The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1914-06-30

Helen spread his handkerchief over
the pillow when he started to get
into bed
"Oh. dear, l don't want you to lie
on those pillows"
He grunted something about her be-
ing too develish particular" but Helen
noticed that he kept the handkerchief
under his head.
Now none of that foolishness,' as
wrapped in his heavy overcoat, she
started to lie down on the couch.
you will catch cold there and be
sniffling around for a week. Come,
get in bed and turn that light out"
Helen hesitated, then finally spread
Warren's vest, lining up, over her
pillow. Having taken off only her
waist, with the sheet around her bare
arms, she crept gingerly into bed.
The mattress was hard and lumpy,
and the springs creaked dismally.
She had turned down the gas as
low as she could without turning it
out, leaving the room in shadowy
darkness, with faint circle of light
on the ceiling above the gas jet.
Helen had been thirsty ever since
they left the Baldwin's, but the ex-
citing events had kept it a subcon-
parched. The demand for water was
imperative.
Knowing that Warren was in no
his breathing told her he was asleep.
Then she sat up in bed and felt for
her shoes at the edge of the bed.
Not even in her stockings would she
step out on that carpet.
Cho inh but
was no drinking water in the room.
She took off the two clammy grayish-
| white towels that were folded over the
wash pitcher, but she could not drink
that water.
Throwing off the sheet, she slipped
on her long coat and crept out in the
hall. The clerk was asleep in his
chair. There was a water cooler
over by the door.
Her consuming thirst gave her
courage. and noislessly she stole down
! the steps. Reassured by the clerks
heavy breathing, she reached the
cooler only to find there was no glass.
The dining room adjoined the office,
it was dark, but she could see the
! shadowy white of the tables, and the
reflection of some glassware on a mir
rored sideboard.
AN ACCIDENT.
She was starting back to the cooler,
when she ran against chair tripped,
fell ,and the glass crashed to the floor
For a moment she was too terrified
to move. Then she struggled to her
feet as the night clerk rushed in.
who's there?" angrily. What are
you up to?'
He caught Helen by the shoulder
| and dragged her speechless with
fright, to the light.
Great guns!' as he released her
and stared at her stupifed.
Instead of sneak thief, he had cap
tured young woman, with flowing
hair and eyes dark with terror.
I-I came down to get a drink"
stammered Helen.
"Oh!" and a CLEAN of intelligence
; came into his face, you are the young
lady in number 8? The one l got the
sheets for? Why sure, miss, l will
bring up a pitcher"
Helen, painfully conscious of her un-
buttoned shoes and her hair unbound
, for the night, was glad to escape up
| the stairs and into their room. She
waited by the door, for fear the clerk
would awaken Warren.
"Anything else | can do for you
miss?" his voice was needlessly loud
as he handed her the pitcher.
mo thank you," whispered Helen,
with an anxious glance at Warren,
who stirred uneasily.
Fevershly she gulped down two
large glasses of ice water
Hello, what is the matter?" Warren
was now sitting up.
"Oh, | am so sorry he woke you!
1t was the clerk, he brought me some
water-1 was almost famished. Do
you want some?"
mo, | don't savagely, "but | do
want some sleep! You are not salts
fed with making us miss that blamed
train, so you have got to keep me
awake half the night, eh?"
"Why, Warren, I was ready long
before"
Ready! You are NEVER ready!
You upstairs there half an hour
powdering your nose. That is why we
are in this blooming place."
There was certainly some excuse
for Warren's irritability, and Helen
tried not to mind the injustice of it's