The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1914-12-18

4 shall b busy al day. you win not
be- disturbed. But leave the rest %
mo. shall nna way
Il was nearly Tires o'clock when
she brought the car 70 stop In front
Of . small. exclusive hotsl not faf
nom Central paSk. The street vas
dark and the vsstibuls vas but dimly
lighted. No attendant vas IN sight
slip Into this." commanded Ars
Wrandall. beginning % divest hsrsslf
Of her own fur coat "It vim cover
your muddy sarments. ] IN quite
warmly dressed. Don't worry. b
quick. For the time being you are my
guest here. You will mot b Ques-
toned No one need know who you
are. Il will not matter II you look dis
tressed. You have Just heard Of the
dreadful thing that has happened to
me. You"
Happened to youf" cried the girt
drawing the coat about her.
"A member Of my family has died.
They know II In the hotel By this
time. I was called to the death bod
tonight. That b Ill you viii have 70
know"
"Oh. l am sorry"
Come. let NJ 20 In. When ws
reach my rooms. you may order food
and drink. You must DO II. not ].
Please try to remember that II 10 I
who am suffering. not you"
A sleepy night watchman took them
up In the elevator. He was not even
interested. Mrs. Wrandall did not
speak, but leaned rather heavily ON
the arm Of her companion. The door
had no sooner closed behind them
when the girl collapsed. She sank to
the floor In heap.
Get up!" commanded her hostess
sharply. This kas not the time for
soft. persuasive words. Get up 1t
once. You are young and strong. You
must show the stun you are made Of
now II you ever mean to show It. I
cannot help you II You quail"
The girl looked up piteously. and
then struggled to her feet. She stood
before her protectress. weaving like
q frail reed In the wind. pallid to the
lips.
Il beg your pardon" she murmured.
II will not give way like that again.
! dare say I am faint. ! have had No
food. no rest-but never mind that
now. Tell me what ! am 70 DO. ] win
try 70 obey"
First Of all. get out Of those muddy.
frozen things you have on"
Mrs.. Wrandall herself moved stifny
and with unsteady limbs ~ she began
TO remove her own outer garments.
The girl mechanically followed her e.
ample. She was pitiable object in
the strong light Of the electrolier.
Muddy from head to foot. water
stained and bedragsled. her face
streaked with dirt. she was the most
unattractive creature one could well
imagine.
These women. 90 strangely thrown
together by Fate. maintained an un-
broken silence during the long. fumb-
ling process OF partial disrobins. They
scarcely looked At one another. and
vet they were acutely conscious Of the
| interest each felt In the other. The
grateful warmth OF the room. the alb
rupt transition from gloom and cheer
iessness to comfortable obscurity. had
q more pronounced effect on the
stranger than on her hostess.
1T liz good to feel warm once more"
she said, an odd timidness In her man.
ner. "You are very good TO me"
They were sitting IN Mrs. wran.
dall's bedchamber. jusr on the little
| sittingroom. Three or four trunks
stood against the walls.
Il dismissed my maid on landing
she robbed NO." said Mrs. wrandail.
yoicing the relief that Was uppermost
in her mind. She opened closet
door and took out thick eider.down
robe, which she tossed across . chair.
Now call up the ONCE and say that
you are speaking for me. Say TO them
that I must have something to eat.
no matter what tho hour may BE-.
viii get out some clean underwear for
you. and oh. yes: II they ask about
me. say that ! am cold and III. That
II SUFFICIENT. Here 10 the bath. Please
be ~ quick about II ~ possible"
Moving as II In . dream. the girl
did as she was told. Twenty minutes
later there was . knock 1t the door.
A waiter appeared with tray and
service table. He found Mrs. Wrsn-
dali lying hack In . chair. attendsd
BY . slender young woman In q pink
| eider-down dressing. gown. who Save
Insulating directions 20 him. Then he
was dismissed with a handsome tip.
produced By the same young woman.
You are not % return for these
things" she said rs he went out,
In silence she ate and drank. her
hostsss looking on with gloomy inter
est. II Was no shock to Mrs. wran'
dahl 70 md that the girl. who was no
mors than twenty-five or three. poe
ssssed unusual beauty. Her great eyes
were blue the lovely Irish blus--hsr
skin was fair and smooth. her fea.
,ur~r regular and Of the delicate mold
that defines the wslI-bred ssntlcwom-