The San Francisco call., 1904-07-10

find Miss Omar very feminine. Of
course, short hair
Her hair is short, then?"
Typhoid" 1 murmured.
Too bad!" Norway sneered.
Yes" 1 snapped. II thought it was
at the time. My hair was very heavy
and long, and had chance to sit in
a window at Troyons where they were
advertising a hair tonic and
Rotten? OF course il was. I'd no
business to gable, and just because
you and your new job, Mag, came to
my mind at that minute, there 1 went
putting my foot in it.
Norway laughed. 1 didn't like the
sound of his laugh.
Your reader is versatile, Mr.. Lati-
mer," he said
Yes" Latimer smoothed the soft
silk rug that lay over him. Poverty
and that sort of versatility are often
bedfellows. Ell? Tell me, Mr..
Norway. these lost diamonds are
yours?"
No. They belong to "a friend of
mine, Mrs. Kingdom"
"Oh! the old lady who was married
hunter!" 1 couldn't resist it.
Norway jumped out Of his seat.
'She was not married." he suffered.
She"
Changed her mind? How sensible
of her! Did she find out what a crook
the fellow was? What was his name
= Morrison ? No Middleway -
have heard it."
May 1 ask, Miss Omar"-I didn't
have to see his face; his voice told how
mad with rage he was-"how you come
to be acquainted with a matter that
only the contracting parties could pos
sibly know Off"
why. they can't have kept it very
secret, the old lady and the young ras-
cal who was after her money, for you
see we both knew Of 1t; and 1 wasn't
the bride and you certainly weren't
the groom, were you?"
An exclamation burst from him.
''Mr. Latimer." he stormed, may
see you moment alone?"
Phewi That meant me. But / got up
just the same.
Just keep your seat, Miss Omar"
Oh, that silken voice of Latimer's!
MIR. NORWAY, I have absolutely no
acquaintance with you. 1 never saw
you till tonight. 1 can't imagine what
you may have to say to me, that my
secretary-Miss Omar acts in that ca
pacity-may not hear"
Il want to say" burst from Mori-
way, that she looks the image of the
boy Nat, who stole Mrs. Kingdoms
diamonds. that the voice is exactly the
same, that"
But you have said it, Mr.. Norway
quite successfully intimated it, 1 as
sure you"
"She knows of my-of Mrs. King
don's marriage, that that boy Nat
found out about"
"And you yourself also. as Miss
Omar mentioned"
Myself? Damn it. I'm Norway.
the man she was going to marry. Why
shouldn't L"
"Ah-h!" Latimer's shoulders shook
with gentle laugh. well. Mr.. Mori-
way, gentlemen don't swear in my
garden. Particularly when ladies are
present. Shall we say good evening?
Here comes Mulhill now. Nothing.
sergeant? Too bad the rogue escaped.
but you'll catch him. They may get
away from you, but they never stay
long, do they? Good evening-good
evening. Mr.. Norway"
They tramped on and out, Moriway's
very back showing rage. He whis-
pered something to the Sergeant, who
turned to look at me but shook his
head, and the gate changed after them.
A long sigh escaped me.
Warm, isn't 2" Latimer leaned for
ward. Now. would you mind ringing
again, Miss Omar?"
bent and groped for the bell and
rang it twice.
How quick you are to learnt" he
said. But l really wanted the light this
time. Just. light up. Burnett"
he called to the man, who had come out
on the porch.
The electric bulb flashed out again
just over my head. Latimer turned
and looked at me. When 1 couldn't
bear it any longer, 1 looked defiantly
up at him.
Pardon" he said, smiling; nice
teeth he has and clear eyes. II was
just looking for that boyish resem-
biance Mr.. Norway spoke of. 1 hold
to my first opinion-you're very femi-
nine, Miss Omar. Will you read
to me now. if you please?" He pointed
to a big open book on the table beside
his couch.
II think-if you don't mind. Mr.. Lat
inner, I'll begin the reading tomorrow"
/ got up to go. 1 was through with
that garden now.
But l do mind"
Silken voice? Not bit Of it! ]
turned on him SO furious 1 thought
didn't care what came of it-when
over by the great gate-post / saw a
man rouching-Moriway.
/ sat down again and pulled the
book farther toward the light.
We didn't learn much poetry at the
Cruelty, did we. Mag? But 1 know
some now, just the same. When l be-
gan to read l heard only one word
Moriway-Moriway- But
must have forgotten him after time.
and the dark garden with the light on
only one spot, and the roses smelling,
~