The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-23

II
!" her elbows upon the upper
most cross-bar. like a village
girl at twilight watching his thin fE-
ure- vanish into the heavy shadow Of
the naples. then emerge momentarily,
ghost-gray and rapid, at the lighted
crossing down the street. 20 disappear
again under the trees beyond. followed
a second later by a brownish streak as
the mongrel heeled after him When
they had passed the second corner she
2 could no longer be certain OF them
although the street was straight. with
fat. draughtsmanlfke Western direct
ness. both figures and Joe's quick foot
steps merging with the night still she
did net turn TO go: did not alter her
position. nor cease TO gaze down the
dim street Few lights shone; almost
all she windows OF the houses were
darkened, and save Tor the summer
murInurs. the faint creak OF upper
branches. and the infnitesimai voices
OF insects IN the grass, there was 81
lcnce: the pleasant and somnolent hush,
swathed in which that part OF Canaan
crosses 10 the far side OF the eleventh
hour.
But Ariel. not soothed by this balm,
sought beyond It. 20 see that unquiet
sCanaan whittier her old friend bent his
steps and found his labor and his
dwelling: that other Canaan where
rSeace did not fan comfortably with
the coming OF night; q place as alien
in habit, in thought. and almost in
speech as II it had been upon another
continent. And yet-so strange is the
duality OF towns-it lay but a few
blocks distant
Here, about Ariel as she stood at
the gate Of the Pike mansion. the
houses OF the good (seeure OF saliva
ton and daily bread were closed and
quiet as safely shut and sound asleep
as the churches; but deeped IN the
town there was light and life and mer-
ry, evil ndustry-screened. but strong
60 last until morning; there were
haunts OF haggard merriment IN
plenty: surreptitious chambers where
roulette wheels swan beneath dizEied
eyes; nl-favored bars. reached by de-
vtOus ways. where Quavering voices Of
fered song and were harshly checked:
and through the burdened air OF this
Canaan wandered heavy smells OF
musk like that upon Happy Fears wife.
who must now be so pale beneath her
rouge. And above all this, and
Tor all this. and because OF
al this, was that one re-
that haven whose light burns all night
long, whose doors are never closed. but
b are open from dawn until dawn-the
iaiL
There. In that desolate refuge. lay
ppy Fear. surrendered sturdily by
imself at JOes word The picture Of
he little man was clear and fresh In
riels eyes, and though she had seen
$40 when he was newly come from
ing so terrible that she could not
ealize II as a fact she felt only an
sverwhelming pity for him She was
aot even horror-stricken. though she
rad shuddered The pathos OF the
shabby little figure crossing the street
toward the Lighted doors had touched
ber. Something about him had APP
"a pealed TO her. for he had not seemed
wicked; his face was not cruel. though
twas desperate. Perhaps IL was partly
Us very desperation which had moved
10 her thai this man was his friend:
comprehended his great fear when
said I've got 10 clear him.
missed him"
over and over Joe had reiterated:
ve got 10 save him, I've got tor'
had answered gently, Yes joe"
rrying TO keep up with him. He's
good man." he said. I've known
better. given his chances. And
OF this would have happened ex-
espt for his old-time friendship for me-
was his loyalty-oh, the rarest and
aosurdest loyaltyi-that made the FIRST
uouble between him and the man he
shot I've got to clear him."
win IL be hard?"
They may make II so. I can only
see part Of II surely. When his wife
left the Office she met Cory on the
street You saw what pitiful kind Of
fool she was, irresponsible and help
less and feather Drained. There are
thousands Of women like that every
where-some OF them are court beau
ties dare say-and they always mix
things up. but they are most danger
Gus when there like Claudine, because
then they live among men Of action like
Cory and Fear. Cory was artful; he
spent the day about town telling peo-
pie that he had always liked Happy;
That his III feeling OF yesterday was all
gone he wanted TO find him and shake
his hand, bury past troubles and be
friends. I think he told Claudine the
same thing when they met and con-
WINGED the tiny brainlet of his sincerity.
Cory was man who had a way with
him. and I can see Claudine hattered
az the idea OF being peacemaker be-
tween two such nice gentlemen as
Air. Cory and Mr.. Fear Her common
est asseveration-quite genuine. too
Is that she doesn't like TO have the
gentlemen making trouble about her,
SO the poor imbecile led him 10
where her husband was waiting. All
that Happy knew Of this was In her
cry afterwar6 Ee was sitting alone
when Cory threw open ths- door and
said. I've got you this time Happy
His pistol was raised but never fred
Re waited too long, meaning TO es-
tabish his case OF 'self-defense' and
Fear IS the quickest man ] know.
Cory fell just inside the door. Claudine
stumbled upon him as she came run
ning after him. crying out TO her hus-
band that she never meant no trouble
that Cory had sworn TO her that he
only wanted TO shake hands and make
I'D. Other people heard the shot and