8
THE SUNDAY BEE: OMAHA, JULY 9. 1022.
The Married Life of Helen and Warren
By MABEL HERBERT URNER.
Helen I Beguiled Into a Feminine
Conspiracy to Chasten
Warren.
With neat precision Helen cut
the white scalloped shelp paper into
five strips to fit the five shelves of
the pantry china closet.
It was not an ideal Sunday after
noon diversion, but, tired of read
ing, she was solacing her loneliness t
with work.
For three Sundays in succession
Warren had played golf. Last Sun
flay she had straightened all the
bureau drawers. The Sunday be
fore she had cleared out the hall
closet, and now it was the pantry
shelves.
At a dismaying br-r-r of the bell
she jerked off her enveloping apron,
smoothed her hair aud reluctantly
went to the door.
"What are you doing home this
glorious day? I just took a. chance
I didn't think you'd be in," was
Mrs. Stevens' breezy greeting.
"All alone?"
"Yes; Warren's playing golf
Then with a defiant laugh: "And
I if you really want to know I'm
putting fresh paper on the pantry
shelves!"
Well, now you're coming with
us," -briskly. "The car's downstairs.
Ted's here from Colorado I've al
ways wanted you to meet him."
"I'd love to, but I'm afraid I
can't Warren said he'd be home
early, and Nora's out I'll have to
get supper." 1
"It's perfectly absurd the way
you mope around here every Sun
day, when he plays golf. Why
shouldn't you go out, too?"
'I might have gone this morning
but now he'll soon be home."
"Suppose he does rome and
you're not here? It'd be a good
thing. He'd appreciate you all the
more. You're always on tap. No
wonder he's selfish; he's much too
sure of you You've: simply got
to go now hurry."
"Can you get me back in time to
"We'll get you back in plenty of
time. Take some, kind of a wrap."
Ten minutes later they were
spinning through the crisp, exhila
rating air.
"Isn't, this better than putting
paper on pantry shelves?" laughed
" Mrs. Stevens. "Ted. tuck that robe
around her feet."
"Mr Piirfi ari vnn a Hracend-
ant of Cinderella?" the bronzed,
The Romance of a Million
the message over to the farm after
i get nome.
Marie complied in silence. Her
heart ached so that she felt ill.
They came out on the high road,
and Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent told
her to take the first cross road
which would bring them down into
the lower road. Unconsciously
Marie drove fast, but she did not
forget to give warning before they
reached the lower road, for they
were between high banks, which
hid them from cars that might be
' passing along the lower road. It
was a dangerous spot, marked,
"Danger" on the signpost for all
autoists to read, but the driver of
the car which was exceeding the
speed limit along the lower road
' apparently neither heard nor saw.
' Marie's skill and quickness alone
saved them from a crashing im
, pact. Instead of jamming on the
brakes,-which would have made an
accident inevitable, she jumped the
road and the other car cut across
their rear, missing them by a bare
six inches. She had measured the
speed and the distance of the 'on
coming car, and had noted the
shallowness of the ditch across the
road and the level space beyond.
They cleared the ditch with only a
bump, and oi. the bit of level
if:. .1. : -i i i i . cu
niAiK wiiiueu iici tai nuuui. one
brought it back into the road and
then she looked at Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent.
The speeding car had
not stopped. It had disappeared
around the curve.
They looked at each other, both
white and trembling, but neither
of them exclaimed --over . their
escape. ,
"Madam I It was she!" Marie
said.
And Mrs.- Dunbarton-Kent said,
"She has come back!" - -
For in those few moments they
had seen distinctly: It was a road
ster, with top down, and on the
nose of the car was a gold eagle
... with wings spread, and the driver
was Mrs. Smith. A veil en
wrapped her, its end fluttering in
the breee, but the regular fea
tures, high color, and raven hair
of the woman could be glimpsed
through the veil. And the way she
sat. as if her fingers were on the
keys of a piano and her body ar
rogantly tense.
