The Washington herald., 1916-08-21

| home? Fifteen cents was all she
needed-the thought was madden
ing.
| A dozen story-book plans for Sc
curing money blurred her mind. A
pawnshop! That was the most
! practical Moving along with the
crowd, she kept on the inside next
to the shops. There were a few
cheap jewelry stores-but over none
of them hung the three gilded balls.
The colored bottles in drug
store cleaned out with friendly fa-
miliarity. A moments indecision,
then with reckless courage she en-
tered
christening a small gold pin, she
approached the white-coated clerk.
"1-in the crowd got separated
from my friends" stammeringly,
"and l haven't even car farcl If
you'll lend me a quarter-11l leave
this and send for it tomorrow"
The clerk, shaking out some whit
ish powder on scale, stared at her.
In the embarrassed pause, man
who had been standing at the cigar
counter lighting a cigarette came
forward with courteous:
Pardon me, but if you're going to
New York-I'll be very glad to see
you home It's too rough a crowd
for you to be in alone"
"Oh, I-why, that's very kind, but
/" flushed Helen helplessly.
81 can assure you," with a slight
smile, you'll be much safer with
me than you will alone"
Eyes. I've had half an hour of it
and it's rather terrifying"
The next instant she found her
self on the street beside the stran-
ger. Deity he guided her through
the shouldering crowd as they made
their way to the station.
At the ticket window they were
confronted by packed mass on the
platform beyond. A train, filled to
the doors. was just moving out. -,
This looks hopeless-Im afraid
you'd be crushed in that mob" His
tone was solicitous. will it make
you too late if We take a trolley"
New York, only one dollar! Just
two seats left-one dollar each!'
shouted the barker Of big sight
seeing motor.
stranger had bought the tickets and
was hurrying her to the car.
She had not hesitated in accepting
the few cents car fare, but a dollar
motor trip was different. However,
! she would get his card and mail him
! the money. 1t would be most awk-
ward to protest now.
They took the two empty places
on the rear seat and the long car
glidcd off The glare and noise lett
/ behind, they were soon speeding
over the night-scentcd, moonIit
For the first time, Helen had a
chance to take a swift inventory OF
her escort. He was about thirty
FIVE, good looking and well groomcd.
Growing more at ease. she ex-
planned the fire engine and her sep
aration from her friends" For
some underlined reason she had not
said her Husband" to the drug clerk
and she did not say it now.
"If you'd had car fare-l would
not have had this privilege, in an
swer to her sclf-accusation at being
without money.
Helen colored slightly at this per
sonal note, but she talked on quietly
matter Of fact Had it not been fol-
her distress over Warren's anxiety
the ride would have been most en-
joyable Her swift relief from ar
intolerable situation had brought Z
glow of elation.
She was conscious, too, of the in,
terest and admiration in her com
panion's glance as they talked OF the
various amusements of Coney Island
brought every one there.
1t seemed hardly a half-hour be
fore the lights of Brooklyn lay be-
fore them. 1t was just ten wher
they reached the bridge. Another
FIVE minutes and they were in New
York.
When they finally dismounted a
Longacre Square, the end of the
cars route, Helen murmured con
fused:
Now l can take the subway-l
won't have to trouble you further
But he had already motioned to q
taxi
"What address," Then as sht
drew back, 81 live uptown, too
you're not going to condemn me tc
the subway this hot night?"
Reluctantly she yielded. 1t seemed
more graceful than to argue.
"If you'll give me your card" con,
scious that it sounded very stilted
"I'll mail" it was very difficult
thing to express.
"I'll be glad to give you my card,
he took one from a thick wallet
But if you really want to repay me
you'll stop somewhere for a drink
Wouldn't claret lemonade be re
freshing?"
"Oh, yes, but I'm afraid l can't
l must go home"
"It's still early-only a little after
ten. The Majestic roofs just ahead,
assertivcly "Shall we stop there?'
Helcn's protests seemed to make
him only the more determined Hi!
insistence went so far to signal tc
the chauffeur to draw up as they
approached the Majestic.
Her confusion deepened to indig
nation. He had been considerate un,
til now-but this insistence was Dor