The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-08-02
Warren Fails to Keep an Appoint
nnent and Helen Is Sick With Eear


room of the Cecil Hotel it was twerft-
ty-five minutes after six, Warren was
to meet her there at half-past.
She took a seat where she could see
him as he entered. 1t was interest
ing to watch the people as they passed
in and out. There were many Ameri-
cans-how quickly one could tell
them
A pretty American girl and an elder
" woman, evidently her mother, came
over and sat down near Helen. They
were stopping at the hotel, for the
girl had a room key which she jingled
impatiently They, too, were waiting
for some one.
A few moments later young Eng
lishman with a top hat white spats
and a monocle came hurrying toward
them.
Awful sorry to be late. It's a
beastly shame to Keep you waiting,
but there was nasty jam in the
traffic-the taxi could not get by"
Except that he did not suck his
cane he was the exact type of the
young English clubman one sees on
the stage. Helen had always thought
it an exaggerated type, but here evil
wondered if he had title. and If he
wished to exchange it for her possible
millions When he drew out a hand
kerchief strongly scented with laven-
der, Helen turned away in disdain.
How could any girl tolerate a man
that used perfume.
In her absorption she had forgotten
the time 1t was not SIX forty o'clock
and Warren had not come. He was
usually prompt but he had said this
that he had an appointment
at O'Clock. And since they were to
dine at the Cecil. perhaps to save time,
she had better meet him there.
1t was not until after seven that
Helen was really worried. Surely If
he found he was going to be so late
he would have 'phoned her. He could
easily call UP the Cecil and have her
PACED.
Every few minutes a bell boy would
come through calling a room number
or a name, but the name would not be
hers.
Perhaps there had been some mis-
take-perhaps he had telephoned?
She went through to the desk and an
xiously asked one of the clerks, but
after some inquiry. he said there had
been no message for Mrs. Curtis.
Then with flash came the though.
could she have misunderstood him
this morning? She felt sure he had
said the Cecil, but he might have
meant the Savoy. Only yesterday he
had said they must dine there some
evening.
The Savoy was just next door. The
two big hotels so near together on the
Strand were often confused Suppose
he was waiting in the writing room
there,
She remembered the mistake they
had once made IN New York. the
wretched hours wait and the spoiled
evening. He had said the Forty-sec-
ond street subway and she had gone
TO the Forty-second street elevated.
It took less than five minutes to
reach the writing, room of the Savoy.
A quick glance around the brilliantly
lit place-but Warren was not there.
She made a hurried inquiry at the
desk. but there was no message. Back
again to the Cecil, fearful lest he
should have come while she was
away.
1t was half-past seven now. Some
thing must have happened, He would
hour She would call up the apart
ment Why had she not thought of
that before? If there had been some
accident he might have been taken
there or have sent some word.
There were line OF telephone
booths outside the writing room Helen
had telephoned only once before in
London, and now in her feverish
anxiety she thought she would never
find the number in the unfamiliar
book. and the time seemed endless be-
fore she could get it from central.
Even then the connection was not
good The wire was buzzing with
several voices calling-"Are you
there? Are you there7" the English
slogan for hello"
No Message.
mo, Mr.. Curtis has not come, and
there is no message" was the answer
she finally received.
How much is it?" she asked me-
chemically OF the boy in attendance.
as she came out of the booth.
There's no charge, ma'am-"
Ordinarily Helen would have been
surprised at the free selepnone SER
vice and would have wondered If it
was the custom of all London hotels.
buI BOW Sflc gave II i4c eiiodsh1, iiCA
did she see that the boy expected
tip.
Back again to the writing room
now desperately anxious. what should
she do next,
At a quarter of nine Helen could not
but feel the futility of waiting. She
would take a cab back to the apart
ment and wait there. She could do
nothing else.
With a lingering look about the
place, as though still hoping to see
him. she made her way through the
crowded lobby and out into the street.
She was wholly unconscious of the
curious and interesting glances that
followed her Helen's face was al
ways expressive and now ner trem-
ulous emotion was plainly evident.