Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-01

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from here--cant you come
in and have some tear
Helen hesitated, then yielded TO
Mrs. Merwins 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 on
Fifth avenue, was most cordial
Don't you want to come up to the
rooms7 It's much quieter. ana III
order tea up there she suggested
as they pushed through the heavy
revolving door OF the Hotel Asdort.
The atmosphere and appointments
of a big, luxurious hotel had Always
acertain charm for Helen a chaFn
that would probably be dlspeAeo
should she live at one for any Iehsln
OF time.
They left the elevator at the eighth
floor. and Mrs. Merwin led the way
I'M the hall to an expensive suite OF
bedroom, sitting room and oath'
She telephonsd down for the tea
ordertng with il two cocktails.
ooh. YES. we must have something
70 drink " as she hung up the receiver.
rye been blue all day! on, think
New York IL the most lonely place
III be so glad when we get away:
put you're so pleasantly situFed
bere" protested Helen, Slanclhs
around the attractive rooms. ana
don't YOU find this hotel very GOOD
I'VE always heard that the service
here was excellent. . 49,
"0b II almost hate II! I've oeen
90 unhappy ever since we Gamer
Helen looked up, surprised at the
tremor in her voice.
Won know we'd planned to go on
IN Denver. but-but Mr.. Merwin $
business has kept us here. NOW =
don't know when Wen get away
She had laid aside her hat. and as
she leaned back in chair by the
window. Helen saw how tired ana
worn she looked. On the steamer she
had been most attractive, and the CEN
ire of much attention. But now she
was pale and listless. with haggard
lines around her eyes and mouth
What could have happened 10 have
changed her In 80 short timer
In a few moments the walter came
with the tea on the tray were TWO
slender glasses into which he poured
the cocktail from a silver shaker
Mrs. AIerwin slipped hers eagerly ana
A faint color relieved her pallor
Momentariy it seemed to cheer her,
and they talked OF the people they
had met on the steamer. several OF
whom Mrs. Merwln had seen since.
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
hut notice how her hand trembled
when she took down the receiver
SHE BREAKS DOWN.
NO. Mr.. Merwin is not here. :. d.
I'm sorry. but l don't know anything
about that. I'm sure Mr.. Merwin
will make 1t all right Yes. as
soon as he comes In
Hardly had she left tho phone when
the bell rang again.
Mr. MerWin Is not in. No. he hasn't
an office in New York. At six? He
may be here then. but I'm not sure "
To Helen's dismay as Mrs. Merwin
turned from the phone she suddenly
leaned against the wall and burst
into tears.
"Oh, l can't stand il any longer
cnu'tr' she sobbed They're always
calling him up-the people he owes!
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 hndlnS
expression. and she sobbod out to
Helen the whole wretched story.
The mining scheme that Mr.. Mer-
win had been promoting in London
1ad fallen through when they
reached New York. He had borrowed
money from every one ne knew, try
Ing to promote some other STOCK.
rhat. too, had been a failure, and now
they had not even money enough 10
nav their hotel billiard they owed
Tor three weeks
"But why do you keep these ex-
pensive rooms7" ventured Helen.
"CouIdn't you stay at some cheaper
hotel, or even at a boarding house|
Yes but we cant leave until we
nav the bill We can't even take
cheaper rooms here, for that would
make them suspicious. They think
Mr. Merwin has money. he always
spent II so freely. II they dldn
mink that, they wouldn't keep civ
ing US credit in the restalrant-and
ve've got TO eat somewhere
But II you 60 on running up TINS
bil'--