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

! Read that- qulyeringly. They
/ sent il up this morning"
It was typewriter and signed by
! the manager Of the hotel.
My dear madam:
After the disturbance made by
your husband last night in his in
tcXicated condition, we have no choice
but to ask for your rooms. The en-
closed bill for S26S must be settled
and the rooms vacated by Monday.
We have for you personally the
greatest sympathy, and regret that
this is necessary. You will understand,
however, that we must protect the
reputation Of our house and insure
our guests against q repetition of such
annoyances- I beg to remain,
Very truly yours,
81. I. Reynolds, Manager"
But why did they write to your
faltered Helen surely Mr. Merwin
was the one"
oh they know he hasn't been sober
for a week. He could hardly stagger
out of here this morning. And he
hasn't the money. He can't pay this
bill Oh, I know he canti"
Helen, at a loss to know what to
say, kept chatting the hand that clung
to hers What kind of a scene had
Mr.. Nerwin made? It had been serious
enough, added to their unpaid bill, to
cause the manager to write this note.
'Oh the shame of 1.-THE disgrace
Of it," sobbed Mrs. Merwin. ITO be
asked to leave a hotel I shall never
want to see any one again.
Helen started up TO answer a knock
at the door. It was the chambermaid
wanting to know If she could do the
rooms now.
'Io-no, not yet Mrs Merwin isn't
very well She will call you when she
That's the third time she's been
here this morning" mOaned Mrs Mer-
win. She's anxious to get into see
what I'm doingi Oh, they all know it!
The bell boys, the maids-they all
know we've been asked to leave"
'tNO-no, Pm sure they DON'T The
manager would never let the help
know such things"
But even as She said it. Helen
thought of how oddly the clerk had
looked at her when she asked for
Mrs. MerWin.
day" Historically. "This is Thurs
day-fOur days! What if Frank can't
raise. the money? What will be do
theni What will"
Husband Calls Up.
She started and clutched Helen's
hand as the phone rang
SAY I'm sick-that 1 can't speak to
anyone she entreated, as Helen rose
to answer it.
"Helenl .... Yes. ... Mrs
Merwin is i'll and cannot be disturbed
TINS morning ----.-...-- WhoE --.----.
Oh, just a moment"
IT'S Mr. Merwin,' whispered Helen,
her hand over the receiver. ''F1e says
he must speak to YOU
Mono, I don't want to speak to
him-nOt after last night" excitedly.
Il think you'd better come"
Helen helped her out of bed, but
even at the phone Mrs. Merwin still
chung TO her. holding her so close
that she could not help but hear dis
dnctly the mans voice at the other
end OF the wire.
Don't worry, Agnes. I've got the
money I went to a Turkish bath to
sober up and met VIII Gordon. He
let me have $500 because Of TT time
helped him out I'm coming right up
now to pay the bill and Wen be out
of that blamed hotel today"
'Oh, m so glad-rm so glad" she I
was sObbing with relief. after you
left they sent me a nOte-the most /
awful note, asking for their rooms |
Oh, never want to see any OF them
again, IOnly want to get away How
soon viii you be here?''
In half an hour stopped to phone, /
because knew YOU were worrying.
Now buck UP, little woman, there's /
to be no more booze I'm through
And I've got more good news VIII
Gordon put me on to sure thing
a South American deal he's putting
through. He's going to let me in on /
the ground floor. and wen be on easy /
street in a few weeks.
He Has the Money.
When she hung up the receiver she I
flung back her long tangled hair with 4
a Joyous;
de has the money! He's coming |
in half an houri Now we can pay our I
bill and get away from here. Oh, I !
want TO be ready by the time he 1
cOmes"
But you haven't had any break /
fast protested Helen, noticing how 4
weak and trembling she was. You {
must eat something first"
on, no. no wouldn't order any
thing from this placel I couldn't eat |
1t If I did. If you'll only help me /
pack There's just these two trunks
throwing up the lid of a large ward
robe trunk
Then let me. start to pack while
you dress" said Helen sOOthingly |
Just tell me what you want put in 1
first"
"Oh, throw them in any way-it
doesn't matteri Nothing matters. If
we can only get away from here"
As Helen packed the French gowns
and hand embroidered lingerie she {
could not help but wonder at the Mer-
wins extrayagance- It was plain that
when they had money they spent it
His clothes were as expensive as
hers. All his underwear and hosiery
were Of silk. and has shirts all GUS
tom made. Everything bore the mark
of an exclusive Fifth avenue or Re
gent street haberdasher.
Now I'm sure everything will be all
right reassUringly- '.And when Mr..
MerWin does get on his feet again-if
you'd only persuade him to put some
thing aside"
ooh. 7 know know we ought to
save, but we never do" bitterly But
it's never been so bad as this before.
II may be a lesson. can't believe that
he'll ever subject me to such humilia-
ton again.
I'm sure he won't" comfortineIv.
How can 7 thank you for coming
this morning.? as she followed Helen /
10 the elevator Il don't know what !
should have done alone. Just as soon (
as We're settled III let you know"
When Helen passed out through the [
lobby she saw Mr.. MerWin standing at /
the desk with wallet in his hand. I
evidently paying his bill Tall. we'll (
sroomed, with an undeniabIe air of
distinction. he did not look like a man !
who had just been asked to leave the
hotel.
Would this humiliation be the saIu-
yary lesson he needed2 Would he /
keep the promise he had Just made his I
wlfe2 Or would he go on. dragging !