The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-03
Helen Hunters
Husband
JACK VISIONS HET1EN'S TROUBLE
CHAPTER 81
BY JANE PHELPS

JACK VISIONS HETIEN'S TROUBLE
CHAPTER 61.
Slowly it seeped into Jack Hunters
mind that this arrest of Horace
Barnes might have something to do
\ with Helen's wish to get away He
recalled her expression-a sort OF
frightened look, he thought-now
that he was away from her. At the
time he had not noticed it particular
| ly; but like dreams that recur. he now
saw something more in her wish TO
get away than just desire to visit
his mother
Yet not for one moment had Jack
ever doubted Helen's fidelity-he did
not doubt it now. But there was some
thing he didn't know, something per-
haps he should know
Il feel in my bones I should know
why she looked frightened" he said
to himself in his direct way She
won't tell me-unless she has to- he
added, then smiled a crooked smile at
the idea of Helen doing anything she
didn't want to do.
Then her willingness to remain at
home in the eveningsi Why, they
hadn't spent a quiet evening at home
in he couldn't remember when. If he
had proposed it, she had gone up in
the air. Immediately And he, true to
his promise to himself, had grudging-
ly gone with her.
He bought the papers and read all
about the arrest. He was particularly
interested in what was said about the
woman within the case, the woman
for whom the police were hunting.
Suddenly a great illuminating flash
swept his mind.
Helen was the woman!
There was no hesitancy in his
thought, no feeling he might be mis-
taken. Helen, his wife, was the
women the New York police were
searching for as the friend, perhaps
the accomplice of a crook-a forger.
Ia,- v,sx tod 20 ,xrf
No wonder she had that frightened
look in her eyes.
Jack Hunter was alone in his office
when the explanation of HeIen's action
on his folded arms and groaned aloud
Am I to blame? Could L have
hindered this that has come upon us?"
he asked himself. Then with a SILVER
added: mo, I could have done moth
ing!" sure in his mind, as he had been
always, that had he interferedl he
would have driven Helen from him;
would perhaps have made her do
wrong. That he couldn't have borne.
What to do now2
Not for a moment did he question
he was right in his deduction. Helen
was the woman who had been with
Horace Barnes when he was arrested.
And Helen herself was liable to arrest
at any minute. He felt that now He
knew he should hurry home, should
get her away at once. yet he felt
chained to the chair, so intensely did
he hate to face her.
How had she managed to get away?
What had she done that day after
Barnes had been arrested These and
other questions tormented him. Helen
could give the answers, yet Jack lin
gered.
Nothing had been said about any
other woman. Helen must have been
with him by appointment Jack
7. l.
in spite of all he had tried to do, Hell
en- had not ben satisfied She had
wanted even more gayety than he had
given her.
Finally he rose. It would be
o'clock bp the time he reached home
perhaps Helen would not be at home
The police might have found out the
identity OF the woman for whom they
were searching They might have
taken her.
He gra bbed some papers from the
stand at tho street door of the building,
tossing a quarter to the boy. and
without waiting for change hurried
to the subway.
Did ever trains in that cavern crawl
so slowly?
When he emerged he had two blocks
to go, and fear upon him he ran all
the way. He had glanced furtively at
the papers. Thank God there was no
of her name-his name,
d, Before he had hardly unlocked the
door he called:
Helen. Helen. Are you here2''
"Of coursel What has happened ?''
the note of fear in his voice arrest
ing.
II was-afraid-you might be
outi'' he stammered. not knowing how
to begin; what to say Il
Dinner is ready-hurry,' she said. |
But Jack Noticed she had been crying, !
and that she looked pale and har-
raised.
(Tomorrow-Helen evades Jacks
question