"It was she," Marie repeated.
- "Yes," Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent re
turned thickly. "She's on her way
virile westerner tucked the robe
about her 2V, B's.
"Ted's crazy about little women
but I suppose all big men are."'
The joyous air, the stimulating
speed and Mr. Alcott's very evident
interest carried Helen through the
next hour.
A clock in a village store brought
panicky thoughts of Warren's sup
per. "Half past five! You said you'd
get me back in time for"
"I said we'd get you back in
time but . I didn't say what for.
We're taking you out to Gtenwood
Inn for dinner. Now, don't worry
about Warren I I left a note saying
we'd kidnaped you he needn't ex
pect you back till late."
"Oh, no no, I can't I" stam
mered Helen. "What will he do
for supper?"
"Get it himself or go out. Won't
hurt him not to find you there for
once. It's about time you golf
widows showed some spunk."
"Now, don't you worry about
Curtis getting something to eat,"
Mr. Stevens flung back from the
front seat. "That's his strong
suit On i desert island he'd
manage to drum .up a good feed."
Helen's smile was forced. She
resented both the "golf widow"
aspersion and Mr. Steven's good
natured banter at Warren's gast
ronomic greed.
What "would he have for supper?
He : was always so hiuigry after
golf . Would he find the potato
salad? She had intended to cream
that cold chicken.
"Why so quiet, Mrs. Curtis?"
Mr. Ward was flatteringly solici
tious. "I was just wondering Whether
one leg and the carcass of a cold
chicken will be enough for Mr.
Curtis' supper," she laughingly ad
mitted. "If it isn't let him cook some
thing for himself, or go to a res
taurant You humor him entirely
too much," insisted Mrs. Stevens.
"Oh, here we are."
They were now turning in at
the graveled road of the Glenwood
Inn an old-fashioned dwelling re
modeled to the needs of a popular
road house.
In the yard stood a dozen mo
tors, and inside the orange
lanterned lights glowed on a fes
tive party. -
To the rollicking jazz of a
colored orchestra a dozen couples
were "toddling" in the cleared cen
ter space.
home. Drive on, child. You saved
our lives and hers."
"Far better to gamble on the
chance," West said. "Mr. Haslett
and I talked it over on the way
out."
It was 9 o'clock and West and
the lawyer were with Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent
in the library. As
soon as Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent and
Marie had come in from their
drive, Mrs. Dunbarton-Knt had
telephoned to Haslett and he had
said that he would come out to
Kent House that evening. He and
West had dined together in town,
then West had brought him out in
his roadster. ,
T shouldn't call it gambling on
a chance," Haslett objected quietly.
"It's not merely the fact that it's
risky to approach her, Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent,
but it is one of my
rules in practice not to force my
opponent's hand. Nine times out
of 10 a waiting game is more ef
fective. I know that Breck would
not risk his uncle's millions by ac
cepting our offer, but as soon as I
felt certain that he had a con
federate, it was good tactics t
indicate to them that we were
willing to pay. Now I advise sit
ting still let them make the first
move." "
- He spoke slowly; in speech and
manner Burton Haslett was a de
liberate man, a handsome man of
55, with iron gray hair and deep
set dark eyes. He was a capable
office lawyer and an indefagitable
worker; for many years he had
been Mr. Dunbarton-Kent's legal
adviser. "Haslett works too much
by rule and precedent and too little
by instinct he's not a good judge
of character," Mr. Dunbarton-Kent
sometimes complained. "Haslett
couldn't be a criminal lawyer he
lacks imagination and he has too
conventional a viewpoint But he's
a safe adviser in financial affairs I
know of no one who is a safer
guardian of property."
Mrs. Dunbarton - Kent had
thought often of her husband's crit
icism; certainly Haslett had been
altogether 'wrong in Marie's case.
