The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-06-07
CHAPTER XIV.


In sort OF daze | found my way,
as best could, to the Hotel Gloria
After the first brilliant shock of real
ization, the fog OF confusion had set
lied down again. with his additional
whirling eddy Of a new misfortune.
| stumbled up the steps and to the
desk in the main Office My friend,
the clerk, glanced up at me inquiring-
ly. and whistled softly in sheer
amaZement.
Well he said well. You did get
II, didn't you? What on earth hap
pened?"
Il was sand-bagged, ! think an.
swered. I'm tell you all about II in
the morning. I'm too dizzy to get II
straight now"
This particular clerk OF the Hotel
Gloria had known me. as | have said.
for several years, and | liked him be-
cause he was one OF the few people
on earth 10 whom my misfortune had
never seemed to make any particular
difference. | should hardly have call
ed him friend: nevertheless, there
had always been in his brisk profas
sional cordiality a strain of something
more intimately human. In his pres
ent concern he forgot his professional
role altogether, and came from hehipd
the office enclosure with an actual
anxiety that struck my notice and
pleased me in spite of my mental
chaos. Very gently he took of my
crushed hat and gave attention to my
injury.
Lord, man. he said; you ought to
have doctor"
shook my head stupidity, No, |
oughtn't' / said. Il couldn't possibly
pay one. They took every cent | had.
| don't even know how I'll pay my bill
1ere."
We'll. don't bother about that now,
the clerk said The thing for You to
90 is TO get to bed" and he sent in a
call for the hotel physician.
Between them they made me COM
paratively comfortable The doctor
gave me sedative and told me- 10 90
TO sleep: but II was some hours be-
fore | was able TO do so. The pulsing
torment in my brain racked me; the
situation must face on the morrow
filed me with feverish apDrehcn-
ion But in spite OF ii, and in spite Of
he pain, once asleep. ! slept well;
and awoke about 10 o'clock to fad my
self much better.
quite marvellous. my dear sir the
doctor said; quite marvellous. But
yoir physique is something very mus
tal. and should say that YOU had led
a pretty decent life. II all counts. 1t
all counts.
But, although the pain had mostly
disappeared was still very much
troubled was here, | realized. with
out a friend in the city. with hotel
bill as yet unpaid, and not a cent IN
the world that | could Immediately lay
my hands on The fight before me
called me imperatively. and my en-
emies had stripped me OF the very
sinews of war.
When | had finished my breakfast,
the hotel clerk came and sat down be-
side my bed
Well" he said, you're looking
pretty fit"
4Fn enough" | admitted gloomily,
and for that matter, ! am gong TO
set up in a few minutes, doctor or no
doctor But what I'm going to do next
5 more than can tell you. Is II quite
clear TO you that | can't even pay my
hotel bill. and that haven't enough
baggage to- be worth seizingg
The CLERK laughed shouldn't
worry about that If | were you he
aid. See here, Mr. Ellsworth. we
l;how YOU pretty well by this time.
Wen let the bill go for while, aud
You can stay here until you can get
in touch with friends. In the mean
ime | guess we can supply you with
what money you need.
have heard many people complain
that New York is cold and soulless
rlace. where tradesman and Bonlface
Lave learned by such long and bitter
experience the guile OF a scheming
world. that no need, however Just, can
turn them from their policy or sus
ricion. Yet here was young man,
an employee--to be sure trusted one
who was offering me. quite as a
matter of course, a trust and assist
ance for which he himself must pay.
II by any chance he should have over
estimated my honesty or Ultimate
solvency.
I'm sure I thank you very much,
! said. rather weakly, for in my shak-
On condition I found IL hard TO hide
the sudden food OF gratitude which
he would have found embarrassing.
still. try as I would, my voice was a
little unsteady, and. like any normal
american, he became Immediately Ill
az ease.
"Oh. that's all right" he said brusk-
~. and retreated In confusion.
Ny emotions as ! dressed we're
strangely mixed. Within a short week
my numb. uneventful life had been
turned topsy.turvy and its gray fabric
had suddenly been strewn with oe-
vildering tangle Of black and gold
nope aud love, loss and fear played
havoc with its dreary serenity; and
ihree times within the last few days
chance acquaintance had spoken 70
me IN Kindness. | had never had very
much money; now at a stroke was
absolutely penniless. 1t seemed to my
still 8ching senses as u ! mus, DC
moving in a. dream from which
might at any moment awake. Vet
stepped out into the city with no very