Evening star., 1921-11-13
One of Wallace IrWin's Best Stories

/
shinny up the Woolworth building for
a chunk O cheese? Cer'nly mott"
With amazing agility Fred Leffiey
stood on the old-fashioned sofa and
proceeded to set wine bottle and
cheese dish on the decorative sum-
init OF grandfathar's clock. The bot
tie was braced securely enough be-
hind a little turret. but the dish.
poised on an ornate cornice, teetered
precariously. threatening an ava
lanche at the least vibration Of the
antique works within.
That's borrowed cheese" said the
lecturer solemnly, his feet struggling
among broken springs. I'VE got TO
pay that back. svery ounce of it. to
Bob Squirting so.ae day.
The ancient sDsings gave way and
spout. of dust marked the spot
where Leffiey fell INTO the faded up
holstery.
When Helen came in a few minutes
later Fred was fast asleep on the
sofa, his mouth wide open to the
earnest work of snoring. She had
closed the kitchen door on his empty
talk. Now the sight of him sprawl
ing and snoring reused in her heart
bitterness she could not down.
She might have gone away to weep
quietly, as she often had before. But
the time will come when a heart can
no longer feed on tears. There was
new hardness in her eyes when she
leaned over the fallen image Of her
love.
Fred" she cried. shaking him by
the shoulder. He opened his eyes to
d glazed stare. Let me alone" he
growled and beat her hands away.
Ife rest of the evening was a daZe
Tor Helena daze in which she moved
from room to room. candle in hand.
like another Lady Macbeth. through
echoIng chambers where sleep had
been murdered for her. At IL O'Clock
she found herself in "A great faded
bedroom whose heavy pieces of wal
nut stood around like waiting mon
sters She had worked automa tical-
ly, bringing warmth and order into
uninha bitable spaces An ancient gas
heater under the mantelpiece had
impaired a mild glow; she had con-
Verted the bed into possible place
of rest
The night lay under d deathly
stiffness. Well, they had come to
Scarletburg for quiet, and they had
found it. Helen went over to the
bay window and peered through
among cold clouds. The air was
soundless. There was no movement
among the naked twigs etched Oh
the whiteness of freshly fallen snow.
Suddenly the Mallok dog barked.
the sound exaggerated out of its
=
silence. 1t startled her as a gunshot
might nave done Coming across the
snow from the lot beyond Helen saw
the figure of a tall man, draped in d
furry overcoat. He advanced rapidly
a few steps, then paused to look
around. Then he came forward
again. Again the dok barked. and the
man made straight for the Turnbull
door.
Terror had made Helen Leffiey
hrn
side world. since the great fear lay
sleeping in her house. Her only
thought now was: IF he rings the
bell he'll wake Fred. and there's no
telling what might happen
She tiptocd down, past the couch
where her husband lay and out into the
vestible. Drawing the nightl latch
she drew the door open and faced
the intrduer.
Bob Squirting, swathed in furs to
the brim of his soft hat, stood in the
patch CT light, and when he saw her
he smiled and held out his hand. 1t
was like a bad dream for Helen Lef-
fey; a sense of dreadful peril prompt
ed her to lay finger to lip and say
softly:
-,BoL. be very quiet. Fred's having
terrible spell He's been drink
ing
I'm sorry" whispered Squirting.
and his broad face kindled to sym
pathy. The sight of him seemed to
bring health and normaIity to the
sick air of the place.
Please don't go away" she said on
an impulse. IF you only knew how
I've been wanting to talk to you.
And you've come all this distance
Bob, he's asleep now"
She left him standing in the vesti-
hule and peered into the drawing
room. Fred lay motionless beside the
tall clock. A volume of snores, un-
couth and frankly animal. told how
thoroughly he had abandoned himself
to slumber.
Helen beckoned and led her visitor
a-tiptoe through the hall. In a niche
under the walnut staircase there
stood an ornate oak Settee. conceived
by some German woodworker in the
reign of President Arthur. Here she
moLoned Squirting to seat beside
her and they talked together in
guarded tones. Spurling's bigness.
his fortnight America nism, his very
clumsiness and incoherence. brought
ner to a sense of protection. He was
a homely man; the slight limp in his
gait betrayed a physical defect. To
Helen that very lameness seemed To
accentuate his strength.
How did you find u.s." she asked
Easy enough" he grinned. Col
ored woman at the boarding house
had your address. l came by the 10
o'clock train. You seem to be the
only people in town who haven't gone
to bed. Sorry l came SO late, but
I've got to run back in the morning"
You're going to Cuba right away"
she asked.
Yes" he replied in the deprecating
way he had when mentioning his own
affairs. 1T was either that or Porto
Rico"
with eyes which were small and
shrewd and somehow pathetic.
You GSsn't hurt about that-about
my letter.
Bob. You've done so much al
"Pshaw" was all he said.
The money was godsend just
now
Look here. Helen" The seams in
his cheeks deepened as he turned TO
regard her. Il was going to Cuba"
she told him weakly.
This mess here has got to be
Strengthened out. Fred's in no shape
to take care of himself. let alone look
out for you. It's ridiculous to think
of your. trying to swing it alone"
uNTO. Bob She shook her head
~ hopelessly, and after a moment
of reflection, said, You'd only make
things a lot worse-I can't tell you
how much worse"
.'Of course ! wouldn't do that.
Helen
Il know you wouldn't if you under
stood. But he seems to be suspicious
of everybody. Bob, he's SO jealous
that I'm sure he'd do something
dreadful"
Jealous of me?" Spurling's mouth
fell open at the idea.
II didn't dare tell him where the
money was coming from. This morn