The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-02-04

Helen hesitated then yielded to Mrs.
Merwin's urgent invitation.
she had met the Merwins on the
steamer. They had sat at the same
table on the return voyage and seen
a great deal of each other during the
trip. And Mrs. Merwin's greeting as
they met unexpectedly on Fifth avenue
was most cordial.
Don't you want to come up to the
room, it's much quieter? and I'll order
tea up there" she suggested as they
pushed through the heavy revolving
doors of the hotel
The atmosphere and appointments
of a big. luxurious hotel had always a
certain charm for Helen, charm that
would probably be dispelled should she
lie at one for any length OF time.
They left the elevator at the eighth
floor and Mrs Merwin led the way up
the hall to an expensive suite of bed
room. sitting room and bath.
She telephoned down for the tea, orr
dering with it two cocktails
"Oh. yes. we must have something
to drink as she hung up the receiver.
i've been blue all day. Oh, | think
New York is the lonliest place. | think
be so glad when we get away.
but you're so pleasantly situated
here" protested Helen, glancing about
the attractive room And don't you
find this hotel very good I've always
heard that the service here was excel
lent
"Oh. II almost hat it. I've been
so unhappy ever since we came"
Helen look up. surprised at the
tremor in her voice.
You know we planned to go to
Denver. but Mr.. Merwin's business has
kept us here. Now II don't know
when Wen get away
She had laid aside her hat, and as
she leaned back in her chair by the
window Helen saw how tired and
worn .he looked. On the steamer she
had been most attractive and the CEN
ter of much attention. But now she
was pale and listless with haggered
lines about her mouth.
What could have happened to have
changed her in short time.
In a few moments the waiter came
with the tea. on the tray were two
slender glasses into which he poured
the cocktails from a silver shaker. Mrs.
Merwin slipped hers eagerly and a faint
color relieved her palor
Nomentarily it seemed to cheer her.
met on the steamer several of whom
Mrs. Merwin had seen since.
Then the phone rang and she start
ed so iolentlyv that the tea splashed
from the cup she was holding. The
phone was on the wall by the door,
and Helen could not help but notice
how her hand trembled when she took
down the receiver.
She Breaks Down.
! ''No, Mr.. Merwin is not here I'm
sorry, but I don't know anything about
that I'm sure Mr.. Merwin will make
! it all right. Yes as soon he he
comes in
/ Hardly had she left the phone when
the bell rang again.
"Mr Merwin is not in No he hasn't
an office in New York. At six? He
may be here then, but I'm not sure"
| To Helen's dismay. as Mrs, Merwi q
turned from the phone she leaned
against the wall and burst into tears,
1 ooh. l can't stand it any longer-I
can't" she sobbed. They're always
calling him up, the people he owes
And he's drinking and gambling his
money
For moment Helen hardly knew
what to say. then she made strained
and awkward ATTEMPT to comfort her.
But the emotions which were evidently
pent up for days were evidently find
ing expression. and she sobhed out to
Helen the whole wretched story.
The mining scheme that Mr.. Nerwin
had been promoting in London had
fallen through when they reached New
York. He had borrowed money from
everyone he knew. trying to promote
some other stock. That too had been
a failure, and now they had not even
enough money to pay their hotel bill
and they owed three weeks
"Rut why do Won keep these expen-
sive rooms?" ventured Helen. "Couldn't
YOU stay in a chea per hotel or oven al
la boarding house,"
| Yes but we can't leave until We paw
the bill. We cant even take cheaper
rooms here. for that would make them
suspicious. They think Nh Nerwin
has money. he always spends It -
freely # they didn't think that they
wouldn't give MS credit in tho rostau-
rant. and We've got to eat somewhere :
But if you Keep on running up this
bir'-
Always Promoting.
ooh. Frank keeps thinking he'll cet
money somewhere-he' always fun al
schemes bitterly. It's always pro
! noting promoting. I late the word
IF he'd only get down to some rea
work Anything that would give hin
a regular salary instead of trying K
live eNtravasantly on a lot of promot-
ing schemes.
oh. I know I'm disloyal TO talk like
this. for when he's money he's thu
most generous man in the world b.
lately everything has gone against hin
and he's drinking oh. I cant tel
you. he hasn't been himself for DAYS
And last nisht"-again She save wa,
to sohs.
A knock al the door and she started
up with 2 haunted look
DO YOU want me 10 answer ito