Both he and Walter Green had
erred in their judgment of her:
Walter Green had pronounced her
- "A girl who thinks she knows it '
all. but is being used by the Brant-
'Olwin people just the same. She's
their tool and doesn't lAiow it"
Helen was in no mood for danc
ing, but after their order had been
taken she could only acquiesce to
Mr. Alcott's obviously eager invi
tation. He danced well, guiding her
skillfully through ' the elbowing
couples. For the moment she for
got Warren's supper in the lure of
the rythmic motion.
"Here's something, Ted, you
can't get in the west," announced
Mr. Stevens, when they returned
to the table now graced with
heaping platters of steamed clams.
, "But I tell you what we do have
venisonl Mrs. Curtis, when
you come to Denver, I'll take you
to a place that serves the best
venison in the west."
"That sounds very alluring,"
murmured Heleji, wondering if
Warren would find that celery
wrappedin a napkin on the ice.
"EmilyV- coming out next year.
Why can't you come with her? A
month on my ranch would do you
a world of good."
"Just the thing," enthused Mrs.
Stevens. "I've been dreading the
trip alone" '
"Oh, I'm afraid I couldn't leave
Warren."
"Why not? He'd appreciate you
more when you came back. Ted,
can't you make her forget that
dominating husband for a single
moment?"
"Trying hard, but I'm not mak
ing much headway."
The five-course dinner prolonged
with frequent intervals of dancing,
it was after 9 before they started
on the homeward drive.
Mrs. Stevens dozing off, her
brother appropriated Helen. He
told her of his Colorado ranch and
of the new system of irrigation he
was just putting in.
"Are you cold?" tucking the rug
about her. "I must send you a pair
of those deerskin gloves the In
dians make if I can get any small
enough." ' '
Through the long drive back, his
solicitous attentions failed to di
vert her from the ominous fact that
it would be 11 before she reached
home. .
"Now, you're not to apologize or
be - abject," admonished Mrs.
Stevens when they finally drove up.
"And we're coming for you next
Sunday. You needn't say no if
Warren plays olf, you're going
out with us."
"Then we'll all hope that Mr.
Dollars
And Haslett had gone further:
"She's an innocent looking girl
only. Either, she is in their em
ploy, or she is connected with
Breck in some way." West hid
been the only person who had been
right about Marie and she her
self; her instinct had told her that
Marie was honest and nobody's
tool.
So Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent ap
pealed to West. "And you really
think, West, that we should do
nothing just wait?"'
"I do, and mainly because I
think that they are desperately
anxious to he safely rid of the
jewels. I believe that you will
hear from them soon."
"What do you call 'soon'?" Mrs.
Dunbarton-Kent demanded irrit--able
to endure the sight of that
no matter what it costs!" She
looked ill; the barely averted acci
dent, coupled with the return of
Mrs. Smith, had been a shock.
West looked at Haslett. "I
think, as West does, that we will
hear from them perhaps in a few
days."
'I hope so!" Mrs. Dunbarton
Kent said, tensely. "I shan't be
able to endure the ight of that
stone image at my table much
longer! He has more nerve, than
she she must have been having a
nightmare of capture as she drove
along the lower road this after
noon. But for Marie she'd have
killed herself and us. And, West,
I think they have met at the cot
tage. It occurred to me today that
as soon as Breck came to Kent
House, he asked if he might use
the cottage. He stopped spending
all his time there only after you
and Bella began to use the place.
But you were never there at night
and he has a key think of the lit
tle cottage being used for such a
purpose!" ,
Again West" looked at Haslett,
but he did not tell his aunt of
Marie's discovery. "It's possible,"
he said soothingly. "Mr. Haslett
and I have talked of its being a
possible meeting place ' and wc
think that perhaps it's as well for
us that they have had an unsus
pected place in which to meet.
Aunt Bulah, I beg you. not to
worry so much. You had a trying
experience this afternoon and you
have the strain of this party in
addition it would be terrible if
Curtis plays,'' was Mr. Alcott's
parting tribute, as he escorted her
up the steps. .
