The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-11-15

bare shoulders.
ave never even met her"
you've met him." impatiently.
Explain that 4 had long-distance
call at the last moment and had to
go back to the Office to send off some
papers. Don't let them wait dinner
I'll be there as soon as 1 can"
Here the taxi drew up, Warren
sprang out, repeated the address, "27
East - street." to the driver, waved
his hat to Helen. and disappeared
down the subway steps.
Speeding on, Helen shrank farther
back in the seclusion of the cab, in
tent on the ordeal before her. AL
though Mr.. Gardner. who was one Of
Warren's clients, had dined with them
several months before, Helen had never
met Mrs. Gardner, which increased the
awkwardness Of her going alone.
That they were wealthy she knew,
but she was not prepared for the pre-
tentious mansion before which the cab
finally stopped.
The massive bronze doors were
opened by n gold-laced footman. and
Helen found herself in a magnificent
hallway hung with tapestries.
Warren had said that the Gardners
lived rather well. but this palatial
grandeur was most disconcerting.
Relieved Of her wraps, with confused
uncertainty Helen made her way up
the marble staircase. Mt the top Of
which stood another llveried servant.
In the white and gold room beyond
were a number of guests, the women
brilliantly gowned. Anxiously Helen
looked about for Mr.. Gardner. her
color deepening as she waited in shrink
Ing embarrassment.
| As another couple entered, the host
ess, tall woman in a marvellous jew
eled gown, detached herself from n
chattering group and came forward.
She greeted the newcomers, and then
turned to Helen. extending her hand
with murmured fOrmality and look of
puzzled inquiry.
"rm Mrs. Curtis" stammeringly.
sJust as we started Mr.. Curtis had n
long ng-distance call from Washington,
and had to go back to the office. He
said he knew you'd pardon him-he1l
De here before dinners over"
"Oh. certainly" vaguely. passing on
to greet other guests.
Everyone seemed to know everyone
else. Only Helen stood In isolated con-
spicuousness. From the invitation she
had thought 1t was to be an informal
dinner party with only few guests,
but there were at least so people here
now.
Talking with a group under gilt
tering chandelier, Mrs. Gardner kept
glancing toward her. There was n
naughty aloofness, almost hostility, in
her gaze. Was 1t because of Warren's
ielay?
| Now she. had moved toward the
iOor and was speaking to the fOOtman.
Instantly the IBen shot Helen swift,
suspicious glance.
What did 1t meant. What kind of
a hostess was Mrs. Gardner SO to iso-
late any one Of her guests?
Here two servants entered, each
with u large silver tray laden with
cocktails. Not wishing to seem more
conspicuous by refusing, Helen took
one of the glasses. her hand trembling
as she lifted it from the tray.
She was quiveringly conscious that
the doorman was watching her, and
one of the guests to whom Mrs. Gard
ner was talking now glanced at her Gu
riously. Flamingly bewildered and in
dignant, Helen stood in helpless cOnfu-
sion.
When the glasses were collected, re-
tuning hers untouched to the tray, she
asked with low-voiced Intensity, "Isn't
Mr.. Gardner here?'
The man stared, then passed on
with naughty, II do not know,
madam"
AS he left the room he was stopped
Ly the doorman. For a moment they
stood in whispered conversation, and
Helen, with anguished self-conscious-
ness, knew that it was Of her they
were speaking.
The situation was unbearable. She
would wait for Warren in the dressing
room. She would make him take her
bone. Not even at the risk of estrang-
ing an influential client would she dine
at this house.
With averted eyes Helen crossed the
room, f1amingly conscious Of the curl
GUS glances that followed her. The at
t.ndant stood stiflly mobile as she
passed him, but when she reached the
stairs he was beside her.
pardon me, madam. Is there any
thing you wish7"
II shall wait downstairs for my hus-
Band"