The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-10-29
MARRIED LIFE
Helen Ia In The Room When warren
Turns Down a Questionable Business


Warren threw down his paper ana
sfrods- over to answer the phone.
Hello. Who? = ;. Mr.. HASKELL.
c. H. Haskell? Oh, yes. How are
you? Yes, expect to be in all eve
ming. Glad to have you. yes.
All right.
That's funny" as he hung up the
receiver with puzzled frown. won
der what askell can want with me-
Who is he, dear?' with quick IN
terest Helen looked up from her sew
ing.
Why, he's one Of the big corpora
ton lawyers. know him only slight
ly. Says he's coming to see me mere
in half an mour. Wonder what he's
after"
up to straighten the room. Why
dear, it may mean something wonder
full! He may want you to go on some
big case"
Not likely. And somehow I've new
er quite trusted him. I know he's got
big reputation and all that-but he's
one of the slick ones. Now See here,
you stay right where you are and go
on with your sewing. If he's got any
thing to propose he can't say 1t tse-
fore you-I don't want to hear it,
that's ALL"
"Oh, then I must dress" nervously.
II can't let him see me like this"
why not? You look well enough.
But Helen, ignoring the comment,
hurried to her room.
Warren Shakes Hands.
Pick up your papers. dear" she
called back. And you're not going to
receive him in that house coat. are
your
Like to know why Guess he'll
take me as he finds me-"
Helen was secretly impressed with
Warren's careless Indifference toward
SO prominent a man. Yet she put on
her prettiest house gown with fut-
tering anticipations as to what Mr..
Haskelfs call might mean.
and stomach trouble. and refuse to al
In little while the bell rang and
Mr.. Haskell was announced.
"Ah, Haskell, glad to see you," War
rem shook hands cordially. Let me
introduce you to Mrs. Curtis"
Mr.. Haskell was large and rather
pompouS man with an unmistakable
air of prosperity.
You've got a mighty nice place
here, Curtis with an appraising
glance about.
Helen vaguely resented this remark
for she felt there was in it a note of
mingled surprise and condescension
as though he had not expected to find
them living so well.
Yes. we're pretty comfortable
here" said Warren easily.
They talked on for few moments
Of the number of good apartments
being built in the neighborhood and
of the incre. ng property values.
Then Mr. Hasl II meditatively shook
the ashes from he cigar Warren had
given him, and said abruptly:
Curtis, I've got some confidential
business I can put your way. It
means prompt action, SO I came up to
talk it over tonight"
Helen felt most awkward and self
conscious as she saw him glance to-
ward her, but after what Warren had
said she could not leave the room
Fire ahead" exclaimed Warren.
'T don't have any secrets from my
wife,
Well" smiling OILY, It'll be pretty
good thing for you If you put this
over, so I don't suppose there will
be any objections from her.
At this remark Helen's instructive
dislike for Mr.. Haskell increased. She
resented the use of the pronoun her
will be any objection from Mrs Cur
tbs" or from your WIFE" 1t would
not have grated SO; but from her.
seemed somehow to cheaper her
He had drawn some papers from his
pocket, which he now handed to War
rem with a brisk
Glance over these"
For the next few moments the only
sound in the apartment was the rustic
OF the papers as Warren turned them
and the occasional squeaking of Mr..
Haskell's chair as he moved his heavy
weight.
"wellT' as Warren laid the pape1N
down
That's all right, far as it goes
Now, the point is,'' (Mr Haskell
we want all this action taken as if you
were representing disinterested par
ties. That's the reason why it can't
be handled through our Office
tOh, I See unused Warren in non
committal tone.
Now, I've been watching your
work lately, and I've heard a good
deal about you. and I think you're the
man we want with us. but for the
present at least, we don't want it
known
Warren Not Interested.
Warren had taken up the papers
again and was pondering over them.
Then he asked a few technical oues-
tons which Helen could not under
stand. but from the lone of Mr.. Has
kelrs explanation she knew that he
was the defensive. At last War
rem folded up the papers decisively
and handed them back
Much Obliged. Haskell: but I don't
think l care to touch it
Now, don't be so hasty. There's
a fifteen hundred dollar retaining fee
and your regular charge in addition
Warren shook his head. Nothing
doing"