Helen tried to be politely re
sponsive, but her one thought was
of Warren waiting fumingly up
stairs. What could she say to
placate him?
Hd she her key? She did not
want to ring.
Fumbling in her purse, she found
the key as she stepped from the
elevator.
Noiselessly opening the door, she
tip-toed through the hall. He
might fce asleep.
No, a bright light shone from the
library. There was his chair by'
the table but he was not in it.
He was not at the desk.
It was not until she was well in
the room that she saw Warren
standing by the window, his hands
thrust deep into his pockets.
"Why, hello, Kitten 1" as he
swung around. "Didn't hear you
come in."
Helen gulped back her surprise.
- She had expected a wrathful ex
plosion. "Where'd you go? Have a good
time?"
"Oh, yes, very. We went out to
Glenwood Inn. If I'd known we'd
be gone so long I'd have fixed your
supper. Did you find the salad?"
"Didn't look."'-
"Oh, you went out? I'm glad
you did. There wasn't much here."
"No, I wasn't very hungry. Didn't
bother."..
"You haven't had a thing to eat?
Oh, dear, I'm so sorry 1"
' "Anything'll do," following her
out to the pantry. Then tweaking
JPussy Purr-Mew's tail, as she
jumped up on the pantry shelf.
"Here's somebody else that hasn't
had any grub. Ought to've seen
her sitting on the window sill
watching for you. Pretty glum
pair, weren't we, Pussums?"
Helen longed to rush at him, to
hug him and admit that she had
had, a perfectly wretched time
that she had not wanted to go and
had hot enjoyed it.
But, remembering Mrs. Steven's
' admonition, she restrained these
impulses and calmly took from the
'-.ice box the chicken carcass and
the bowl of salad.
"Anybody but the Stevenses on
this jaunt?" Warren's casualness
was unconvincing.
"Yi. her brother, Ted, from
Colorado. He's awfully nice big
and brown, a real westerner. Next
(Continued From Fas Seven.)
you were seriously ill. You have
a deal of self-control do use it."
"West is right, Mrs. Dunbarton
Kent," Haslett supplemented. "So
much depends just now on nerve
and cool judgment. It would never
do for you to have a breakdown. I
often think of what your husband
used to say to you: 'A highly
nervous temperament kept well in
hand. My dear wife always rises
to an occasion the sun xr the
moon might fail us, Bulah would
fret a little, but she would - stand
firm, nevertheless.' "
The tt-irs, that rushed to Mrs.
Dunbanon-Kent's eyes were a re
lief to taut nerves. She wiped
them away, then said resolutely:
"Outline your program I have no
intention of taking to my bed."
They did not answer, for some
one knocked. Mrs. Dunbarton
Kent jumped, but West said quick
ly.' "It's only Willetts Mr. Has
lett telephoned him that he was
coming out."
It was Willetts. "I wanted to tell
you that Jones has brought me
some news," he said. - "First of all,
that Mrs. Smith stayed in her house
only abdut an hour, then drove off
again. - Her servants told Jones
that she didn't Jell them where
she was going or when she would
come back. And the latest is that
Breck has just gone into town he
walked out of the house here quite
openly, carrying his satchel, and
nt the station he took a ticket for
New York."
"Could they be- - leaving for
good?" Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent
acked quickly.
"He may not appear again," Has
lett answered, "but I believe we
have not seen the last of her."
"Perhaps Mrs. Brant-Olwin's
people are on their trail?"
"I "hardly think so, Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent.
I'm inclined to
think that he has gone to some
place where they will meet after
wards. I think things are tending
as we would have them.'' .
"His going is the most encour
aging thing that has happened yet,"
est declared.
