The Washington herald., 1918-01-21

'"hered q you nave II laSt! Qe-
mapded Warren, as they paused in a
sheltered doorway while Helen search
ed frantically through her beaded
handbag.
I'm the theater," TREMENDOUSLY,
thrusting back program. powder pun
and mirror.
Huh, got to hike it back there
then"
"Oh, I don't care about the purse
it's my rings!" walled Helen, as they
hurried back through the crowds surg
ing from the emptying theaters.
Your rings!' explpsively.
They ruin my gloves-so took
them on and put them in my purse" "
was her faltefing admission
The devil you did! You risked your
rings in that fool"
II never lost a purse before" chok-
ingly. "oh-oh." rushing ahead to-
wards the darkened theater. 'ft can't
be closedp
The lobby was deserted. the ticket
window down, and uniformed watch
man was locking the doors.
BreathIessly Helen explained the loss
of her small. gold-chain purse.
Might've been turned in at the Of
fee. miss. I'll see II anybody's there. -
a moments agitated suspense and
he reappeared with the ominous.
Nothing but a pair of opera glasses
turned in tonight. Maybe the clean
ing woman'll find it in the morning"
"Oh, can't we look now?" pleaded
Helen. "I know Just where our seats
were-sixth row Of the orchestra"
ITS against the rules, miss, but
guess it'll be all right"
Unlocking the door, he admitted her
into the darkened house. while War
rem. grumpily unsympathetic, waited
in the lobby.
Producing a pocket fashlight, the
watchman led Helen down the center
aisle. The red globestha marked the
exits were still on, casting a dim, lurio
glow over the spectral-like rows Of
empty seats, with the shadowy balco-
nies above.
Here's where we sat II and a."
athrob with a feverish hope.
But the searchlight thrown on the
red carpet beneath the seats revealed
only a program, a ticket stub and a
hairpm.
Then must've dropped. it in the
dressing room." tensely.
I'VE can look, miss. but IL the maid
had found it she'd have turned it in
Back through the side aisles to ths
red plush curtains that guarded the
entrance to the ladies' dressing room.
The switch by the door turned on
the ceiling lights, flooding the white
and rose-cretonned room. But the
dressing table and the chair beside it,
where Helen had laid her things, dis
closed no gOld-chain purse.
Nothing doing?' was Warren 5
grunted query, when she Joined him
in the lobby. Dragged it out with
your powder rag-and some one
swiped it."
Mono. I won't believe that
Historically. II can't lose my rings.
We must find them! Well go back
to the grill room-it might be there.
oh, wait. dear" in an undertone,
give this man something"
You can call up tomorrow-maybe
they'll find it when they clean" was
the watchman's cheerful suggestion
as he pocketed the quarter.
But the slenderness of this hope dio
not lift from Helen the crushing
sense of her loss.
The Asterbilt, where they had dined,
was only two blocks away; yet II
was with grumbling reluctance that
Warren started on this further
search.
Through the glittering, light-stud-
ded corridor of this ultra ahotel, they
made their way down to the oak
paneled grill. now crowded with after
theater parties.
Dear, you ask" urged Helen.
mot on your tintype! If you're SO
blooming careless-it's up to you"
The bustling head waiter listened
with politely repressed impatience to
Helen's fiurried account Of her loss.
''Nothing's been turned In to me,
madame. Where were you sittingg'
"At that wall table-back Of the
column. There's our waiter nowG'
But when questioned, the man shook
his head-he had not seen the purse.
Goaded by the thought of her rings,
Helen, ignoring the head walters evil
dent disapproval, hurriedly crossed to
the table. now occupied by a fiorid
middle-aged man and blonde girl in
an extremely decollete gown.
"Oh, I'm sorry to disturb you, but
We were sitting here-and I lost my
purse!"
The man, courteously sympathetic.
rose, lifted the table cloth, and scan
ned the polished wood floor.
"seesif it's under you chair, Belle"
rathert sharply. for his languid COM
panion had barely moved her satin
slippered feet.
There was no sign Of the purse.