen, painfully conscious of her flushed
face, went out into the hail. Mrs. Bar
rett dressed for the street. was standing
just outside the open door. In her hand
was Helen's note.
81 believe you sent me this note, Mrs.
Curtis" freezingly.
Helen nodded
Well. this is the first time anyone
has ever complained OF George. You are
very much mistaken about the bell--Im
| quite sure that George never did such a
thing in his life. And as for rolling up
behind you on the street.-the says ne
didn't even know It was you. The streets
are public property and my boy has Just
as much right on them as anyone else"
For moment Helen was too dlscon-
certed 10 reply. Always easily confused
she was now wholly at loss-she could
think OF nothing TO say. And before she
could collect herself, Mrs. Barrett had
swept over to the elevator with a naughty
Good afternoon"
Helen closed the door and walked
blindly back into the sitting room. Her
cheeks were ablaze. Oh. why had she
let that woman dominate the situation
while she stood there helpless and con-
fused as a school girl? She could think
of a dozen things now that she should
have said. Why could she think of
nothing then?
| What did she say. maam?" asked
Della. coming in expectantly.
J "Oh. she simply denied it-said George
would never think of ringing our bell"
bitterly. las though ! hadn't heard him
scampering down the hall"
Didn't you tell her that, ma'am?''
mo, IL didn't have time to tell her
anything"
For the rest of the afternoon Helen
brooded over 1t all. II only she hadn't
sent the note 1t had only resulted in
humiliating her And now having discov-
cred that he could annoy her. George
would take even more glee in doing so.
IL Warren would only speak to Mr.
Barrett-but she knew II would be use
less to ask him. Always she had TO fight
her own battles, and she so shrank from
dissension that she usually let herself
be Imposed upon rather than to cause
any disturbance.
Whats the matter with you tonight?'
asked Warren at dinner. What makes
you so gium?"
I why, dear, I'm not glum."
Well, you're not any too sprightly
What's on your mind? out with IL,
You know you want to tell me and you
might as well get it over"
And then she told him of the months
OF annoyance from the Barrett boy. aboalt
which he already knew; OF her frutlsss
complaints to the janltor. and finally of
the note she wrote today and Mrs. Bar
retts insolent call.
Warren only shrugged his Shoulders
/ without comment
But, Warren, IL he does keep Il up
won't YOU speak to Mr.. Barrett about Il?
That would have more effect than any
thing could do-won't you?"
mot on your life"
But why dear, why cou.dnt you do
that much.' yet knowing how useless ii
was to persist
I'm not going to get mixed up in any
woman's squabbles. Flight II out for your
self. The next time he rings your bell
go out and box his ears"
'Oh, you know ! couldn't do that"
We'll, IL he does It when I'm here-I
Will"
But he knows better-he only rings
when you're away"
''Oh, we'll" indifferentiy; II suppose
there's nothing criminal about that l
did II myself when / was youngster"
oh Warren. you didn't!
"Of course / did. All boys do. The bell
ringing period is as inevitable as the
measles"
We'll. then, I'm glad Winifred is a
girl"
Hun! So am /. You'd probably make
mollyooddle out of boy II you had
one"
''At least ia make him considerate Of
women I'm an undertone.
What's THAR sharply.
Nothing" hurriedly. anxious to avoid
a quarrel. Don't you think It's getting
cold In here1 Shall turn on the
radiatOTT