The Topeka state journal., 1922-03-03
Helen Hunters S
Husband
JACK REFUSES BARNES
INVITATION.
BY JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER 35.


Block after block Jack Hunter COW
cred without realizing either direction
or surroundings. Was Helen as child
ish and inconsequential as she seemed,
or was her manner assumed to get her
own way? He recalled her mother,
poor hard-working Mrs. Ardmore. He
never liked her, but now a feeling
of pity for the poor tired woman who
had shaved day and night to give her
daughter things far beyond her sta
ton, swept over him.
He remembered he had thought
Helen's airs and graces cute and ma
tural to a young girl. But she was old
enough now to use a little reason, a
little common sense. What could he
He would take her home on a visit
to his mother! He would leave her
there for a month perhaps, and let her
see how happy and contented a wo-
man could be without all the frip-
to be willing to barter their happiness.
He turned toward home. As he
neared the house a clock in a neigh
boring tower chimed the hour. Mid
night! Twelve strikes shrilled on the
night air. Helen would be asleep.
She reused and asked fretfully
where he had been, then without wait
ing for an answer, turned over again
Some of Jacks enthusiasm as to the
success of his proposal had oozed out
during the night. At breakfast, how
ever. he said:
How would you like to- take trip
home and get acquainted with my peo
What do you mean? Are you go
ing home ?n
81 had thought of it. We could go
Saturday, I'd stay until Monday or
Tuesday. then come after you
'Td like to go very much-1ater.
But Pm cot going to leave New York
now, right when 1 am beginning to
have a good time. will go next sum-
were ended, and Jack knew that it
was, that his plan to get her away
had failed. Yet he urged it a bit
further, only to-be met by a decided
Wearily. Jack turned from the dis
cussion. Helen under her seeming
childishness and softness was hard as
nails. Jack Hunter was only just
awakening to the fact that her padded
paws had sharp claws. and that like
cat, she would use them when she
willed
He trudged off down town. angry
with himself because he had allowed
his anger of the night before to pre-
home, angry with Helen, and making
all sorts of threats-in his mind-to
wake her up to a consciousness that
she must do different.
Hello, Hunteri He turned at the
sound of his name. and Horace Barnes
met him, hand extended. Did your
wife relay my bid to a little supper
AFFAIR."" he asked genially-too gen
tally, Jack thought
Eyes, she told me-"
you'll join us?" Jack thought this
a little too eager, also.
'T think not! I am very busy now,
and have little time for
At know! Your wife said you had
been getting some big business lately
Barnes interrupted. Congratulations"
''Thanks!" Jack replied gruffly.
"Well. the invitation is still open.
Come if you can" and with just a
bow from Jack, they separated.
so Helen has been Dragging about
the. big business have been DOING
Jack unused half aloud as he hurried
to his office. Probably wants to pre-
pare people for her new duds!" but
mission a few days, and she had
shopped only yesterday. No, she had
Dragged because she wanted people to
think her husband, Jack Hunter, was
as good as the best of them.
Sudd emily his anger was gone. He
would be more patient. try to help her
to understand they must save and be
careful or they never could live as she
wanted to live. never have a home of
their own, as he had panned.
He was full of these thoughts as he
hurried home at 6 o'clock.
(Tomorrow-Jack meets a gay
divorcee.)