San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-30
The Married Life of Helen and Warren
a HALF HOUR IN WARREN'S OFFICE RESULTS IN
~ STARTLING DISCOVERY.
By MABEL HERBERT HARPER

That both George and Miss Brooks
were devoted to him, and on the
whole gave him loyal service, Helen
knew. let in some ways she felt
they were very slack.
A small drawer, half open, exposed
discouraging accumulation of pen
Gil stubs, paper clips, hardened
erasers, rusty pen points and rubber
bands, Sorting them out, she
emptied most Of the rubbish into the
waste basket.
She was clearing out another
drawer, when, opening a tiny tube
by the wrong end, some lead filters
fell out.
Carefully picking them up lest
they smudge the freshly typed letter
on which they had fallen, Helen
caught the arresting words Dear
Elsie"
Her startled glance swept down
the letter.
Miss Elsie Baldwin,
1924 Walnut Street,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Dear Elsie-Have been showed
under with work this week. Don't
see how l can get over. Why
can't you come on here for the
weekend? We could have more
time. together.
Am enclosing that check for
two hundred with this.
Yours,
Twice Helen read the letter, the
lead filters still clutched in her hand.
And there was the check under the
flap of the envelope, ready to be
signed. Made out for 5000 to Miss
Elsie Baldwin, 3
After the first rush OF cyclonic
emotions Helen tried to reason it out.
There must be some mistake.
She remembered the discriminating
feminine letter she had found in bis
raincoat pocket-then discovered il
had been left there by friend who
had borrowed the coat.
How she had loathed herself after
ward for her suspicious.
But THIS, There was no escape
from this! A letter on his station
cry, and his check-his personal
check awaiting his signature.
tremendously she glanced through
the five letters underneath, all
strictly business. By what trick OF
tate had the stenographer placed this
one on top? And what must sh,
have thought when she typed it?
As she was only a substitute per
haps she did not even know he wa.
married. Was that why he daree
dictate such a letter?
Elsie baldwin; Where, had he me
her? How long had he known her?
Snatchlng his check book from 8
lower drawer. feverishly Heller
scanned the stubs. For six month.
back there had been no other check
to Elsie Baldwin.
But that proved nothing. He wa
sending her $500 nowl
Philadelphia How many time
lately had he been to Philadelpbia
Week before las. he had gone I,
Albany. Or had he only said that
A step in the outer office
Warren.
| She had just time to thrust tn,
letter under the others when h
brisked in.
Hello, Kittenl Why, this i
great! How'd you happen to blow
II had TO come down town abou
those window shades,n drawing bacl
INTO the shadow away from the desl
light. And l thought I'd stop b.
for you."
Fine! I've got to call ND Bar
nard, then well get right off"
In Helen's turmoiled thoughts wa
the vague consciousness that the OF
nee boy had left some message abou
Barnard. But she felt she could no
fnrther trust her voice just then.
And she wanted him to telephon,
1t would give her few minutes (
get control of herself.
In the dim office with only the on
green shaded light turned on, he ha
not noticed her flaming face.
Hello. Barnard there?
He's gone? Well. have him ring m
up first thing in the morning.
Then as he pushed back the il
strument:
"Now just moment: I've got I
sign these letters. Then we'll bea
1t. Jove, I've hustled today Haven
A She was at the window, her bac
toward him. gazing out at the loon
ing office buildings that she did nc
see.
Did he know what letter he wa
going to sign? Had he forgotten
Or was his carelessness merely bra,
ado.
Was he taking it for granted tht
she had not seen the letter? We
how could he-how could he sign sue
, a letter in her presence?
The scratch of his pen. The yigo
Gus scrawl Of his signature.
The rustic of paper as he laid asit
the first letter to sign the mex
Again the scratching pen. again II
: rustic of a letter laid aside. He VIZ
T not stopping TO read them.
! The third, fourth, now the fifth le
ter!
,, Helen's heart stood still 49,
. a moments hesitation for
time he serawled his sigp
, once more for the check
Now the sound of q
ters into the envelec
ing it RAPIDLY. thef
,, bility 18th which n
but there was no NOT
eoncertion.
The poundins/
fixed the stsE