South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-28

The expressman banged the big
trunk through the narrow hall and
into the spare bedroom.
"Oh, wait you'H tear the carpet!
There" And Helen threw back cor
ner of the rug as the man dragged
the trunk across the room.
Where d YOU want it," gruf1y
You'd better put it over there.
Wait--I1l move this stand"
The man showed the trunk into
place, wiped his forehead on his
sleeve and then drew from his hip
pocket a sOiled express book.
Sign here. ma'am." pointing to the
line with a grimy finger. And then
he pOCketed the book and hurried out.
It was a huge trunk, strongly made
and much travelled. 1t was battered
and SCARED and covered with many
labels And it looked oddly out of
place in Helen's dainty blue and white
spare rOOm-nOw a rented room at
eight dollars a week.
With something like a sigh Helen
! Strengthened down the rug, adjusted
the blind exactly even with the win
dow sill, and gave one more glance in
the l/set to see If the shelves were
dry. Everything had been taken out
that morning and Della had washed
off all the shelves. The bureau draw
ers, too, had been emptied and lined
with clean white paper. And now the
room was all ready for its new occu-
pant. who had said she would come
about five.
Eight dollars a week All morning
as Helen worked she had been think
ing Of what she could do with that
money. With her training in economy
she could make eight dollars a week
go very far. And it was this that de-
cided her to take Mrs Morrison in
spite of the feeling that she was not
at all the person she would have
chosen for a rOOmer. But after all
. she would be here very little. She
was buyer of millinery and would
leave early and not get home until
late.
\ Different Woman.
Helen had come in contact with
very few business women. and vet she
could not help thinking how different
was Mrs. Morrison, with her rouge and
powder and rather striking clothes TO
the severely plain and businesslike
person she had always pictured a
buyer TO be.
AS yet no one but Della knew Of
this room renting" venture. And
until she had tried ii for week on
So Helen did not want any one Ia
\ know. Warren. of course. was not 10
+ know at all. His last letters inferred
/ that he would have to stay out there
at least two months longer And
/ Helen had rented the room with the
understanding that il might he for
/ only two months.
Two months at eight dollars q week
would be a little over siXty-fOur dol
/ lars To Helen that seemed just now
r great deal OF money and worth all
\ the possible discomforts Of having a
/ ToOmer.
1 At least Warren would have TO send
/ her no more money for personal eX-
Denses. The eight dollars would more
+ than meet everything she would need
/ for clothes and extras for herself and
Winifred.
II was almost six o'clock before
( Mrs Morrison came. Della opened
I the door and as Helen heard her hur-
rying through the hall TO her room.
+ N could not help wondering where
she was going 10 have her dinner. she
had made no inquiry as 10 any res
I tauTant or boarding house IN the
F nefghborhood. But perhaps she would
dine somewhere downtown before she
came home. And this evening she
would probably sDend in unpackinS
and fixing up her things.
Helen was just finishing her own
simple dinner when there was a
knock on the dining room door. She
opened II To vision or white turS
and satin For second she hardly
recognized Mrs Morrison i'm the lone
white oDera cloak and silken scarf
over her hair.
Can Won tell me the nearest place
20 'nhone for q taxi ."
Helen flushed. In the few times
they had ever had taxi. Warren had
ordered IT,
why don't think 7 know the
number. but the telephone boy VIII
+ proha blv know"
"0h yes-where did YOU say your