The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-04-09

Copyright, 1915, by the


ious 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
III be back in less than month. Now,
for heavens sake, cut the hysteria.
Business here is dead. I'm not max
ing enough to pay the Office rent. II
I've got a chance like this-Id be a
chump not to take it,
Helen swallowed hard at the lump
in her throat.
"Jove, III have to hustle to meet
Griffin at $780," glancing at his watch.
You'd better be getting my things
together. That small steamer trunk
in the storeroom?'
She nodded.
well, give me the storeroom key
and III have tie elevator boy bring
it 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
took his hat from the hall rack he
stopped to kiss her with 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 so long" Warren stepped
into the elevator.
From the front room window Helen
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 a rush trip to
London to look after some interest in
a stock company that had become 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 ia.
booed her fears. London was safe,
perfectly safe, and he would be home
in less than month. Three thousand
and all expenses paid-it was an offer
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 4swara
soaked before her hands, weak with
trembling: could put down the win
doWs.
Then, with her nerves still a-quiver
she hurried to answer startling ring
What corld it be? No one would call
so late!
1t was the bellboy with the trunk.
"Mr. Curtis said you wanted this uI
tonight"
"Oh, yes, just-just take it in there
in the bedroom"
With the lump tightening in hel
throat, Helen looked down at the
trunk, which bore the labels of theil
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 al
Europe at war; What might not hap
pen? Her mind was filled with luriG
pictures of possible dangers. How
could he consider the money com
pensation?
Mechanically Helen unlocked thu
trunk. The tray was empty. Under
meath were two steamer rugs, shaw
strap, a heavy trunk strap, Warren's
travelling cap and an air pillow.
Slowly she took out the things ant
scooped up the scattered mothballs
For a long time she knelt there, thu
rugs on her knee, fumbling with thu
balls she had thrown into the cap.
Her breath came fast. Her han(
clenched tight over the crunchint
balls. Then she started up, threw thu
things on the bed, rushed out to thu
hall and rang peremptorily for the ele
vator. Not until the car shot up dit
she take her tense finger from the but
ton.
"There-there's another steame
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 il
her room. With desperate, feverisl
haste she began to pack-Warren'
trunk first and then her own.
There was no hesitancy or uncer
tainty in her movements. Her usua
indecision was swept away by resc
lutte decisiveness. Her tense excite
ment acted as stimulant that urge,
her on.
1t was after twelve and she ws
crowding in her tray the last fe
things when she heard his key in t.
door.
Hello, you up yet? Take this, III
your" thrusting at her the drippg
umbrella. Then as he entered us
room: Got the trunk packed? tbs
fine. Put in plenty of underwr?
| Don't know 1uhan Ill GOT anu masnp