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

| NM 1t 5 OILY a COuplC VI Sh'~AA
from here-can't you com
In and have some tear
Helen hesitated, then yielded Il
Mrs. Merwin's urgent invitation.
She had met the Merwins on tn
steamer. They had sat at the sam
table on the return voyage and seen
great deal of each other during tn
trip. And now Mrs. Merwin's greet
ing, as they met unexpectedly OF
Fifth avenue, was most cordial.
Don't you want to come up to TN
roomsy It's much quieter, ana II
order tea up there she suggested
as they pushed through the hesV'
revolving door of the Hotel AsdorI.
The atmosphere and appointment
Of a big, luxurious hotel had always
a certain charm for Helen. charm
that would probably be dispellec
should she live at one for any lenstf
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 it two cocktails
"Oh. yes, we must have something
to drink" as she hung up the receiver
| i've been blue all day! On, think
New York 10 the most lonely place
I'll be so glad when we get away
Put you're SO pleasantly situStec
here" protested Helen, glancinl
around the attractive rooms. Anc
don't YOU And this hotel very good
i've always heard that the service
here was excellent"
ooh IL almost hate 1t! I've peel
90 unhappy ever since we came.
Helen looked up, surprised at th'
tremor in her voice.
"You know we'd planned to go OF
to Denver, but-but MI Merwin
business has kept US. here. Now /
| don't know when Wen get away.
She had laid aside her hat. and a.
she leaned back in chair by tht
window, Helen saw how tired anc
worn she looked. On the steamer sht
had been most attractive, and the cen
ire of much attention. But now She
was pale and listless. with haggare
lines around her eyes and mouth.
What could have happened to have
changed her In so short 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 a silver shaker
Mrs. Merwin slipped hers eagerly. ant
a faint color relieved her pallor.
Momentarily it seemed to cheer her
and they talked OF the people they
had met on the steamer, several OF
whom Mrs. Merwin had seen since.
he and ahf
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 helr
but notice how her hand trembled
when she took down the receiver
SHE BREAKS DOWN.
mo, Mr.. Merwin Is not here. =.
I'm sorry. but 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 the 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. can't stand 1t any longer-I
can'tp she sobbed They're always
calling him up--the people he owes!
And hes drinking and gambling away
all his money"
For a moment Helen hardly knew
what to say, then she made strained
and awkward attempt to comfort her.
But the emotions which had evidently
been pent up for days were finding
and she sobbed out to
Helen the whole wretched story.
The mining scheme that Mr.. Mer
win had been promoting In London
mad 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 failure, and now
they had not even money enough to
pay their hotel billiard they owed
for three weeks.
But why do you keep these ex-
pensive rooms?" ventured Helen.
Couldn't you stay at some cheaper
hotel, or even at a boarding house"
Yes, but we can't leave until we
nav the bill We can't even take
make them suspicious. They think
Mr.. Merwin has money. he always
spent it so freely. If they didn't
think that, they wouldn't keep CIV
Ing us credit In the restaurant-and
we've got to eat somewhere"
but IL you 60 on running up this
hyIl"