El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-11-09

SkEE z RE stopping at the Asdorf
, w It's only couple of blocks
from here-can't you come
in and have some tea?"
Helen. hesitated. then yielded to
Mrs. Merwin's urgent invitation.
She had met the Merwins on the
steamer. They had sat at the same
table on the return voyage and seen a
great deal of each other during the
trip. And now Mrs. Merwin's greet
ing as they met Unexpectedly was
most cordial
Don't you want to come up to the
rooms? It's much quieter. and I'll
order tea up there she suggested,
as they pushed through the heavy
revolving door Of the Hotel Asdorf.
The atmosphere and appointments
of a big, luxurious hotel had always
a certain charm for Helen. a charm
that would probably be dispelled
should she live at one for any length
OF time
They left the elevator at the eighth
floor. and Mrs. Merwin led the way
up the hall to an expensive suite Of
bedroom, sitting room and bath.
She telephOned down for the tea,
ordering with II two cocktails
'Oh, yes, we must have something
to drink" as she hung up the receiver
I've been blue all dayl
But you're so pleasantly situated
here protested Helen, glancing
around the attractive rooms. And
don't you find this hotel very goOd2
/ We always heard that the service here
was excellent"
"Oh, II almost hate it, I've been SO
unhappy ever since we camel"
Helen looked up, surprised at the
tren1Or in her voice
You know we'd planned to go on
to Denver, but-but Mr.. Merwin's
business has kept US here. Now L
I don't know when Wen get away"
She had laid aside her hat, and Helen
saw how tired and worn she looked.
On the steamer she had been most at
tractive, and the center of much -
tention. But now she was pale anu
Hstless, with haggard lines around her
eyes and mouth.
What could have happened to have
changed her in so short a time?
In a few moments the waiter came
with the tea. On the tray were two
slender glasses into which he poured
the cocktail from silver shaker.
Mrs Merwin slipped hers eagerly, and
a faint color relieved her pallor.
Then the phone rang, and she
started so violently that the tea
splashed from the cup she was hold
ing The phone was on the wall by
the door, and Helen could not help
but notice how her hand trembled
when she took down the receiver.
She Breaks Down.
No, Mr.. Merwin is not here.
I'm sorry but don't know anything
about that. I'm sure Mr.; Merwin
viii make il all right. Yes,
as soon as he comes in
Hardly had she left the phone when
the bell rang again.
Mr.. Merwin is not in. No. he hasn't
an office in New York. At six2 He
may be here then, but I'm not sure"
To Helens dismay as Mrs Merwin
turned from the phone she suddenly
leaned against the wall and burst
into tears.
ooh. I can't stand it any longer-I
can't" she sobbed. They're always
calling him up-the people he owesi
And he's drinking and gambling away
all his money!"
For a moment Helen hardly knew
what to say, then she made a strained
and awkward attempt to comfort her
But the emotions which had evidently
been pent up for days were finding
expression, and she sObbed out to
Helen the whole Wretched story.
The mining scheme that Mr.. Mer-
win had been promoting in London
had fallen through when they
reached New York. He had borrowed
money from every one he knew, try
ing to promote some other stock
That, too, had been a failure, and now
they had not even money enough to
pay their hotel bill-and they owed
for three weeks.
But why do you keep these ex-
pensIVe rooms?" ventured Helen.