South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-18

The messenger boy handed Helen
the letter and pointed with a grimy
finger to the line where she was going
10 sign for H.
Wonderingly she tore open the let
ter. There were only few lines
hurriedly penciled.
'Will you come TO the hotel? I
would not ask you-but / am in great
trouble j know no one else TO turn
TO. Something happened last night
that makes everything impossible
They have asked for our rooms-oh,
/ can't write about il! Won't you
come now-as soon as you get this?
] am almost desperate. You Will
meet nc Oue-am all alone"
Helen read the note again and
again. her tremulous fingers twisting
and untwisting the envelope. What
should she do? She shrunk from the
thought OF going, yet how could she
ignore this appeal
Then. ashamed Of her hesitancy,
she dressed quickly for the street and
in half an hour she was at the Hotel
Asdorf
Did she imagine it. or did the clerk
look at her oddly when she asked him
10 announce her 10 Mrs Merwin
She felt his glance follow her as she
crossed the lobby 10 the elevator.
"Oh, I'm so glad you came-I was
afraid YOU, YOU wouldn't" as Helen
sat down ON the edge of the bed.
Why. you're feverish." Helen had
drawn off her gloves and was pushing
back the tangled hair. And it's
so warm and close in here-dOn't you
want me To open a window
Helen lowered one from the top
without T--:.ing the blind. AS she
came back to the bed, Mrs. Merwin
drew from under the pillow a
crumpled letter.
Read that" quiveringly. They
sent it up this morning"
1t was typewritten and signed by
the manager of the hotel.
MY Dear Madam
After the disturbance caused by
your husband last night in his intOXi-
Gated condition, we have no choice
but to ask for your rooms. The en-
closed bill for $208 must be settled,
and the rooms vacated by Monday.
I'VE have for you personally the
greatest sympathy, and regret that
this is necessary. You Will under
stand, how, er, that we must protect
the repUtat "A of our house and in
sure our 81 ests against a repetition
of such annoyance. I beg TO remain
Very truly yours.
- l.. REYNOLDS,
Manager"
But why did they write to you?"
faltereG Helen. surely Mr.. Merwin
was the one"
ooh, they know he hasn't been
sober for a week. He could hardly
stagger out of here this morning
And he hasn't the money. He can't
pay the bill, oh. [ know he can't"
Helen, at loss TO know what to
say, kept chatting the hand that chung
TO hers. What kind of a scene had
Mr.. Merwin made? It had been seri-
Gus enough, added to their unpaid bill
to cause the manager TO write this
note.
"Oh, the shame OF 1.-THE disgrace
of it," sobbed Mrs. Merwin. ITO be
asked to leave a hotel J shall never
want to see anyone againi"
Helen started up to answer a knock
at the door. 1t was the chambermaid
wanting to know if she could do the
rooms" now.
not very well. She viii call you when
she wants you
That's the third time she's been
here this morning" mOaned Mrs.
shes anxious to get into see what
I'm doing! oh. they all know it..
The bellbOys. the maids, they all know
we've been asked to leave"
NO-uos i III sure lIltN uOl l. me
manager would never let the help
know such things"
But even as she said it. Helen
thought of how oddly the clerk had
looked at her when she asked for
Mrs Merwin.
"MOnday-they've given us till
Monday" Historically This is Thurs
day-four days What if Frank can't
raise the money? What viii we do
then? What will"
She started and clutched Helen's
hand as the phone rang.
Say. I'm sick-that 7 can't speak
to anyone" she entreated, as Helen
rose TO answer it,
Hello, ~ Yes Mrs Mer-
win is i'll and cannot be disturbed this
morning ... WhO?. OH just a
mOmenti"
It's Mr.. Merwin." whispered Helen.
her hand over the receiver. He says
he must speak 10 YOU"