The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-30
Helen Hunters
Husband
a DISTURBING SITUATION.
BY JANE PHELPS


A DISTURBING SITUATION.
Chapter SIS.
Quite frequently Helen lunched with
Barnes. she did not always tell Jack
of the qHiet little luncheons in some
thought them wrong, or that she did
anything out of the way-from her
point of view; but because he disliked
Barnes, and had told her he didn't
wish to talk of him.
Poor Jack was constantly giving
Helen an excuse to do as she wished,
aItho he did not realize it.
! Then too she occasionally attended
one of the gay tea dances with Barnes.
4 She loved dancing, and danced well.
Barnes too was a finished dancer. and
perhaps they should not be blamed
for their fondness for dancing to-
gether.
one afternoon about $3.50 at one of
these places, a place patronized by so
many different classes of society that
| it would be useless to attempt to en-
umerate them. AS Helen said to Mrs.
Layton:
High and low. rich and poor,
swells and demi-monde, all go, why
shouldn't I?'' Mrs. layton promptly
agreed that she should. sa
They We're resting after dance,
sittingI at table drinking their tea
and talking animatedly. Two men
came in and seated themselves near
them =,
Barnes whispered to her, as he slipped
a flask into his pocket. He, and also
Helen, knew they had SEEN, but as
they made no move neither gave it
much thought, and finished the drink,
in a tall glass, the law forbid them to
take A drink which. like many
l. frnC11pTf1W
before the country went dry.
Again they danced. When they re-
turned to the table, the men were still
sitting near.
watching the housev' Barnes once
more whispered. Probably they
haven't handed over graft enough!"
and they chatted gay1y, forgetting
their two ordinary looking neighbOrs.
~ do wish Jack cared more for
dancingi" Helen said during pause
in the converse ton.
ct don't, Then he would be with
you instead of me-" 20
"No, he couldn't. not in the day
time. He isn't as rich as you are, and
so isn't able to dance in the afternoon.
But if he cared more about it we could
make up little dancing parties in the
evening
Il thought you kept pretty. busy
evenings. 1t seems to me you are al
ways on the go. 1 don't mind of
course when am one of the party.
but when Tn not''-Barness pause
was significant, but y Helen only
laughed. His love making was agree
able so long as he did not overstep
the bounds, which up to now he had
been clever enough not to do;F and
MANY of his double entendress were
not understood. ~
Don't taught I am miserable when
think you may be with some other
man.
mani 1 am married, you knowi"t She
That can't be helped-I suppose.
your being with Hunter, altho even
that hurts" He was speaking
more seriously now. more serious
Iy than perhaps he ever before
had done when talking of their in
tinacy. And when I think that he
may be absent, and you with some
other as you are with me, it drives
'.Nonsensel" 1t was Helen's usual
reply to anything she did not quite
understand. or which she wished to
avoid. But she had flushed rosily.
Like all women of her caHber. she
adored admiration, thrived on tt ABB
soIutely virtuous. she longed for adj
niration as keenly as did the veriest
demi-mondaine. And she. as the, say
ing is. swallowed it whole which
they did not. Helen had no way of
judging nattery at its face value.
at isn't nonsensei But come, let's
dancei This will be the last o1e.''
Yes, I wouldn't miss it for the
world." They both arose. and just as
they were about to step upon the
floor. one of the men at the next table
quietly touched Barnes ON the arm.
Come with me-" he said, holding
his coat open a bit so that both Hor-
ace and Helen glimpsed his shield.
Better come quietly" the man added,
as he saw refusal on Barnes face. cit
will be better for the lady"
It's that flask" Barnes said in an
aside to Helen. Then aloud: please
excuse me. Mrs. Brown" and followed
the man out.
He called me Mrs. Brown to pro-
tect me-" Helen thought gratefully as
she too quietly passed from the room
in their wake He is always thought
full
CTomorrow-Helen receives a terrible
shock.)