The San Francisco call., 1904-12-25

on re going to get along frst-rate."
Naslesham assured him. And mind
SVu make Miss Suzette stick TO you.
oSls a rare woman: 1 can see that"
on re good chap. frank You
SUCK 10 your friends. You stuck TO me
all through"
Much less trouble than dropping
That's rot"
Wen, perhaps it is. After all, if 1
haon some OF the minor virtues ]
should bS hardly human. should I?
y hey re just as essential as the minor
vices
II you ever see Flora tell her-wen.
You III know what 10 tell her"
say something kind. Good-by,
rom I'm glad TO find you so cheerful
The girls came round him TO say
eooo-by- He kissed them and gave
each OF them half a crown. lie used TO
eAplaln that he always tiDDed children
because in after years he was thus
made sure Of finding somebody to de
leno his character ia pretty nearly any
company Since. however, this was alb
solutely the only step he ever took
WITH any such end in view, the expla-
nation was often received with skepti-
clsin- his action was more probably the
outcome Of one OF his minor virtues.
How kind you are TO children. What
a pity you're q bachelor" smiled Su-
zette.
Thanks, / don't often get such
testimonial" he said. risking q whimsi-
cal life Of his brOws for Tom Court
lands eye.
He had just been seeking impressions
Of marriage Chance gave him one
more than he had looked for or desired.
Just outside Tom Courtland's, as he
was going away, he ran plump into
John Fanshaw, who was making for
the house There was no avoiding him
this time. The men had not met since
-Caylesham lent John money and John
learned from Harriet COurtland the
truth Of what the man from whom he
took the mOne- had done. But there
had been no rupture between them.
Civil notes had been written-On John
side even grateful notes-as the busi-
ness transaction between them neces-
STATED. And both had q part to play
the same part. the part of ignorance.
Caylesham must play il for Christine
John had 10 assume il on his own ac-
count, for his own self-resDect- The
last shred Of his pride hung on the as
sumption that though he knew, and
though Christine was aware OF ms
knoWledge Caylesham at least believed
him ignorant
But heavy John Fanshaw was clufil-
sy hand az make believe. His cordlailty
was. hesitating. fumbling. obviously in
sincere. his unhappiness in his part
very apparent. Caylesham cut short his
effort TO express gratitude, saying,
You shall DO anything in the world eX-
Cept thank me- and went on 10 asf,
after Christine in the most natural
manner in the world.
shes been a little-a little Seedy,
and has gone down 10 stay with the
Imasons for a bit" John explained,
taking care not TO look at Caylesham-
.-Oh. / hope she'll be all right soon!
Give her my remembrances when you
write-or perhaps you'll be running
down s0Cny'
L don't know. It depends on busi-
ness
anyhow
Then John took refuge in talking
about Tom Courtland But his mind
was far from Tom. He managed at
last L. look Caylesham in the face.
and grew more amazed at his perfect
case an6 composUre- He was actually
conscious Of giving exactly the opposite
impression himself. acutely fearful that
he was betraviug that hidden knOwl-
edge Of his ACtuaUed by this fear he
tried 10 increase his cordiality. hitting
wildly at the mark and indulging in
forced friendiiness and even forced
jOc0sity.
Cayiesham met every effort with just
the right tone. precisely the right
amount Of effusiveness. He had taken
a very hard view OF what John had
dUne-harder than he could cOntriVe
TO take OF what he himself had-and
had expressed il vigorously 10 Chris
tine. But now ne found himself full Of
pity for poor John. The sight OF the
man fighting for the remnant Of his
pride and self-respect WAS pathetic
And John did Il 50 lamentably ILL.,
You're paragon OF a debtor" cay
lesham told him. when ] e harked back
10 the money again My moneys a
deal safer in your hands than in my
own I'm more in your debt than you
are IL mine"
You shall have every farthing the
first day I can manage H."
His eagerness told Cayleshsm what a
burden on his soul the Indebtedness
was. II was impossible TO ignore alto
gether what was so plainly shown;
but h turned the point Of il. saying:
Il know how punctiliCus you m Of
business are. i wish fellows were al
ways the same IN racing I'm ready to
take il - soon p you're ready TO pay,
aLd 20 wait Till you're ready"
Il shant ask you 10 wat day."
John assured him.
Enough had passed for civility: Cay
lcsham was eager 10 get away-not for
hls oan sake 50 much as for Johns
EE JcVe, I've gOt an appointment" :"
he exclaimed suddenly. diving for his
watch. ~Half-past six, Oh. l must
JUMP llLD q IdD- he LElG the MaLCn
IN one hard and hailed a cab with his
stick Good by. old fellow" he said
turning away. He had seen John put
,-1r his hand in z hesitating reluctant
way He would have liked TO shake
'ha nds himself. but he knew John hated
70 DO st. John maze last demonstra-
ton II ignorance.
Come ana see US some day" he
called almost jOviaIiy-
Yes. ] VIII some day before long
CayleshaIn shouted back from the step
Of his hanson.
AS lie drove of John was still stand
ing on the pavement. waving a hand
10 him. Caylesham drove round the
corner. then got down again, and puT-
sued his way n foot.
He was quite clear IN his own mind
that John took the thing unnecessarily
hard. but he was genuinely sorry that
John should SO take IL. Indeed, Johns
Ifefrnss raised unnsnallN acute