The San Francisco call., 1905-03-19

ments, kept from overfiowing
the curbstone by the force OF
mounted police, was larger than the
city had seen in years.
On the corner of Twelfth and the
avenue the people who had been un-
able to decide whether they preferred
Seems the mar OF TIE hour start from
the White House or arrive at the Cap
itol had finally formed congested mob
that concluded to let we'll enough alone
and save the wear and tear of further
progress.
A group of cowboys in their best
Western fnery joked a crowd of girls
that had turned out to see the process
sion. Two Indians, decorated with
every specimen of button, badge and
feather, stood with stolid patience just
where the crowd was thickest.
A man in a light overcoat lowered
head and shoulders above the rest. A
newsboy reached up with a variegated
cane and tilted his derby rakishly to
one side. "Wisht l was up in the
clouds with you, mister he grinned.
II could review this percession to bet
ter advantage.
Il might as we'll be stone blind, >
came a plaintive voice whose owners
diminutive stature was wedged in be-
tween the Indians and the man with
rather more comfortable if I were
stone dead at the same time
Sedley looked down from his height
of six feet three with a smile at the
humor of the situation. It's too
bad he said pityingly; push back
this way a little-I can elbow the
crowd at the side bit-might be
dangerous TO push forward into those
Indians-don't think l ever saw any
more decorated specimens-they may
have tomahawks in every pocket for
all you know"
The girl laughed and moved tward
him. Il don't mind them" She show
ed row of white teeth and black
eyes sparkling with excitement Pm
so dark and small and black-haired
that that newsboy with the cane asked
me If 1 was the squaw that belonged
to the Indian gentleman"
Sedley had already recognized her
voice as belonging to a daughter of
the far South, and when she turned
her face toward him her Creole an
cestry was a certainty.
Il have lost my crowd. 1 tried to
take a little walk by myself before
1t was time to start for the grand
stand" she said with frank friendli-
ness, "and l have lost my hotel.
don't know where anything on earth
is except just me-" Her sentence end
made a sudden impulse forward.
And I'm afraid among your other
losses you are going to lose your
view of the President said Sedley,
trying to keep the crowd from jost-
ling her. How much can you see
from down there %
''Oh, 1 can't see anything but two
buckskin jackets. They may be very
nice-in the buckskin line = but 1
! want to see the President. 1 never saw
| a real live President in my life," dole
fully.
He's almost here he said. II won
der if-er-you would let me-er-lift
you UP so you could see him?" he sug-
gested with touch of good-natured
shyness.
"Oh, would you?" she exclaimed with
the volume of gratitude of one who has
been granted hearts desire. II weigh
a hundred and one. Do you think you
could hold me till he passed." anxi-
ously
Just try me-, he said smiling, as he
lifted her until she beamed happily over
the two creased heads in front of them.
The President, in acknowledging the
cheers that burst forth, gave purely
personal smile of amusement and good
will to girl whose sparkling face
rose clear above the mass, and who, in
her excitement, snatched a derby hat
and waved 1t enthusiastically.
Did you see him smile at me?" she
asked breathlessly when her feet
| touched the pavement
L don't see how he could help it,
Sedley took her arm and drew her to
one side, as the people hurried on to-
ward the Capitol. IF you will give
me some information on the subject, /
will see if can help you find that lost
hotel"
You are just as good as can be-"
she said gratefully. It's the Willard,
and l know papa is frantic about me
by this time"
The Willard? That's easy" And
! Sedley's conscience justified the
around your elbow to get your thumb
route which he took to the hotel, by
! the theory that 1t was easier to walk
six blocks through practically empty
streets than to walk two against a
surging mob
| When they reached the hotel he took
his leave reluctantly. II wonder If 1t