Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-10-06


Mabel III. Turner. darted in. closed
the door, locked
and leaned against it. trembling with
and terror.
Don't let him fn!" Historically. IF
he comes after mech, don't let him
in"
Without stopping to question her,
Helen drew her into her room, and
snatched from the closet a bathrobe
and slippers.
Come over here by the radiator.
You shouldn't have come down those
stone steps in your bare feet!" Helen's
voice was soothingly matter of fact
ooh, I didn't have time-I was in
bed when he came I'M" incoherently.
"Pm afraid of him! Oh. I can't go
back-Im never going back!"
Il wouldn't talk about it now wrap
ping the robe around her Get warm
first; you're chilled through. Would
you like a little brandy?"
'No-no," with shuddering revul-
sion, for alcohol was the cause of her
husbands brutality. "Oh. you won't
let him in-say that you won't!"
"Of course not" reassuringly. but
he'll not come down here. If he's
been drinking. he won't want US to
see him."
ooh, he wouldn't care. He doesn't
care for anything when he's like this.
Look!" barring her arm to a purple
bruise on the white skin. ooh. what
ever he says-you won't let him in ?"
Il told you / wouldn't! Wait, I'll
tell Mr.. Curtis. No, keep that around
you-you're shivering."
Ever since the night Mr.. CoIburn
had shot himself, Helen had been
vaguely apprehensive; and now Mrs.
Colburn's dramatic appearance seemed
but the elimination Of her fears.
That Warren would be strongly op-
! posed to getting mixed up in any fam
lily trouble Helen knew, and she ap-
preached him with much misgiving.
Dear, it's Mrs Colburn! Hes been
drinking again-shes afraid he'll come
after her We've mustn't let him in
if he does"
why on earth did she come down
here?" sternly. ''To rope US into a
family row."
She doesn't know anyone else in
the house. She says he's wiId-he
drove her out in her bare feet!"
Huh, one Of these hystericaI wom-
en-! Don't know much about Colburn
but from what I've seen of him he
seems to be a fairly decent sort"
She says he is-except when he's
drinking. You know that night he
tried to kill himself"
What's she going to do? She
can't stay here all night"
Yes, she can-in my room! Wei
have to let her stay! Oh. what's
that?" as the bell rang DANGEROUSLY
How do you know it's hep
brusquely shaking her off.
From the shadowy hall Helen lis
tened tenseIy as he opened the door
rs Mrs Colburn here?" 1t was The
night-elevator boy. MIR Colbur1
would like to see her"
Very well, I'll give her the mes
sage" gruff1y slamming the door.
Infinitely relieved, Helen ran bacl
to Mrs Colburn, who was crouchin.
by the radiator in wide-eyed terror.
He only sent the elevator boy,
soothingly. you see, he's not com
ing himself-I knew he wouldn't Nov
lie down; you're all a-quiver.'
: But she was still pathetically az!
tated
7 It'll heat you a glass of milk. That
quieting, and maybe after while yo
can get a little Sleep
Sleep? You think I can sleep
OH" with convulsive start as tn
phone trembled out alarmingly shri
j. in the night quiet. ''Oh, that's he
J, know it is! l won't speak to him,
a Historically, Il can't!'
Warren was taking down the r.
\ ceiver when Helen ran in with WIFI
pered, Say she's all unstrung! Sh
. can't come to the phone!"
Nice mess you're getting us in
a Then sharply, Hello! :. Ye
@ Mrs. Colburn can't come
8 the phone now. She's ill-Mrs. Curt
y has her in bed. She'll be up as 500
!. as she feels BETTER" abruptly cuttin
"a off.
o From the door of Helen's room Mr.
}. Colburn had listened terrorized.
He'll come down himself next
3 frantically. 'Oh, I know he will
''If he does, you won't have to Sc
: him. Helen assured her. Nov Il
~ to get quiet-try to relax. You're on
- working yourself up"
Helen brought her the warm mil
hut she was too thoroughly unstru1