The San Francisco call., 1904-07-10

stand and JuSt-GOd.-JuS wait.
If hadn't waited so hard at the very
first / wouldn't "a given out so soon.
But 1 stood so still and listened so ter
ribly hard that the trees began to
whisper and the bushes to crack and
creep. 1 heard things in my head and
ears that weren't sounding anywhere
else. And all Of a sudden-tramp,
tramp, tramp-I heard the cops foot
steps.
He stopped over there by the swing
ing electric light above the gate. I
crouched down behind the iron bench.
And my coat caught twig on a bush
and its crack-ck was like a yell
1 thought I'd die. 1 thought I'd
scream. 1 thought I'd run thought
I'd faint. But I didn't-for there,
asleep on rug that some one had for
gotten to take in. was the house cat. I
gave her quick slap and she flew out
and across the path like flash.
The cop watched her. his hand on
the gate and passed on
Mag Monahan, If Tom had come out
that minute without a bean and gone
home with me. I'd been so relieved I'd
never have tried again. But he didn't
come. Nothing happened. Nights and
nights went by. and the stiffness began
to sound again. My throat went chok-
ing mad. I began to shiver. and I
reached for the, rug the cat had lain
on
Funny, how some things strike you,
This was Latimer's rug. / had noticed
it that EVENING" warm. soft, notified
green that looked like silk and fur
mixed. I could see the way his long,
white hands looked on 1t, and as L
touched 1t could hear his voice
Oh. Thou. who Man Of baser Earth didst
And ev'n with Paradise devise the Snake:
For all the Sin wherewith the Face Of
man
Is blacken'd - Mans forgiveness give-and
take!
Ever hear a man like that say a
thing like that? No? Well. it's-it's
different. It's as II the river had spok-
en-or tree-it's so-it's so different.
That saved me-that verse that re-
membe1ed. 1 said 1t over and over and
over again to myself. fitted 1t TO the
ferry whistles on the bay-to the cops
steps as they passed again-to the roar
of the L-train and the jangling OF the
surface cars.
drop of blood in my body seemed to
leak out Of me. and then come rush
ing back to my head-I heard Toms
whistle.
Oh. it's easy to say run" and
really meant it when 1 promised Tom
But you see hadn't heard that whistle
then. 1t set the devil IN me loose.
felt as if the world was tearing some
thing of mine away from me. Stand
for it? Not Nance Olden.
I did run-but it was toward the
house. That whistle may have meant
"Go!" To me it yelled "Come,"
got in through the window Tom had
left open. The place was sti1 quiet.
Nobody inside had heard that whistle
so far as L could tell
crept along-the carpets were thick
and soft and silky as the rug I'd had
my hands buried in to keep 'em warm
Along a long hall and through a
great room, whose walls were thick
with books, I was making for a light
j could see at the back OF the house.
That's where Tom Dorgan must be and
where / must be to find QUITO know.
With my hands out in front of me I
hurried, but softly. and just as 1 had
reached the portieres below which the
light streamed. my arms closed about a
thing cold as marble. naked -
thought it was dead body upright
there. and with a cry. 1 pitched for
lighted room.
"Nancel-you devili"
You recognize it? Yep. IL was Tom
Big Tom Dorgan. at the foot OF Lati-
mer's bed, his right hands above his
head. and Latimer's gun aimed right
at his heart.
Think of the pluck Of that cripple.
will you?
His eyes turned on me for just sec
ond. and then fixed themselves again
on Tom. But his voice went straight
to me. all right.
'You are something OF a thankless
devil. I must admit. Miss-Omar," he
said.
1 didn't say anything. You don't say
things in answer to things Ike that
You. feel 'em.
Ashamed? What do care for man
with voice like thati But you
should have heard how Toms growl
sounded after it.
why the hell didn't you light out?"
'I couldn't, Tom I just couldn't"
I sobbed.
There seems invariably to be a mis-
understanding OF signals where Miss
Omar is concerned. Also disposition
to use strong language In the lady's
presence Don't you. young mani"
Don't you call me Miss Omari"
hIazad stamDing nv foot
He laughed a cOntemptuous laugh.
could have killed him. then, I hated
him So At least, I thought I could:
but Just then Tom sent a spark out OF
the corner Of his eye to me that meant
1t meant
You know. Mag, what II would have
meant to Latimer IL I had done what
Toms eye said.
1 thought at first had done tit
passed through my mind so quick;the
sweet words I'd say-the move I'd
make-the quick knocking-up OF the
pistol. and then