The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-10-11

S and glanced in.
x.ss, a.resr. u.,.e Through the dark
ness cleaned the
smooth whiteness Of the empty bed.
Dear, she's not in yet" hurrying
back to the bedroom. "It's after
eleven"
Here's button to sew on" War
rem flung her the vest he had just
taken of.
Must 1 do it now7 VIII you wear
this suit tomorrow"
Eyes, and fix this while you're at
it," taking OF his suspenders, one
leather loop of which was torn.
Drawing chair to her sewing ta-
BILE, Helen searched for a gray vest
button and listened expectantly for
Dora. To stay out after eleven the
maid was supposed to ask permission,
but Of late Dora had seemed inclined
to ignore this rule.
"She hasn't come yet" worriedly,
when she laid the vest and suspend
ers on the chair with Warren's
clothes.
"What of it7" He came out of the
bathroom rubbing his wet hair with a
towel. You can't make 'em toe the
mark all the time"
"But how'll I tell her about break
fast7"
leave q note on her door. Hustle
now-it1l take you an hour to get to
bed"
Pinning a hastily scrawled note on
nj inH oh
her bath. By the time she was ready
for bed. Warren was asleep and she
crept in without arousing him.
The library clock struck twelve, but
still there was no sound of Dora COM
ing In. So the girl was deliberately
ignoring her ordersi She would speak
to her very plainly tomorrow.
Doing of. Helen was awakened by
a sound from the kitchen. Sitting up
in bed, she listened tensely.
Then. feeling for her slippers, she
groped her way out through the din
ing room. But Dora's room was still
dark and empty. Pussy Purr-Mew
must have been the intruder. for now
she was rubbing against Helen's night
gown, her soft fur tickling her bare
ankles.
"What the devil are you prowling
about fort" growled Warren, when she
came back to bed.
II thought heard Dora"
"Jumping up every ten minutes to
see II she's in, ehr Well. you cut that
and go to Sleep"
Turning over. with enforced quiet,
Helen tried to induce drowsiness. But
the clock struck one before her brood
ing indignation merged into dream
worried stupor.
=
"Eh1 What time is thatr' Warren
was on his elbow peering blindingly
at the bedside clock.
Instantly awake, Helen sprang ur
with a dismayed:
"Oh-oh, It's after seven! And you
wanted an early breakfastl"
"Never get anything you want In
this house." as he lurched out Of bed
''Tll hurry her up! Breakfastn be
ready by the time you are"
1t was not until Helen ran out tc
the dining room and was confronted
by the drawn shades and unset table
that the memory of Dora's late hours
came with a rush.
So she had oversight This was the
result of her staying out until after
midnight. But at the sight Of the note
still pinned to her door. Helen's fam
ing Indignation changed to anxiety.
Bursting into the room. the empty
bed and Dora's idle apron held an
alarming note. Something must have
happened.
A sudden shrilling of the phone con
firmed her fears. Stumbling over the
trailing cord of her bathrobe, she
reached the instrument.
'.Hello! I'm Dora's sister," The
voice was blurringly foreign. "She's
lost her pocketbook with all her
money-more'n 500. had her stay
with me-and she cried most all
night. She's real sick this morning
with one of her bad headaches-but
she'll be there to get dinner. She's
real scared that you'll be mad"
Relieved that 1t was nothing worse
Helen expressed her sympathy for the
lost purse. and intimated that she
would not be severe with Dora--H she
came in time to get dinner.
Warren, who was shaving, received
the hurried account Of Dora's mis-
fortune with a noncommittal grunt.
"What about breakfastw pursine
up his mouth as he scraped the rich
lather from under his chin. Better