The Washington herald., 1917-12-17

Clure Newspaper Syndicate.
G., 32 Bway.. Broad $780," But her
plan to telephone him seemed now
wholly inadequate. What could she
say over the phone that would sway
this mans infiexible resolve.
At q subway kiosk she hesitated.
, She. would go to his ONCE. at least to
the building. then IL her courage fail
ed she need go no further. With dis
| concerting celebrity she reached the
towering office hive on lower Broad
way. In the rotunda she found the
name on the directory board-"Thorn-
| ton, Willard X, 1104-6." Her aching
| sympathy for Mrs. Thornton struggled
with her shrinking aversion for such
| a mission.
up! Express to tenth floor" called
the starter. And she was swept into
the crowded cage.
way down the hall to room 1loL ''W.
! X. Thornton. Architect" was the let
, tering on the ground-glass door.
' What could she say? How could
she premise this call? Her courage
/ faltered. She turned back to the
elevator. Then with a swift contempt
for her weakening she forced herself
again to the door. 1t was an impress
sive ofiice. Several clerks stood be-
! fore a long drafting table intent on
rolls Of blueprints.
Il should like to see Mr.. Thornton"
giving her card to the girl who came
! forward. A moments wait and she
was ushered into a private Office. Dir.
! Thornton received her with courteous
but puzzled inquiry.
Il know this is an intrusion" /"
with desperate directness, but I've
come to see you about-Mrs. Thorn
! ton"
| Mrs. Thornton7" His voice was
! strained.
81 was with her last night. and this
morning. She-I'm afraid she's going
to be very ill.,"
II will have DR.. Jordan call at
once
, "A doctor can't help her. No one
can-but your
Mrs. Curtis. you must excuse me.
! This is something 1 cannot discuss" /"
But you can't leave her like this. -
flamingly. 1T will kill her. She"
''She asked you to come here!'
sternly.
mo. But I couldn't see her suf-
fer. I thought you ought to
know"
That she was having heroics ?''
bitterly. shes always acting. No
man could live up to her emotional
demands" Then with cold with
drawal: But you must excuse me:
cannot discuss this with anyone" ."
"Oh. she's not acting! It's not
heroics." ignoring his rebufr. "If
you could see her now"
He had walked to the window.
Even, his side face showed the grim
lines of pain. Pressing her advan-
tage, Helen told him Of Il the condi-
tion in which she had found Mrs.
Thornton. The steady click Of a
typewriter from the next room and
the shrilling of a distant telephone
rasped on the poignant silence.
What can do?' he turned with
helpless gesture. ITO go to her
new would mean only another pain
full scene"
Helen was standing by q desk
beneath which was an overflowing
waste basket. With start she
found herself gazing at the head
lines on a protruding newspaper:
DESERTED BY HER HUSBAND,
MRS. HOLDEN COMMITS SUICIDE
Left Note Saying She Had Nothing to
Live for-Her Husband, E. w.
Holden. a Wealthy Contractor
Much Affected when Told
| Of Her Death.
Snatching the paper from the bas-
ket, she laid Il before him.
That's the woman she spoke about
last night-the woman whose cour-
age she envied! Oh, she's desperate
enough for anything. Do you think
Pb be here II she wasn't? i, Do you
think 1t was easy for me to conner"
IN the throbbing pause he scanned
the article, and then again strobe
to the window. The typewriter still
clicked on. The hum of the great
office building came in steady, muf-
ned waves.
Very WELL" he turned abruptly. "I
will go to see her."
"Todayr'
"At once. I'll do what can. There
may be some way OUT"
ON, you won't ind her difficult.
It's peen bitter lesson; don't think
she will need another"
i sincerely hope mott" the husky
note ms nrst sign Of emotion.
deien.s departure was awkward and
constrained. He followed her to the
door, as II he wished to say some-
thing more. but the words did not
come. -.
Out on the street she walked on
through the jostling crowd. needless