El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-02
Mrs. Morrison, a Buyer Of
Millinery, Rents Helen's
Spare Room.

" BE big expressman banged the
big trunk through the narrow
- hall and into the spare bed
room
"Oh. wait you'll tear the carpet.
There And Helen threw back
corner Of the rug as the man dragged
the trunk across the ROOM
where d you want it,: gruffly-
you'd better put It over mere Wait
The man showed the trunk into
place. wiped his forehead on his sleeve
and then drew from his hip pocket
soiled express book -
sign here, ma am pointing 10 the
line with a grimy finger. An then ne
pocketed the book and hurried out
Tt was n huge trunk. strongly made
and much travelled II was Dattereu
and SCARED and covered with many
labels. And it looked oddly out OF
place in Helen's dainty blue and white
aspare room''-nOw a rented room az
IS a week.
Strengthened down the rug, adjusted
the blind exactly even with the win
dow sill, and gave one more glance N
the closet to see II the shelves were
dr.. Everything had been taken out
that morning and Della had washed
off all the shelves The bureau draw
ers too. had been emptied and lined
with clean white paper. And now lns
room was all ready for It's new occu-
pant. who had said she would come
Eight dollars a week, All morning
as Helen worked she had been think
ing OF what she could do with tnat
money. With her training in economy
she could make IS week 90 very
far. And it was this that nad os-
spite of the feeling that she was not
at all the person she would nave
/ chosen for a roomer. But atter All
/ she would be there very little she
| vas BUYER of millinery, and would
! leave early and not get home untA
A Different Woman.
Helen had come in contact with very
! few business women, and yet she cou llI
not help thinking how different was
Mrs. Morrison, with her rouge and
powder and rather striking clothes, 70
I the severely plain and business like
person she had always pictured buy
As Vet no one but Della knew Of
I this room renting venture Ana un-
! til she had tried It for a week or so,
] Helen did not want any one to know
/ Warren, of course, was not TO know
/ at all. His last letters inferred tnaL
/ he would have to stay out there az
| least two months longer. And Helen
| had rented the room with the under
standing that 1t might be for only two
I Two months at IS week would
! be little over So. To Helen thaf
and worth all the possible dlscom-
forts of having roomer-
| At least Warren would have to send
| her no more money for personal ex-
/ penses. The IS would more than meet
! everything she would need for clothes
and extras for herself and Winifred.
/ 1t was almost 6 before Mrs. MOrri-
son came Della opened the door, and
/ al RI her nuTrTfnE through
( the hall to her room, she could not
! help wondering where she was going
| to have her dinners She had made no
1 inquiry as to any restaurant or board
/ ing house in the neighborhOOd. But
| perhaps she would dine somewhere
| down town before she came home. And
! this evening she would probably spend
| in unpacking and fixing up her things.
| Helen was Just finishing her own
! simple dinner when there was a knock
! on the dining room door. She opened
/ IT to q vision Of white furs and satin.
/ For a second she hardly recognized
Mrs Morrison in the long white opera
cloak and silken scarf over her hair.
can you tell me the nearest place
/ to phone for a taXi2
Helen flushed. In the few times they
had ever had a taxi, Warren had or
why. don't think I know the
| number, but the telephone boy win
@Oh. yesEwhere did you say your
phone was? Oh, here it is" seeing it
on the wall by the hall door.
Hello. VIII you order me taxi?
! Yes right away" And then turning
\ back to Helen: "Oh. Mrs Curtis. NAV
/ I ask you to put a pitcher for drink
| ing water in my rOom2 ] always have
! TO have it by my bed at night"
I why. certainly" answered Helen
/ There should have been one in there
/ In a few moments the taxi was an
| nounced, ana Mrs. Morrison hurried
I down.
/ Helen had been mildly astonished AT
I the elaborate evening gown ana tn
I order for the taxi, but She was rnncb
1 more astOnished when a little Later
I she went into the room to take the
pitcher.
! Never had she seen a place in suob
1 cyclOnic disorder The big trunk stood
Z gapingly open The three travs were
| on the floor and dresses, waists. hair
| and slippers were strewn over bed and
{ chairs and table Everything was Gov
1 cred with a confusion of feminine an
parel. In her hurry to find what she
wanted, IL was evident that Mrs Nor
| risOn had simply pulled things ont and
| thrown them anywhere.
/ A BcWilderfng Array
/ Helen gazed about in wondernent
! Never had she seen so many satin
| slippers-most of them soiled-and
! never so many elaborate evening
/ sowns-nOne of them fresh
/ The bureau was simply covered with
/ bottles and Jars and boxes of various
| toilet preparations And what was that
/ curious attachment screwed into one