The San Francisco call., 1904-12-04

how different she might have been.
People should never do that. At other
times she's good sort and just as
ready to ruin herself as anybody else
nothing of the good old traditional
harpy about her. Still, perhaps il
works out about the same"
1t certainly worked out about the
same. as anybody knew better than
Tom Courtland. He was thinking
now that he had paid rather high for
a not very lively day. The only per-
son he had won from was Miss Hen
derson, and he was not sure that she
would pay.
Must spend your time somewhere"
he jerked out forlornly
"A necessity of life" Caylesham
agreed, "and it doesn't make so much
difference, after all, where you do it,
1 rather agree with the fellow who
said that the only distinction he could
see hetween-well, between one sort
or house and the other sort-was that
in the latter you could be more GER
tain of finding whisky and soda on the
sideboard in the morning. And now
I'm hanged if that criterion isn't
failing one. Whisky and sodas got so
general"
The card party at the other end of
the room was animated and even a
little noisy. Mrs. Bolton was prone to
hearty laughter. Miss Henderson had
a voice ana usually gave
little Shrek of delight when she
won. The two young men were rather
excited. Caylesham regarded the
scene with humorous contempt. Tom
Courtland sat In moody silence, doing
nothing. He had even smoked till he
could SNAKE no more. He had not
pleasure left
Presently Miss Pattie threw down
her cards and came across to them.
She was tall. ladylike looking wom-
an; only the faintest trace of cockney
accent hung about the voice. She sat
down by Caylesham in a friendly way.
We hardly ever see you now," she
told him. Are you all right?"
All right, but getting old. Pattie.
I'm engaged in digging my own
grave"
"Oh. nonsense. you're quite fit STILL
1 say have you heard about me?"
Lots of things"
mo, don't be silly I mean, that I'm
going to be married."
mo, are you, by Jove? Who's the
happy man?'
George Parmenter Do you know
him? He's awfully nice"
Il know his father. May 1 proffer
advice? Get that arrangement put
down in writing. Then at the worst
It'll be worth something to you"
Miss Pattie was not at all offended.
She laughed merrily
They always said you were pretty
wide-awake, and 1 believe itI' she OBJ
served. He'll have ten thousand a
year when his father dies
In the circumstances you mention he
won't have farthing a year till that
event happens. I'm afraid, Pattie.
man Of strong prejudices, old Sir
Georgie.''
well, I'm sure I've got letters
enough to"
That's all right. 1 shall watch the
case with interest" He yawned again
and rose to his feet.
Toms pretty dull isn't he?" asked
Miss Pattie with. a comical pout.
Yes, Toms pretty dull. certainly"
I'm sleepy" said Tom Courtland.
80 am I. shall go home" and
Caylesham walked off to bid the lady
Of the house goodnight.
The lady of the house came into the
hall and helped him on with his coat
1t appeared that she wanted to have a
word with him-first about the wisdom
of backing one of his horses, and Sec
ondly about Tom CORTLAND. Gayle
sham told her on no account, to back
the horse, since it wouldn't win, and
waited to hear what she had to say
about Tom.
I'm distressed about hing Frank"
she said. You know I do like Tom.
and I never saw a man so down in
the mouth" Her face was rather
coarse in feature and ruddy in tint, but
kindly and good-natured; her concern
for Tom was evidently quite genuine.
What a devil that wife of his must
bel"
She has her faults. Perhaps we
have ours. Be charitable, Flora.
'Oh, you can be as sarcastic as you
like. Heaven knows / don't mind that!
But I'm worried to death about him,
and about what she'll do. And then
there's the money, too. believe he's
hard uD. It's very tiresome all round.
oh, don't care much what people say
of me, but 1 don't want to go through
the court again, If 1 can help it,
Which Of the two courts do you
refer to-" he asked, as he buttoned his
coat. Bankruptcy Or?
Either of them, Frank, you old
fool" she laughed
Send him back to his wife. You'll
have to soon. anyhow-when the
moneys gone, you know. Do it now
before those two men come and stand
opposite to see who goes in and out OF
the house.
But the poor chaps so miserable.
Frank; and 1 like him, you see.'
"Ah, / can't help you against honest
and kindly emotions. They're not part
of the game, you know"
mo, they aren't: but they come in.
That's the worst Of it," sighed Mrs.
Bolton. ''Well goodnight, Frank. We
shall get through somehow. I sup
pose"
That's The only gospel left to this
age, Flora. Goodnight
He had not been able to help poor
Mrs. Bolton much; he had not expected
to be able to. That things could not
be helped and must be endured was,
as he had hinted. about the 'one GER
tain dogma Of his creed. The thing
then was to endure them as
easily as possible, to feel them as
little as one could either for ones self
or for other people. There was Flora
Bottoms mistake, and a mistake espe-
cially fatal for q. woman in her posi-
tion. She would probably have been
much happier If she had not been
just as ready to ruin herself as she
was to ruin anybody else-if she had,
In fact, been the old traditional harpy
through and through.
n-truth it was not the least use dis
tressing himself about Tom Courtland.