Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-04-08

the first of Bob's illness she had felt
she should write Louise. Yet if for
all these weeks Louise had been de-
terminedly schooling herself to "for-
get'-would not the knowledge that
BOD was sick undo much of that?
Helen shrank from the responsible
ity OF anything that might result in
bringing them together again. Yet
If anything should happen to Bob
II he should not get we'll - Louise
might always blame her.
When Warren came home at six, he
plainly showed his anxiety. He had
not been to the hospital since morn
ing, but was going after dinner.
Father's there now. just had him
on the wire. He'll stay until 1 come
Tell Nora to put dinner on right
away. Don't want much anyway"
In less than half an hour he had
gulped down hasty dinner, and was
on his way to the hospital
Bad News
For Helen, it was a long, lonely
evening of anxious brooding Warren
had said he would be- back by nine,
but it was after ten before he came
He's worse" briefly as Helen met
him in the hall. Temperature 104
Unconscious part of the time
x Z = +
They sent for Doctor Elliott. that's
why l waited. He says there's no
danger to-night-but that's all he
would say"
Helen had only once before seen
Warren deeply affected, and now she
stood silently, helplessly by while he
walked up and down. his hands clasp
ed behind him.
Dear" she ventured at length.
don't you think we ought to wire
Louise?"
What for?" savagely. She's moth
ing to him now"
But don't you think she ought to
know?'
No, 1 DON'T" he almost shouted.
But, dear, maybe = maybe she
could do more for him than the doc
tors or any one else?"
At this suggestion Warren fairly
snorted. Helen said no more, but his
report that Bob was unconscious had
decided her. She would take the risk
she would wire Louise!
1t was almost eleven-how could
she get the message off tonight =?
There was telegraph office only a
few blocks away, but if she sent for
messenger Warren would know
when he came.
AT last she thought out a plan. She
would wait until Warren was taking
his bath and could not hear her
then she would phone the message.
She had never sent a telegram by
telephone, but she knew it could be
done.
The Telegram
1t was almost twelve before War
rem finally went in to his bath. AS
soon as she heard the water running.
Helen ran to the phone, and in low
voice called up the telegraph office.
II wish to send a message to Palm
Beach. How can I prepay it?"
That's all right. it's charged on
your telephone BILL"
Then Helen read slowly the mes
sage she had written out.
Louise Whitmore, Hotel Royal Poin-
ciana, Palm Beach, Fla:
Bob is very i'll. Unconscious
Doctor admits condition is serious.
Thought I ought to let you know.
No one knows I'm wiring.
HELEN"
The operator read it back for ac-
curacy.
What time will that be delivered ?''
| she asked.
| Then you don't want it sent as a
night letter."
oh, no, no; want it delivered at
once! How long will it take?"
1T should be there in two hours
three at the most"
In two or three hours. BY 8 o'clock
Louise would know. What would she
do?
| Would she take the first train for
New York? If she did-would her
coming help Bob. or might she be bad
for him? Might he even refuse to see
her?
| Helen spent a sleepless night.
anguishing over every possible out
come of her telegram
| Yet even her intense anxiety could
not wholly submerge her innate love of
the dramatic, and there was thrilled
undercurrent of expectancy for the
emotional possibilities of the situa-
tion that Louise's return would pre-
cipitate.