The Elbert County tribune., 1915-04-09
Copyright 1s by the Mcclure Newspaper syndicate)

Think I'll turn that DOWN."
Helen did not answer. With tremu-
lous fingers she was tearing at the
margin of the Final Extra" with its
faring war headlines.
There's no risk, / tell you," persist
ed Warren. "London's all right, and
I'll be back in less than a month. Now,
for heavens sake. cut the hysteria.
Business here is dead, I'm not max
ing enough to pay the Office rent If
I've got a chance like this-I'd be a
chump not to take it,
Helen swallowed hard at the lump
In her throat.
"Jove, III have to hustle to meet
You'd better be getting my things
together. That small steamer trunk
in the storeroom?"
She nodded.
We'll. give me the storeroom key
and I'll have the elevator boy bring
1t up. Get me an umbrella, will you?
Drizzling when / came in"
Helen got the key and the umbrella,
and followed him to the door. AS he
1OOh lnt nan IdCh nC
stopped to kiss her with a brisk:
Now, don't be silly. You ought to
be deuced glad this offer came my
way. Don't sit up for me. Griffin's
going over the whole case tonight
only chance we'll have" And with a
cheerful $50 long" Warren stepped
into the elevator.
tho VIII,
gazed down at the umbrella that came
out and bobbed up the street She
was still dazed from the announce
ment he had made at dinner with such
brutal abruptness.
Mr.. Griffin had today offered him
$4,000 If he would make rush trip to
London to look after some interest in
volved since the war
Helen had heard the details only
vaguely. Sailing on the st. Paul to-
morrow noon," was the part that had
scared into her mind. Warren had ta-
booed her fears. London was safe,
perfectly safe, and he would be home
in less than month. Three thousand
to jump at
A deafening thunder crash, a zig
Jagged streak of lightning-and the
rain came down in sheets. 1t was the
climax, as it were, to her own terrify-
ing thoughts. The curtains we're
soaked before her hands, weak with
trembling, could put down the win
dows.
Then, with her nerves still a-quiver,
she hurried to answer a startling ring
What could it be? No one would call
so late!
1t was the bellboy with the trunk.
MIR. Curtis said you wanted this up
tonight"
"Oh, yes. just-just take it in there
in the bedroom
With the lump tightening in her
throat, Helen looked down at the
trunk, which bore the labels of their
London trip two years ago. She had
been going with him then She
thought of all the joyous preparation
for that trip!
Now he was going alone-with all
Europe at war! What might not hap
pen? Her mind was filled with lurid
pictures of possible dangers How
could he consider the money a com
pensation?
Mechanically Helen unlocked the
trunk. The tray was empty. Under
meath were two steamer rugs. a shawl
strap, heavy trunk strap, Warren's
travelling cap and an air pillow.
Slowly she took out the things and
scooped up the scattered mothballs.
For long time she knelt there, the
rugs on her knee, fumbling with the
balls she had thrown into the cap.
Her breath came fast. Her hand
clenched tight over the crunching
balls. Then she started up, threw the
things on the bed, rushed out to the
hall and rang peremptorily for the ele-
vator. Not until the car shot up did
she take her tense finger from the but
ton.
"There-there's another steamer
trunk in the basement" breathlessly,
that Mr.. Curtis forgot. We're sail
ing tomorrow, so must pack tonight.
Will you bring it up at once?"
In few moments the trunk was in
her room. With desperate, feverish
haste she began to pack-Warren s
trunk first and then her own.
There was no hesitancy or uncer-
tainty in her movements. Her usual
indecision was swept away by reso-
Lutte decisiveness. Her tense excite
ment acted as a stimulant that urged
her on.
1t was after twelve and she was
crowding in her tray the last few
things when she heard his key in the
door.
Hello. you up yet? Take this, will
you?" thrusting at her the dripping
umbrella. Then as he entered his
room: Got the trunk hacked? That's