The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-26

dropper, but too fascinated to retreat, stepped
behind large redwood. With his eyes still
fixed on the strange scene he did not pick his
steps, and coming suddenly in contact with q
pllable body he nearly knocked it over. There
was a smothered shrek, followed by a sup
pressed but forcible vocstive. Cline mechanic
ally lifted his hat.
~ beg pour pardon" he said, addressing a
tall lad, whose face was partly concealed by
the visor OF a cap; 81 hope have not hurt
you"
81 am not so easily hurt" said the lad
haughuly.
The masculine man never lived who did not
recognize g feminine woman in whatever
guise il within the radius of her magnetism
This young masquerader interested Cline at
once: Her voice mad warm huskiness. The
mouth and chin were claSsicelly cut, but very
human. She had thrown back her head and
revealed a round, beautiful throat The loose
flannel shirt and jacket concealed her figure,
Dut even the slight motions she had made re-
vealed energy and grace.
Cline offered her cigarette. She accepted
1t and smoked daintily, Withdrawing as much
as possible into the shadow and shielding her
face with her hand. He leaned his back
against tree and lit cigar.
scene?' he asked.
THAT is great midsummer links ceremony
OF the Bohemian Club. They have it every
year, and never invite outsiders So 1 was
bound I'd see it anyhow"
II wonder you don't become member"
"Oh, I'm too young" promptly.
Tell me more about it. What do these cere-
monies mean?'
''Oh, they put all sorts of things into that
caldron-the liver of q grasshopper with one
of Harry Armstrong; jokes; the wasted paint
on somebody's last picture with the misshapen
feet OF somebody elses latest verse The corpse is
effigy of Care, and they are cremating him.
Now they'll be happy, that is to say, drunk,
till morning for Care is dead. Pm going to
stop and see it out"
Give insists that the Bohemian lark is
no scene for a woman to witness, and that
If Miss Belmont doesn' t leave the place IN
five minutes he will carry her to her horse,
and, moreover, take the liberty to kiss her.
The girls face reddens; her nostrils dilate.
She declares that ian Englishman's only
grasps her in his arms, and carries her to-
ward her steed. As to the threatened kiss,
Miss Belmont cries:
al have sat up all night with men and they
have never dared to Kiss me, however much
they may have wanted to-"
Then they were rotters, and you can tell
them So with my compliments. II sat mp all
night with you should kiss you, and several
times"
We'll, you never will"
They reached the road. She stifened sud
cenly and tried TO spring out of his arms. He
the shoulders.
Now he said, "kiss me- and don't be silly
about it, If you go in for larks of this sort you
must take the consequences" She wrenched
again He caught and held her so firmly that
she could not struggle.
You brute of an Englishman," she gasped.
GIVE clasped his hand about the lower part
OF her face and lifted il gently AS he did so
ne shlIted MS position and the light Tor the
became suddenly quiet. Something leaped
INTO ner eyes, which his own answered. But
as ne pent MS lace she moved her own back
ward along his shoulder.
'Please, please don't she said beseechingIy.
stOh, please don't"
Give let her CO. He walked with her to the