Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-07-28

Copyright, Mcclure Newspaper syndicate)

1Ous fingers she was tearing at the
margin of the Final Extra" with it's
f1aring war headlines.
There's no risk, 1 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-Pd be a
chump not to take it."
Helen swallowed hard at the lump
in her throat.
"Jove, I'll 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 I'll have the elevator boy bring
it up. Get me an umbrella, will you?
Drilling when I 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:
Nov, don't be silly. You ought to
be deuced glad this offer came my
way. Don't sit up for me. Griff1n's
going over the whole case tonight
only chance we'll have" And with a
cheerful $50 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
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
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 a 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 wore, to her own terrify-
ing thoughts. The curtains were
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 could it be? No one would call
so late!
1t wasathe bellboy with the trunk.
Mr.. Curtis said you wanted this up
tonight"
ooh, 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, a heavy trunk strap, Warren's
travelling cap and an air pillow.
Slowly she took out the things and
scooped up the scattered mothballs.
For a 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 crunchine
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 die
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 l must pack tonight
VIII you bring it up at once?"
In few moments the trunk was il
her room. With desperate, feveris1
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 reso
lutte decisiveness. Her tense excite
.ment acted as a stimulant that urget
her on.
It was after twelve and she wa
crowding in her tray the last few
things when she heard his key in tn,
door.
Hello, you up yet? Take this, will
you?" thrusting at her the drippin,
umbrella. Then as he entered hi
room: Got the trunk packed? That,
fine. Put in plenty of underwear
Don't know when I'll get any washin,