The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-02-22

A telegram! II was after 11-noth.
ing else would come so late.
With the thrilled alarm and expect
ancy that a telegram arouses, Helen
turned on the hall light and opened
the door.
Instead of blue-coated messenger
there stood Mrs. Coiburn in Ler bare
feet, her. hair down, and only 9kimona
over her nightgown.
A frightened glance over her shout
der, and she darted in. closed the door.
locked and leaned against 1t, trembling
with cold and terror.
Don't let him in" HISTORICALLY. 1T
he comes after me--oE, don't let him
in"
Without stopping to question her,
Helen drew her into the room. and
snatched from the closet bathrobe
and slippers.
Come over here by the radiator.
You shouldn't have come down these
stone steps in your bare feet!" Helen's
voice was soothingly matter Of fact.
"Oh, didn't have time--I was in
bel when he came I'M" incoherently.
I'm afraid Of him! Oh, can't go back
I'm never going back!"
Il wouldn't talk about it now"
wrapping the robe about her. Get
warm first; you're chilled through.
Would you like a little brandy"
Mono with shuddering revul-
sion. for alcohol was the cause of her
husbands brutality. "Oh, you won't
let him in--say you WON'T"
"Of course not" reassuringly, but
he'll not come down here II he's been
drinking, he won't want US to see
him."
oh, he wouldn't care. He doesn't
care for anything when he's like this.
Look!" barring her arm to purple
bruise on the white skin. "Oh, what
ever he says--you won't let him in?"
II told you wouldn't! Wait, I'll tell
Mr.. Curtis. No, keep that around you
you're shivering."
Ever since the night Mr.. Colburn
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-
pro.ched him with much misgiving.
Dear, it's Mrs. Colburn! He's been
drinking again-she's afraid he'll come
after her. We've mustn't let him in
II he does"
why on earth did she come down
hcre?" sternly. ITO rope us into a
family row."
She doesn't know any one else in
the house. She says he's wild-he
drove her out In her bare feet!"
Huh, one of these hysterical won.
en-! Don't know much about Colburn,
but from what I've seen of him he
seems to be 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
thst?" as the bell rang DANGEROUSLY.
"Wait--what1l you say to him."
How do you know it's he?" brusque-
ly shaking her off.
From the shadowy hall Helen listen
ed tensely as he opened the door,
rs Mrs Colburn here?" 1t was the
night elevator boy. "Mr. Colburn
would like to see her."
Very we'll, I'll give her the mess
age" gruffly. slamming the door.
Infinitely relieved. Helen ran back
to Mrs. Colburn who was crouching
by the radiator in wide-eyed terror.
"He only sent the elevator boy"
soothingly. You see, he's not COM
ing himself knew he wouldn't. Now
lie down; you're all a-quiver."
But she was still pathetically agi-'
tated.
"I'll heat you glass of milk. That's
1uieting, and may be after while
you can get a little sleep"
sleep? You think l can sleep"
OH" with convulsive start as the
phone trebled out alarmingly shrill in
the night quiet "Oh, that's he-I
know it is! I won't speak to him."
Historically, II can't"
Warren was taking down the receiv-
or when Helen ran in with whis-
pered. Say she's all unstrung! She
can't come to the phone!"
mice mess you're getting us in"
Then sharply, Hello! Yes.
Mrs. Colburn can't get up to
the phone snow. She's i'll; Mrs. Cur
lis has her in bed She'll be up as
soon as she feels better" abruptly cut
ting Off
From the door of Helen's room Mrs,
Colburn had listened, terrorized.
Hell come down himself next,
frantically "Oh, I know he Will"
IF he does, you won't have to see
him" Helen assured her. Nov try
to get quiet--try to relax. You're only
working Yourself up"
Helen brought her the warm milk,
but she was too thoroughly unstrung
TO be Gained by so mild sedative.
Huddled in a corner OF the couch, she