The San Francisco call., 1904-11-27
CHAPTER TX
A Successful Mission.

GrantIey ImasOn, who had a real
friendship for Tom, interested himself
in them. Not merely the home was II
danger but Toms position and career,
also Toms solvency. He had always
lived uD to his income; now, without
doubt he was spending sums Tar De
yond IT; and, as has been SEEN Ine
precautions which he had declared ne
would use were falling into neglect as
the sense OF hopelessness grew upon ms
mind. From such neglect 10 plank
effrontery and defiance looked as
though it would be but a short step
And he refused obstinaaely 10 MAKE
any advances 10 his wife: he would
not hear Of suing for peace
My dear fellow, think or the cnI1-
dreni" Grantley urged
Poor Tom often thought OF the cnlF
dren and often tried not TO. He knew
very well where he was going ana
what his going there must mean 70
them. Yet he held on his way, oosL-
nateIy assuring himself that the rauLl
for which they must suffer was not
his.
I do think Of them. butt was past
bearing, Grantley.'
Il think you must have given her a
real fright by now. Perhaps she'll be
more amenable."
Harriet amenablel Good Lordi'
Look hers If she can be got TO
branch YOU know. viii you drop all
this and give the thing one more trial y
1t was a favorable moment for the
request. since Tom happened TO be
cross with his pleasures tOO-they were
so very expensive re allowed himself
TO be persuaded to say yes
But who was 10 beard Lady Harriet
in her den? There was no eagerness
70 undertake the task; yet everybody
agreed that a personal interview was
the only chance Grantley ralrly
.'funked it and honestly said So Ray
mOre'S nerves were still SO upset tnaL
his excuses were accepted-it was NOR
ally certain that Harriet, if she De
came angry, would taunt him about
his boy. SeIford? That was absurd
And Il was not q wOman's work The
lot fell on John Fanshaw-NOhn- with
his business prestige and high reputa-
ton for common sense And Lady Har-
riet liked him best OF them all The
choice was felt 10 be excellent oy
every oue-except John himself
Haven't I enough worries OF my
own % he demanded Why the devil
am I to take on Tom COurtland's. too
"Oh. do try! It can't hurt you if she
does fiy into a passion, John
He grumbled a great deal more; ana
Christine, in an unusually chasCened
mood, performed the wifelv function
consolation and praise
We'll, I'll go on Sunday" he said
at last. and added, with a look across
the table: Perhaps some OF my own
troubles will be off my mind by then
Christine flushed a little
"Oh. 1 hope So" she said rather for
Il do hope so" he declared emphati-
caIIy. Il build great homes on it. It
is to-day you're going. isn't it ?"
Yes, to-day. After lunch5 said I'd
come"
Did ne write back cordially"
'WelI. what could the poor man do,
john"
-Ha, hal Well, I suppose a fellow
generally does answer cordially when
a pretty woman proposes 10 call on
him Ha, hal" Johns hOpas made him
merry and joviaL 7 say. shall get
back as early as I can from the city
and try to be here in time 70 welcome
you And if - gone all right, why"
Don't let yourself be too sure
NO, I won't Oh, no, I won't do
that"
But It was not hard TO see how en-
tirely he built all his trust on this
last remaining chance He rose from
the breakfast table
.An right To-day's Thursday. III
go 10 Lady Harriet on Sunday. Not
much harm can happen IN three days
Good by, old girl aud-aud good luck"
Christine suffered his kiss-a Cere-
rnony not usual 10 their daily parting
in the morning When he had gone
she sat on a long while behind the tea
things at the breakfast table, deep in
thought. trying TO picture the work OF
the day which lay before her. II was
extraordinarily hateful 70 her and she
had hardly been able TO endure John 5
tocuIarity and his talk about pretty
women coming TO call
Because there had once been some
talk she had told CayIesham that she
would bring a friend with her, naming
Anna SelfOrd- Anna would go IN with
her and wait in another room while
they had their meeting Caylesham
thought this rather superfuOus. but
had no objection TO make He could
not form any idea why she was COM
ing until it occurred TO him that per
haps ne had a few letters OF hers some
where and that women are apt 10 get
frights about letters, piCtUring sudden
deaths and not remembering that a
wise man chooses q discreet eX-
ecutOr With this notion in his
head he hunted about and did find two
or three letters. But they were quite
harmless; in order TO see this he read
them through. ard then laid them
down with a smile After a few mo-
ments Of reflection he put them into
an envelope, sealed them up, and
placed them on the table by him ready
for Christine. He was a man OF forty
five, and he looked it. But he was tall,
thin. we'll set up, and always exceed
ingIy we'll turned out Beyond his rank
and his riches, his only fame lay in
sporting circles He and John Fan
shaw had first made acquaintanCe
over horses, and he still went in for
racing on a considerable scale. He was
unmarried. and likely to remain so.
There was a nephew TO inherit; and he
had pleased himself SO much that he
found II hard TO please himself any
more now. And he had. unlike Walter
Blake, no aspirations. He had a code
Of morals, and very strict one. so
far as it went; but it was not cock
tensive with more generally recognized
codes.
Directly Christine came in. he no
ticed how pretty and dainty and young
she looked; at least she pleased him
still He greeted her with great cor
diaIty and with no embarrassment.
and made her sit down in a chair by