The Washington herald., 1916-03-06

Mabel Herbert Urner.
MYTH the closing of the hall
w door came the sound of voices.
w Thrusting final hairpin into
her low-coiled braid, Helen darted
out. Had Warren brought some one
to dinner?
One glance down the dimly-lit hall,
and with caught breath she drew
back. Warren was supporting a tall,
muffled figure into his room.
You're all right now" with brisk
reinsurance. Wen soon have you
fixed up"
Dear, what is it?" Helen stepped
forward uncertainty. "Has anything
happened"
"You go back to your room and
stay there" curtly, and, steering his
charge into his bedroom, he slammed
the door in her face.
Helen stared as if aghast. What
had happened? Whom had Warren
brought home? There had been some
thing familiar about the muffled figure
but she had not seen his face. Was
he ill-or hurt?
did Mr. Curtis come in?" asked
Dora from the dining-room. Can l
serve dinner now?
Mono, not yet. Mr.. Curtis has
brought a friend with him. l don't
know that he'll dine with us-but
you'd better FIX another place"
Here the bedroom door opened and
Warren strobe out.
Got any Seidlitz powders? Get me
n rot1OIa If tAuya1s and ice
water. It's Lawrence. He's little
upset-that's all. Now cut the ques-
tons and get busy"
Lawrencel Helen flew to the medi-
! cine chest for the powders.
These fresh?" Warren opened the
box OF white and blue papers.
They're all we have. Dear, is he
very i'll? Can't l do something?"
"You stay out of here. I'll attend
to this" and again the door was slam
med in her face.
Dinners served, ma'am."
Il told you NOT to serve it,"
scolded Helen excitedly. "Mr. Ed
wards is here i'll. Put the things
back and keep them warmth tell
you when we're ready. Make some
ice water right away-in the big
! pitcher.
A moment later Helen tapped on
the bedroom door with low-voiced,
Dear, here're the towels and ice
water"
"Set 'em down there. Where're my
clean pajamas"
"The drawer next to the bottom
the left hand side Don't you want
the hot water bag?"
mo. 1 don't" gruffly. "I'll ask for
what l wantp
Awaiting developments, Helen wan
dered anxiously back and forth. In
spite of her constant clashings with
Carrie, she was genuinely fond of
Lawrence.
Though she would not stop to lis
ten, each time she passed Warren's
room she heard his voice with its
unaccustomed note of cheerful reas-
surance.
"Take some of this old man-this'Tl
pull you around! You're
stomach's gone back on you-that's
all. Yes, I know you feel rotten-but
get some sleep and you'll feel like
two-year-old in the morning"
At last Warren came out looking
tired and warm.
Hes all right. Let's have dinner.
, Now don't plague me with questions"
irritably. Il tell you he's all right"
With a scowl that held in check
Helcn's anxious queries, he threw
himself down at the table. The in
jured Dora served the lukewarm soup,
but he was too tired and distracted
to be critical.
"You 'phoned Carrier" ventured
Helen at length.
"Jove, I forgot thatw His pounded
fist shook the table. Called her up
from the office, but the line was
busy"
And she's expecting him out?
Why, dear, she'll be furious" know
ing the temperish impotence of War
rcn's sister.
well, it can't be helped. You get
her on the wire now. Say Lawrence
came home with me-that he's little
upset-er-that- Oh, hang it, what
shall we say"
"OhW at a slow-dawning thought.
"He-he hasn't been DRINKING%
What if he has?" defantly. "A
mans got a right to slop over once
in while"
"Carrie'll be franticl Oh, I wouldn't
dare tell her that"
mo need to-just say he's sick.
Say he See here, you're the ex-