The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23
CHAPTER XIX.
Deep Sea soundings.

up TO dry in the cold storage OF nihil-
ism. II you take me TO any more meet
ings Of your committee OF safety
shall be like the man without music in
his soul-'fit for treasons, stratagems
and spoils."
Thus Penelope, after the breaking up
Of the Van Brock dinner party. Elinor
had elected to walk the few blocks in
tervening between Alameda square ana
TETON avenue, and Ormsby had dis
missed his chauffeur with the motor
car.
4 told you beforehand it was going
TO be q political cOnfab, said the clup-
man in self-defense. And you mustn't
treat IT lightly, either. Ten prattling
words OF what you have heard tonight
set aioat on the gossip pool OF TINS
town might make it pretty difficult Tor
our David.
We are not very likely 10 babble,
retorted Penelope. I'VE are not so
rich in intimates in this aboriginal des-
ert" But Elinor spoke TO the penal
clause IN his warning.
Then Mr. Kent's danger is more real
than he admitted" she asked.
IT'S real enough, fancy; more real
for him than ii might be for another
man in his place. He is curious COM
binauCn. az David: keen and sharp
witted and as cold as an icicle in the
planning part, but when ii comes to
the inhghting he hasn't sense enough
10 pound sand, as his New Hampshire
neighbors would say"
I like that side OF him best" Pencil
ope averred- Deliver me from man
OF the cold and calculating sort who
sits on his impulses, sleeps on his in
juries and takes money-revenge for an
insult Mr.. Loring tells a story of
transplanted Nermonter in South AM
erica. A hot-headed Peruvian called
d 1f-rs Ia n IVY
you can't prove it, A"
What q merciless generalizer you
are!" said Ormsby, laughing. The
man who marres you ill have his
work cut out for him il he proposes
10 iii the requirements"
Won't he2" said Penelope. Il can
fancy him sitting up nights to figure
il all out"
They had reached the TETON avenue
apartment house and to Elinor's
Wont you come in?" Ormsby said:
It's pretty late, but I'll smoke cigar
on the porch If you'll let me-"
Penelope took the hammock but she
kept il only during the first inch Of
Ormsby's cigar. After her sister had
gone in, Elinor went back TO the lapsed
topic.
4 am rather concerned about Mr..
Kent You described him exactly; and
well, he is past the planning part and
he will take ordinary precautions?"
Il hope so. I'm sure" rejoined the
amateur chairman. AS his business
manager I am responsible for him,
after a fashion. ] was glad to see Lor-
ing to-night-glad he has come back
Kent defers to him more than he does
10 any one else, and Loring is a solid,
sober-minded sort
YES" she agreed; Il was glad, too"
After that the talk languished and
the silence was broken only by the dis
tant droning Of an electric car, the fizz
and click Of the arc light over the
roadway and the occasional dap Of one
of the great beetles darting hither and
thither il the glare
Ormsby was wondering if the line
was come for the successful exploiting
Of ar idea which had been growing on
him steadily for weeks, not to say
months.
1t was becoming more and more evil
dent TO him that he was not advancing
in the sentimental siege beyond the first
parallel thrown up so skillfully on the
last night OF the westward journey.
IT was not that Elinor was lacking in
loyalty or in acquiescence: she scrupu-
lously gave him both as an accepted
suitor. But though he could not put
his finger upon the precise thing said
or done which marked the looseninz
Of his hold, he knew he was receding
rather than advancing.
Now to man of expedients the in
terposition Of an obstacle suggests only
ways and means fer overcoming il.
Ormsby had certain clear-cut convic-
tons touching the subjugation of
women, and as his stout heart gave
him resolution he lived up to them.
When he spoke again it was Of he
matter which concerned him most
deeply; and his plea was a gentle rep
Gffffnn an Ho
strain
Elinor. have waited patiently for a
long time, and III go on doing IL, IL
that is what viii come the nearest to
pleasing you. But it would be &. pro-
cigious comfort II might be counting
the days or the weeks. Are you still
finding il impossible to set the linitr'
She nodded slowly, and he took the
next step like a man feeling his way
IA the dark
That is as large an answer as you
have ever given me, think. Is there
any speakable reason?"
You know the reason" she said.
looking away from him.
an not sure that ! do. Is II be-
cause the noney-gods have been un-
propitious-because these robber bar
ons have looted your railroad?"
NO; that is only part OF 1.-THE
smallest part"
Il
have good bit too much. But that
corners' II IN q way to make me sorry
/ an not keeping my promise to win
what you weren't able TO give me at
first"
Please don't put II that way. II
there be any fault II is mine. You have
left nothing undone."
The man OF expedients ran over his
cards redectively and decided that the
moment for playing his long suit was
fully ocme.
Your goodness OF heart excuses me
where / am 10 blame" he qualified.
''I am coming to believs that I have
defeated my own cause"
by being too good to me?" she
suggested.
mo; by running where I should
heve been content TO walk; by shack
link you with a promise, and so IN a
certain sense becoming your latter.
That Is putting it rather clumsIly, but
isn't II true2"
Il had never thought of It In that
light" she said unresponsively.