The San Francisco call., 1903-09-27


had clsret on his table-snd was there
fore thought TO be little better than the
lost b. many OF his neighbors-and we
children took the wine or not as We
pleased. They have some good claret
here" Turnbun said. m0tioning to
walter
Not for me-" Howard said, after
quick glance at his companion
III not urge you" he said. He looked
at the untouched dish before him,
shrugged his shoulders and turned to the
waiter and ordered a bottle of cham
psgne. As he did so he threw up his
head, as II throwing of some broOding
thought, rested his open hands calmly on
the table before him, and said in q lighter
tone than he had yet used, and with
smile that in q woman would be called
winning: Tell me something about your
self: you've not said a word Of your
plans. Have you made long engage
ment with the ChrCnicle?"
NO length Of engagement has been
mentioned Howard answered.
"a contract without a time limltT'
"A contract"
Il don't want TO appear inquisitive; but
have you no contract"
no. Our correspondence was tele-
graphic" and he repeated the sense Of
the messages he had received from Car
son.
Turnbull inverted the glass from which
he had been drinking and spilled its
naming drop Of wine on the floor Not
worth that" he said.
lie turned from the subject and talked
brightly Of the men about them, and Of
their work, He was one OF the ChrOn-
icle's special writers; and said that II
Howard wished he would arrange to have
him in his room. IN which there was a
vacant desk. Howard thanked him with
delight. He never met man so charm
ing I'd attractive. Turnbull had finished
one bottle and was far along with the
second. bat Toward saw, with a smile at
his FIRST suspicious. that he was not af-
fccted. seemingly, by the wine. His host,
with the tact Of a woman determined to
please. made Howard talk about himself
and his aspirations. Then thinking what
pleasure ii would be TO see Grace in the
company Of a man 50 bright. so polished,
so quietly agreeable. he invited Turnbull
10 dine with them the next evening; and
when Turnbull accepted Howard was glad
that he was able so soon TO return his
friends hospitality. But Howard became
somewhat doubtful as 10 the invitation
when TurnbUu. feverishly drinking third
bottle, SAID abruptly and harshly, And
you look as little ike a fool as any vic
tim I've ever seen picked up, drained and
dropped"
Il don't understand you" Howard said.
stifening, but only slightly, for he was
slow ever TO take Ofense, and from this
man vas ready TO excuse much.
Durnbull stared as If his thoughts had
been overheard. Il beg your pardon" he
said. "Try TO believe that I did not say
that. You found them all very pleasant
at the Office to-night?'
Very Cordial, and most eager that
] should be pleasantly and agreeably sit
uated there"
Cordial. and most eager that
H.
uated there " echoed Turnbull He drank
moodly for a time, while Howard fin
ished his supper. but when Howard said
that he must be going, Turnbull asked
him TO wait until Carson came. and they
would find Howard's lodgings for him.
He finished his wine. and with a sudden
change OF manner and voice that sug-
gested a wholly different person, said ::
"Carson's an honest man. I know that
he's an honest man, and he knows that
know It. That's what keeps US such good
friends; such close friends. I'm squeezed
but not dropped. Carson is such an
honest man-and knows that I know iti'
The change IN his companian shocked
and panied Howard. He would have left
him, had he been certain that Carson
would soon be there. He waited, talking
on different subjects; Turnbull sometimes
replying IN his natural manner, but fall
ing again into sneering repetition of his
editor came at last, and he and Turnbull
walked with Howard to the door Of his
lodging-house. While struggling with the
unfamiliar door lock Howard overheard
Turnbull say to some remonstrance Of
Carson's. oh you needn't fearl I've
promised TO dine with Paxton tomorrow
evening, so you needn't fear for me this
time. I'll 90 home tonight"
N-THE TWO WHITE RIVER GIRLS.
Some readers OF this page have already
made acquaintance with Mr.. and Mrs
John WorthingtOn IN another history Of
days like these. In the years during
which his eldest son gradually emerged
from the restricted world governed by his
high-priced tutors into the larger world of
society and affairs John Worthington Sr
had changed but little. His rounded
shoulders had expanded a little, making
his resemblance 10 an inverted pyramid
a little more marked; his face had grown
q little more gray. making il a little more
difficult TO discover the fact that he wore
short gray sidewhiskers; a little more
pronounced was his manner Of determined
and ponderous amiability-as II, whatever
the Justification he would never be sur
prised into displaying by his expression
how far beneath him was the world in
general. He still believed that he was a
person. not an institution; he still thought
that the "Worthington interests We're in
some manner controlled by him. and that
the people really in charge of the many
and mighty affairs known as the Worth
ington interests were directed by him. No
one ever sought TO disabuse his simple
mind OF that harmless delusion, and he
attended board meetings. councils confer
ences with his accustomed bearing of
having something to do there besides to
give his consent, and when required his
signature, to the decisions and results of
the managers who actually forwarded the
industrial and commercial and financial
interests which combined to make the
fortune vested in his name. but with
whose direction or control he had no more
70 DO than the man IN the street.
Mrs Worthington, who had been the
beautiful Nan Lansing, reJoiced more
than she had over any other thing that