The San Francisco call., 1905-04-09

the street. and the numbers swelled
from the hordeS of the pave whose
jargon banter flew back and forth The
jeering voices came plainly down the
brick passageway.
Il will see you to your carriage"
said Gordon. and went out with them
They passed to the vehicle-from
which Mary Shelleys frightened face
looked out-through vociferous hu-
man lane, that groaned and whistled
in gusto.
There's the jade; an 'er lOrdship
with 'er, tool"
Which is imp
Wy. i'm with the leg"
At the gibe which followed Gordon
smiled mirthlesSly- This blind rabble.
egged on by hatred that utilized for its
ends the Grass dislike of the scum for
the refined-what was it to him? He
knew it's masters,
As Jane took her seat the jeers re-
doubled. Across the heads between
him and the surginS entrance OF the
theater he saw the sneering, heavy
lidded face of William Lamb The
sight reused the truculent demon OF
stubbornneSS in him. With hare OF
unrecking impertinence and a racing
recollection OF a first dinner at Mel
bourne House. when he had given Lady
Caroline Lamb such a blossom from
his coat, Gordon drew the carnation
Jane Clermont.
The crowd had looked to see him
enter with the others: now as the We
hicle rolled away. leaving him stand
Ing alone. the clamOr. sharpened by
his nonchalanu act and by The smile
which they could not translate, rose
more deriSive, more boldly mixed with
insult They were overcoming that dull
ir born fear of the clod for the noble.
There was menace in what they said,
a foreshadowfng of peril that might
have fallen but for diversion.
A coach, adroitly handled. whirled up
to the curbstOne, and a man leaped
to the pavement Gordon felt hand
touch his arm.
The carriage. my lord" said FIetch-
err
The valet. guessing better than his
master, had followed him. A sense OF
the dog-Iike fidelity of the old servitor
smOte Gordon and sOftened the bitter
smile on his lips. Only an instant he
hesitated before he entered the car
riage, and in that instant a hand
graSped at the horses heads, but the
cOachmanS whip fell and the plunging
animals made an aisle through which
the vehicle, Kissed and hOoted rolled in
safety.
AS it drew away a young man, dark
and Oriental-lOOking. came through the
crowd, staring wOnderingly at the ex-
citement. He was one who more than
once on that spot had watched Cor
don's approaching carriage with black
envy and jealousy-the same who had
stood with Jane Clermont on the night
DR.. Cassidy's suspicious gaze had made
him draw closer into the shadow OF
the doorway. At the names the crowd
coupled. he started. paled and hurried
into the stage entrance
In an instant he emerged, breathing
har -. ..,~I rxf -, IA
rected at the moving carriage, and.
his fingers clenching, rushed into the
street and gazed after it. 1t turned
into Long Acre, going toward Picca-
dilly. He plunged into the network OF
side streets opposite and hastened rap
idly in the direction it had taken
1t was not far TO the house on Pic
cadilly Terrace, and he outstripped the
coach. From the shadow he saw it
stop. saw the man it carried dis
mount-alOne,
Where isIshe?' he muttered. He
took her from the theater-damn himI
Where has he left her7''
The same bitter smile with which he
had faced the clamOr outside the thea
ter was ON Gordon's white face as he
entered the house. In the ham he
opened a single note of invitation, read
1T and laughed
Rushton met him. Mr.. Dallas is in
the library, your lordship.'
Gordon strode into the ROOM Dallas
saw that though he was smiling oddly,
his face was deeply lined. and his eyes
were glttering like those OF man
with fever.
George" cried Dallas, II was bound
to see youI Why-you are ill!''
Not /, Dallas. / have been to Drury
Lane tonight. All society was there.
divorced and divorceable, intrigants
and BabylOnians of quality Lady Hol-
land. like a hippopOtanAs in the face,
and William Lamb with the very man
ner of the ursine slothi"
There was genuine anxiety IN Dallas
tone. Come with me to Stratf0rd for
a few days" he besought. Come now
Tonight"
Not this week, old friend. have
social engagements to fillt" Gordon
tossed him the note he held. ~Seei
Lady Jersey the l0veliest tyrant that
shakes the cap and bells OF fashions
fools!-the despot of Almack' 's-the
patroness-in-chief of the Dandy Ball.
invites the reprobate, the scapegrace,
to that sumptuous conclave! She dares
the frown and risks pOllutioni Would
you have me disappoint my only wom-
an apologist in London? Shall I not
reward such Vpparagoned courage with
the presence of it's parlor lion, it's ball
room bard. its hot-pressed darling2"
He laughed wildly. sardonieally, and
JSrked the DELL
FLETCHER, a bottle Of brandy" he
commanded, ''and / shall not want you
again tonight"
The valet set the bottle down with an
anxious look at his master-a half-ap-
pealing one toward Dallas.
AS the door closed, Gordon. sitting on
the table-edge, began to sing with per-
feet GOODNESS, without quaver in the
metallic voice:
1.-The Devil returned to hell by two.
And he stayed home till i've:
He dined on q dowager done ragout
And a peer boiled down IN an Irish stew
And quoth he, I'll take drive.
/ walked this morning. IN ride to-niSht-
In darkness my children take delight
And I'll see how my favorites thriveF
.Laddie." Dallas cry was full OF
pity and entreaty. Il beg OF you
stop!" He went over and touched the
others arm
Listen, Dallas
The Devil he lit the London pave
And he found his work done we'll
For il ran 50 red from the slandered dead
That it blushed like the waves or nell