The San Francisco call., 1906-09-30

at Barnes. her teeth c1enched and nos
trils disteuded. He never moved an
inch. and she recovered her self-pos-
session just in time to avoid scene
1t took half an hour to appraise the
laces- During that time nademoiselle
sat biting her finger nails and tapping
the toes of her dainty shoes on the
floor. After the formalities of the seiz-
ure had been concluded the collector
left the warehouse to go to the custom
hoJse TO prepare the commitment pa
pers against Mile. Felicia. The ~honk,
honk hopks Of q passing motor car
aroused both chief and stiressmaker at
the time. His thoughts reverted 70 the
chauffeur and Clancy He said. teas
ingIy:
Horace seems to have been lost IN
the shuttle"
She glared. Her lips pouted- sut
she remained silent
You might take me as your chagffeur
--on probation
She smiled. He thought II was the
result of his witticism. That was be-
cause his back was TO the door, which
opened softly and cautiously. a face
peered ina round, red. swollen and
infamed face: face that showed traces
of anger and Mexican wine.
1t was Horace
His impulse was violence. his pru-
chaaffeur erept In quietly and moved
with catlike tread toward the CHIEF
inspector of customs. 1t was at this
psychological moment that Mile. Felicia
charmed Barnes with her gracious
smile During the heeting moment
that he basked in the sunshine OF that
bewitching act of enchantment he
thought that. possibly. this petite lady
might be a badly used person. The dis
illusionment came all too soon. She
pulled a dainty lace handkerchief from
some mysterious recess Of her dress.
1t slipped from her hand and futtered
10 the floor. She uttered an exclama-
tion OF annoyance. II was the signal
for Barnes. That middle-aged knight
errant bowed TO the lady and stopped
over to rescue the handkerchief Just
as be was bent double the creeping.
red-faeed chauffeur threw out two pow
erful arms, and the next instant the
chief was tumbled head first into pile
of paper and rubbish that Uttered the
areAway beneath the platform.
peal of merry laughter-the rip
ping sound of a silvery voice. fioated
through the warehouse To Barnes.
half buried in the debris it brought
"reminiscences of an incident with the
purple motor car as it whizzed over the
border line between the two countries.
The chauffeur took the dressmaker by
the hand and the two hastened out OF
the. warehouse. The chief gathered
himself up very slowly aching from
the bruises caused by his untimely fall.
lie inwardly cursed himself for blum
dering idiot and CROPPED his waystoward
the entrance He was trying to think
out some plan of action, when the door
was pushed open and the collector
walked in. holding Horace. by the coat
collar. The old man gave grunt OF
satisfaction.
Good. But where's the woman -
\ new voice piped up in the distance
1t came from Clancy.
The lady is here to speak for her
self"
The Irishman stood at a respectful
distance, although it was noticed that
he retained firm. but ungaIlant hold,
on little chain attached to handcuff,
which encirc1ed her brown wrist.
In ten minutes Mile. Felicia. the
dressmaker. and Horace. the chaI0eur.
were under lock and key Clancy was
enthusiastic over the charms of the
young woman.
You're too late, said the chief
.'Whx=why." SpIuttered Clancy. you
don't mean to say that she'd marry
that-that chauffeur.
No. replied Barnes, soberly, Il don't
mean to say that.
Well with impatienee, why
couIdn t''-
Because" said the chief. with twin
king eyes. S"that chauffeur is already
the senior member of the enterprising
firm of smuggleTs
You don't mean to say
YES, I do mean to say that the an
assuming Horace is the husband OF
the charming Mile. relieia.'