The Yale expositor., 1917-11-15

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anybody here"
what do you meanp paled Helen.
Then, impelled by an unreasOning
fear, she flew down the stairs and
into the dressing room, but the man
was close behind
Pushing ahead, he spoke TO the maid
in vOluble French. Then in brutal Eng
lish, "Glve her her things-and see
that she takes nothing else"
The girl, staring insolently,
brought Helen's wraps, which the
flunky examined, running his hand in
the inner white satin pocket of her
coat.
'What does all this mean?" hysteri-
cally.
"Oh, come now, none of thatl If
you've pinched anything you got it
down here, for was wise to you the
minute you came up"
"Send Mr.. Gardner to me at once !"
Helen almost screamed. "Pll know
from him If stupid servants can insult
his guests"
'Mr. Gardner" leeringly. $50 that's
your game? Going to pretend you're
in the wrong house?"
"Wrong house" breathed Helen.
"Come now" roughly throwing her
wrap about her. "That's too old You're
lucky you're getting off so easy, but
Mrs. Van Klein don't want any news
paper publicity. You came near fool
ing her, because you didn't look the
part. Now you make q quick getaway.
Want a taxi?"
With a sobbing cry Helen broke
away, and dashed down the wide hall
toward the bronze doors, her wrap fall
ing from her shoulders.
Let me out! Oh, you must let
me out !" wildly, for a footman, alertly
suspicious, had placed himself obstruct-
ingly before the door.
Its all right, Hopkins, let her out"
called the man who had followed from
the dressing room.
The door opened. and Helen found
herself stumbling down the steps I'M
der the wind-happed awning.
AS she gave one fearful backward
glance, for an instant the gilt number
'21" on the outer glass door held her
petrifed. The cabman had mistaken
the slanted-top zone" for a "seven."
The lounging chauffeurs sat up in
wondering attention as Helen flew by,
her bare head, flowing wrap and white
satin slippers, an incOngruous figure in
the chill, mist-driven night.
Turning the first corner to more
quickly escape, she sped down two
long blocks before she stopped breath
less, painting and still half-dazed.
Must she go back to "27?" That
would be within a few doors of the
other house. The thought made her
sick with fear and revulsion.
1t was the quiet dinner hour, and
the streets were mostly deserted, but
the occasional passerby stared at her
curiously.
Pausing at a crossing, desperately
she signaled an approaching taxi. She
was too unstrung-she would go back
home. But the cab drawing nearer,
through the glass door she caught
the CLEAN of a white shirt front and a
high silk hat.
AS the driver slowed up for the
crossing, the door was flung open and
the passenger sprang out. He was
coming toward her. Terrified, she
started to run-then stopped with a
piercing: warren Warrenw
The next moment he had her in the
cab, where her taut nerves gave way.
Striving vainly to calm her, Warren or
dered the man to drive around the
block.
With broken incoherence Helen
finally sobbed out her story.
"Well, that was some adventure,
Kitten" smoothing her hair with I'M
accustomed solicitude. "Too upset for
the dinner? Want me to take you
home"
But with throbbing lurch, the cab
now drew up before "27," modest
tentatious mansion a few doors be-
yond.
"Come on" urged Warren. you'll be
better off here than brOoding over Ii
at home. We're pretty late, but I'll do
the explaining"
"Oh, I'm all to pieces" tremulous-
ly. 81 left my gloves-and look u
thrusting out foot, its slender white
ness splashed with mud.
"Now, never mind about the slip
pers. And don't go Sticking down your
halr-leave 1t loose like that. Come
? onw He had sprung to the curb and
was lifting her out.
2 'That's the house-the one with the
: awning" with a terrified glance at the
r pretentious entrance just ahead.
: Looks like Van Klein's new place
e BY George, that's what it isi'
"Van KleinY excitedly. "That':
e the namel You know them?"
! launched with him Saturday. Cues:
: can fix this up" grimly. Evan Kleir
G and his crowd want to keep in with m,
e till they get their new franchise. You'll