The San Francisco call., 1906-12-16
CHAPTER xIv.-Continuea.

ed the pavement with his stick
1T stands to reason that she won't
stick TO a man no other decent
woman will speak to, a fellel
that's been the mark for every stone
throwed IN the town ever since he was
a boy, an outcast with a reputation as
black as preachers shoes on Sunday!
] don't care If he's her oldest friend on
earth, she won't stick TO him, She
walked with him yesterday. but you
can mark my words: his goose is
cooked" The old mans voice rose
sh-ill and high. 'Tt amt in human
nature for her 10 do IT. You hear
what / say: you'll never see her with
Joe Louden again in this Twin world,
and she as good as told me so herself
last night. You can take your oath
she's quit him already. Don't"
Eskew paused uoruptly, his eyes
widening behind his spectacles; his
Jaw fell; his stick, raised to hammer
the pavement remained suspended in
the air. A sudden color rushed over his
face, and he dropped speechless in his
chair. The others, after staring at him
in nomentsry alarm, followed the d.
reetion OF his gaze.
Just acsoss Main street and in plain
view was the entrance TO the stairway
which led TO Joe's ONCE. Ariel Tabor
all in cool gray. carrying big bunch
OF white roses in her white gloved
hands, had just crossed the sidewalk
from a carriage and was ascending the
dark stairway. A moment later she
came down again empty handed, got
snto the carriage and drove away.
she missed him." said Squire Buck
alew. It saw him go out half an hour
age. But" he added and, exercising
2 self-restraint close upon the sanity,
cid not even glance toward the heap
which was Mr.. Arp. 4 notice she left
her flowers"
Ariel was not the only one who
climbed the dingy stairs that day and
read the penciled script upon Joe's
door: viii not return until evening.
J. Louden." Many others came, all ex-
ceedingly unlike the first visitor. Some
were quick and wztchfuL dodg into
the narrow entrance furtively; some
smiled contemptuously as long as they
were in view OF the street. dropping
wanly as they resched the stairs; some
were brazen and amused. and some
were thin and troubled. Not all OF
them read the message, for not all
could read, but all looked curiously
through the half opened door at the
many roses which lifted their heads
deiicately from a water pitcher on Joe's
desk TO scent that dusty plaoe with
their cool breath.
Most Of these clients, after a grunt
OF disappointment, turned and went
away; though there were a few, either
unable to read the message or so
pressed by anxiety that they disre-
Esrded il, who entered the room and
sat down to wait for the absentee,
There were plenty OF chairs in the
ofice now, bookcases also and a big
steel safe But when evening came
and the final gray OF twilight had van
sshed from the window panes all had
gone except one, a woman who sat
patiently. her eyes upon the floor and
her hands folded in her lap. until the
footsteps Of the last of the others to
depart had ceased 10 sound upon the
less exclamation she sprang to her feet.
pulled the window shade carefully
down to the sill, and when she had
done that struck match on the heel
OF her shoe, not a small one, anc ap-
piled the fame TO gas Jet. Inc yell
low light nared UP. and she began to
pace the room haggardly.
The courthouse bell rang nine, and
ss the tremors following the last
stroke pulsed themselves into ST.
lence She heard a football on the
stairs and Immediately relapsed into
& chair, folding her hands again
IN her lap, her expression COM
posing itself to passivity, for the step
was very much lighter than Joe's.
A lady beautifully dressed in white
dtrnity appeared in the doorway. She
hesitated at the threshold, not, appar-
entity, because OF any timloity lher eN-
preston being too thougntfully assured
for that), but almost Immediately she
came IN and seated herself near the
desk, acknowledging the others pres
ence by a slight inclination Of the
head
This grave courtesy caused a strong.
deep flush to spread itself under the
rouge which unevenly covered the
-voran's cheeks, as she bowed elabo-
1ately in return. Then, furtively, dur
ing a protracted silence. she took stock
OF the newcomer, from the tip of her
white suede shoes to the filmy lace
and pink roses upon her wide white
hat; end the sidelong gaze fingered
nsrvelingly upon the quiet. delicate
hands, slender and finely expressive, in
their white gloves.
Her own hands, unlike the lady's, be-
gan to hdget confusedly. and, the ST.
lence continuing. she ccughed several
times, to effect the preface required by
her sense of fitness. before she felt il
proper to observe, with polite litter:
Mr.. Louden seems to be good while
comm"
Have you been waiting very longT'
asked the lady.
Ever since o'clock"
YES" said the other. THAT is very
long"
yes, ma'am. IT cert'nly is" The ice
l.