The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-15
THE ADVERTISERS DAILY SHORT STORY


 The night was closing down over the hills of San Francisco. It was cold and the biting wind whirled down the lighted pavement of Market Street and blew the rags of smoke-oaly one could not see that--from the face of the waning moon which began to flare faintly above the myraids of colored lights.
 Biiffkins turned up his coat collar ana thrust his hands into his pockets, and bent forward at aa angle against the wind. He walked swiftly. recklessly, nev- or feeAng 1t as he roughly jostled pdss- erby after p}serby. nor needing the hard giances that were directed at him by a whiri. He was conscious of a dim de- sire to get among people--a crowd, noise, excitement It was lhe tumult within him calling for response in his environ-
 Emmabelle Harrington had just refused him. It was not the first time. but it was vastly different from the other times. On this occasion 1t had been borne in upon h1m that she meant what she said Emmabelle was a typewriter girl. gray. eyed mite who lived in Oakland, and her ways were so quiet and her speech vas so ssntle that when she said n2 at shc meant it. Perhaps 1t is true that she was in the wrong not to have made her refusal more decided, but something must be set down to Bhffkins' over
  he had been going on loving her. ever more and more, until when the final wrench came 1t seemed to Biffkins that there was nothing left in life for him.
 Of course, Bhffkins was not a man of decided character or of wide eXperi- ence, or his better sense would have as, serted itself. Ha was of the emotional type rather than the intellectual and an emotional persons strength Is just his strength in his most dangerous mood the chain no stronger than its weakest link. He was d clerk in one of the whole sale houses of the city at salary or $75 d month.
 Blifklns was not angry With Emma belle. He was filled with wonder at her strange perverseness. and with pity Tor himself. Also there was a rage of blind Jealousy within him. for he reasoned that if she did not love him well enough to marry him 1t must be because she loved somebody else better. But nobody could love her better than he. he was certain of that. Why. he would die for herl That would prove his devotion: She would be sorry then. An image or his stark corpse. and Emmabelle weep ingiy Identifying t. filled his eyes With , cidn.
 He really meant it. for he loved her sincereIy. and she had given him d mortal hurt. He turned abruptly. walk cd few blocks and stood waiting for d car to the Oakland ferry.
 He reflected that he had few hun dred dollars in the bank. She might as well have that. He left the corner and entered the office of a notary public. The business took nearly an hour.
 He came out of the office feeling de- cidtdly better. The nect ssary attention to details had diverted his mind from his trouble It occurred to him that he ought to leave the world decently atttred. He walked the few blocks 10 his hotel, bathed and shaved and exchanged his colored shirt and gray business suit for his best black broadcloth and white linen. He donned his new topcoat and caught the car for the ferry.
 It was the first ferry after SIX and was crowded with city workers going to their suburban homes. But the night was cold and everybody stayed inside. That Is. everybody except Blinkins and one other man. The stranger paced back and forth on the deck on the port side. smoking. Something in his air arrested Enffkins' none too alert attentloh. He was shabby and discouraged looking, but bore certain marks of refinement. Bliff- kns felt vaguely annoyed. somehow he resented a strangers presence when he should do the deed This was foolish, as he presently reflected; It would be woll to have witness; they would ma hlm the more quickly.
 He approached the rail and stood look ing down at the dancing of the lights on the dark water. He shivered it- tie: 1t was deucedly cold. The stranger s time. theE stopped. What arc you doing thefe?'' he said harshly.
 Waiting, returned BliifAias with slm- plicity.
 Waiting for what?"
 "Waiting for the ferryboat to get op- poslte Goat Island" with a suggestion of dramatic emphasis. He was follow ing the then prevailing fashion in San Francisco suicides in the choice of place. He was somewhat in wonder to rind himself not only unresentful, but coni- municative.
 "So am l." the stranger returned. He knocked his cigar against the rail and replaced 1t between his lips. T am go- ing 10 jump overheard when> we get there. Now don't betray me-" he said quickly. flor If you should you would merely cause me the trouble of making | a return trip"
 T have no Intention of betrayiny you. :" said BHffkins in suppressed tone. Thursdays story, THE MAYOR AND VI