The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-08-27
Helen Is Mortified to Find That the
New Girl Had Been Drinking.

Dear, didn't you tell her to come
as soon as she could this morning %
asked Helen, as Warren shrugged into
his overcoat in the hall.
YES, but I don't suppose she'll get
here before To-" He took the cigar from
his mouth and gave her hasty kiss.
"II call you up around IL to find OUT
If she comes But she'll turn up all
right It's harder for them to get a
job when they're that age"
Helen went back to clear off the
breakfast dishes. She piled them in
the sink and left them for the new
girl to wash Then she busted the
front room, and it was 10 before she
realized it. Yet Mary oConnor had not
come.
But at IL the doorbe1l rang and with
a sigh of relief, Helen hurried to ans
wer il.
1t was Mary O'Coanor, with a suit
case, package, and umbrella. She was
smiling broadly. But instantly Helen
felt something was wrong. She look
ed different, somehow, and her voice
was different.
Good morning, good morning she
repeatedly said 'I told your husband
I'd be here this morning; so here Z
am setting down her suitcase and
bundle and leaning heavily against the
wall But / can't begin work today.
I'll leave these things and come in the
morning"
You can't begin today?" exclaimed
Helen in establishment why, I've
been depending upon YOU I haven't
anyone to do the work.
But you see, dearie''-Helen started
in amazement at this term, but Mary
O'Connor went on blandly-"ySu see,
I've got to go over to Brooklyn today
on Some business. l really can't come
fore tomorrow"
Then why didn't you tell US that
yesterday" persisted Helen. 'You
promised Mr.. Curtis you'd be here the
first thing this morning.
so l did, dearie,'' with a smile that
now seemed to Helen curiously inert,
land I'm here, amt II"
Just then Helen got a whiff of her
breath. She had been drinking. It
was unmistakable. Helen drew bach
with a feeling of unmingled dismay,
disgust ard pity. She remembered
what Warren had said about so many
middle-aged servants drinking.
What should she do? Should she
discharge her now? Yet she had such
excellent references. Could this be
only an incident which might not oc-
eur again? With a good home and
steady work she might be all right
In second all this flashed through
Helen's mind, while Mary O'Coanor
still leaned against the wall and smiled
namely at her.
At least she would keep her until
she could telephone Warren.
Where shall I put my things.
loo r-;< o-Iy
Helen shrank from the obnoxious
"dearie" but it would he useless to re-
prove her now
You can set them in here, Mary
opening the door of the maids room
but I don't want you to go just yet.
Mr.. Curtis is coming home in a few
moments and l want you to speak to
him first
"Au right" amiably, "but I have a
friend downstairs, Mrs. Casey. She's
very fine woman" confidentially
she owns three houses in Newark and
her daughter took a beauty prize.
worked for Mrs. Casey two years. I'd
like for you to meet her. and / don't
want to keep her downstairs. Dearie
won't you send for her to come up?"
.'Why-wfy. yes" stammered Helen,
more bewildered than ever. What did
why was she waiting downstairs. At
any rate, She would have to let her
come up
Before she could reach the telephone
the bell rang shrilly. It was the hall
boys voice.
Mrs. Curtis, there's a woman wait
ing here who wants to know if Mary
O'Connor is coming down"
you can tell her to come up and
wait here" said Helen.
And when a moment later Helen
opened the door, this time she was al
most frightened at the weird looking
woman that stood there. a ponder
ously fat woman in shabby black
dress, with red blotches on her face,
under a bedraggle black bonnet. She
came in heavily. without speaking.
This is Mrs. Casey" beamed Mary.
She owns three houses in Newark
and l worked for her two years, didn't
II"
THAT she did" In a deep base voice.
She's a fine girl, too
will you both wait here?' falter-
ed Helen. Tive got to telephone a
moment"
"All right, dearie," assented Mary
cheerfully 1--WE can wait a bit, just
SO I gets to Brooklyn fore the bank
closes. You see I've a little saving bank
account over there and I've got to
hang to that"
Leaving the two women sitting side
by side IN the dining room, Helen hur-
ried to the telephone. closing the door
so they could not hear In a second she
had called up warren's office and had
him on the wire.
"Oh, the most awful thing has hap
pened," excitedly. That woman has
come and she has been drinking. Oh.
she talks so queer. And the most
dreadful woman Is with her. I'm all
most frightened don't know what to
do, Can't you come up right away
and see herr"
For once Warren responded willing
ly. Perhaps there was something in
Helen's voice that made him feel her