"There's another bit of news,"
Willetts said with a touch of
. amusement. "I've located the
puppy. Mrs7 Smith's sevants have
it. They sleep above the garage,
and they told Jones that two
o'clock one morning from the
summer he wants me to come out
with her fo his ranch."
Warren's only comment was an
explosive grunt, as with needless
force he banged the door of the
ice box.
"He dances well, too," with an
appraising side glance. '
Another grunt. Warren loathed
dancing.
"Dear, if you're going to play
golf next Sunday they want me to
go down to Lond Island," swiftly
pressing her advantage.
"Don't know that I'll play next
Sunday," brusquely.
"Take this chicken into the
table." Concealing a triumphant
smile, she handed him the ravaged
skeleton. "I'll bring in the other
things."
As he swung through the pantry
door, Helen lavished on Pussy
Purr-Mew some of the repressed
emotionalism she was withholding
from him.
Mrs. Steven's theory was work
ing. His long evening alone had
made him appreciate her more.
Yet, there was the disquieting
thought that another time he
might be wholly indifferent to her
absence.
"Ah. this is more like," Warren
fairly beamed as they settled down
at the table. "You're going to eat
something No fun eating alone."
"Of course I will and Pussy
.Purr-Mew, too," giving her the
wishbone.
"Now, see here, if they're count
ing on you for next Sunday, you
call up tomorrow and tell her
nothing doing! I'm going to
chuck golf for a while. Tired of
losing balls to that bunch of
pirates."
Then, as he helped himself liber
ally to the potato salad.
"We'll have a day off by our
selves. Hear they're serving a
rattling good clambake at Matth
ew's beach. How does that strike
you?"
To hide her flushed elation Helen
bent lower over the depleted car
cass she was trying to carve.
"Here's a piece of the back but
there's not much on it." Then
with a casualness that only femin--ity
can achieve, "Matthew's
beach? Here's a wing there's
more on this. Why, yes, dear, I
think that would be very nice'."
- Copyright, IMS.
Next Week Warren a Blundering
Chef. .
By Elizabeth De jeans
date it was the night the pup dis
appeared from our' garage they
were waked by a poppy's yelping.
They went down and found the
animal inside their garage. How
it got there they couldn't imagine,
for the garage doors were locked.
Jones say they are crazy over it
they've been afraid some one
would come and claim it. They
were mightily relieved when Jones
told them it didn't belong to Kent
House. . They said they knew it
didn't belong to Colfax Hall, for
Colfax had only the mastiff."
"Some stray Allen picked up and
gave to Marie, I suppose," West
said with a touch of impatience.
"Is Allen at Colfax Hall now,
Willetts?" v
"He's been away for over a week,
so the servants told Jones. We
haven't seen him about this last
week, and the place, looks deserted.
But it always, lookfe that way he
lives in one room and does his own
cooking."
Haslett shook his head. "Un
like old days! You've brought us .
good news, Willetts," he added in
the - courteously appreciative way
that won him the friendship of the
employes. "You have been of
great help to us in this trouble."
"I haven't done anything," Wil
Jetts protested,-but he looked pleas
ed. When West had spoken im
' patiently his brow had darkened.
"You have been one of the great-.
est comforts I have had," Mrs.
Dunbarton-Kent declared. "I'm
not the sort that forgets honesty
and loyalty, Willetts."
"You're the sort that draws those
qualities to you, Mrs. Dunbarton
Kent," he returned with genuine
gallantry. "I'd like to see an end
to this business, for your sake.
I've been hoping that it might
come through Mrs. Smith I've an
idea that it will and that his going
is their first move."
Haslett nodded. "We hope so."
"Are there any particular orders
for me, Mr. Haslett?"
"No, Willetts. Greene is com
ing out tonight. He will sleep in
the house, so you will be relieved
of that watch. You and Jones
look after the outside as usual."
"Are you going to have Breck
traced?"
"No. He may go wherever he
pieases the farther the better."
(Copyright. 1!2.
(Continued next Sunday.)