The San Francisco call., 1906-12-16

went on, rapidly, that you would have
come to the gate to meet me-
You understand that?' she cried, her
eyes sparkling and her face flushing
J. happily.
Yes knew that you wouldn't have
asked me to come,'' he said. with a
catch in his voice which was half
chuckie, half groan, 'if you hadn't
meant to take care OF me. And Ii came
to me that you would know how to
do TT
She leaned back in her chair, and
again they laughed together. but only
for moment, becoming serious and
very quiet instantly.
Il haven't thanked you for the roses"
he said.
"oh yes. you did. When you first
looked at themi'
you saw. To find them here took my
breath away-and to find you with
them
II brought them this morning. you
know"
Would you have come II you had
not understand why I failed yester-
day."
"Oh yes think so.' she returned. the
hne edge of a smile upon her lips. For
time last evening. before 1 heard
what had happened. thought you were
too frightened a friend to bother
about"
He made little ejaculation. partly
joyful, partly sad.
And yet" she went on, 1T think that
] should have come this morning. aft
er all. even II you had q poorer ex-
cuse for your absence. because, you
see. came on business
You didr
That's why I've come again. That
makes II respectable for me to be here
now. doesn't it?--for me to have come
out alone after dark without their
knowing it? I'm hero as your client.
joe"
Why he asked.
She did not answer at once, but
picked up a pen from beneath her hand
on the desk. and turning 1t. meditative-
1y felt its point with her forehnger be-
fore she said slowly. Are most men
careful OF other peoples-weli, OF
other peoples money!"
You mean Martin Pike?'' he asked
Yes. I want you to take charge OF
everything have for me-"
He bent a frowned regard upon tina
lamp shade. You ought to look after
your own property" he said. You
surely have plenty of time"
You mean-you mean you won't
help me?" she returned, with inten-
tional pathos.
"Ariel~ he laughed. shortly. In an
think Judge Pike isn't trustworthy"
Nothing very definite perhaps. un-
less it was his look when told him
that I meant to ask you to take charge
of things for me-"
He's been rather hard pressed this
year, I think said Joe. you might
be right-if he could have found a
way. ! hope he hasn't"
I'm afraid she began, gayly, "that
/ know very little of my own AFFAIRS.
He sent me draft every three months
with receipts and other things to sign
and return to him. I haven't the
faintest notion of what I own-except
the old house and some money from
the income that I hadn't used and
brought with me. Judge Pike has all
the papers-eyerything.'
Joe looked troubled. And Roger
Tabor, did he
The dear man. She shook her
head. He was just the same. To
him poor Uncle Jonas money seemed
to come from heaven through the
hands of Judge Pike
And there's a handsome roundabout
way," said Joe.
wasn't it," she agreed. cheerfully.
And he trusted the Judge absolutely.
I don't, you see
He gave her thoughtful look and
nodded mo. he isn't good man."
he said. mot even according to his
lights; but / doubt ff he could have
managed to get away with anything
of consequence after he became the
administrator. He wouldn't have tried
it, probably. unless he was more des-
perately pushed than I think he has
been. It would have been too danger
GUS Suppose you wait week or so
and think 1T over"
But there's something I want you
to do for me Immediately. Joe"
Whats that?'
II want the old house put in order.
I'm going to live there"
, "Alone?"
I'm almost twenty-seven. and that's
, being enough of an old maid for me
to risk Canaan's thinking me eccentric.
TT will think anything you do is all
right" -.
everything did all wrdAgv'
"Yes That's the difference
''You mean ii will commend me be-
cause TIM thought richT'
mo, no.. he said meditatively. 1T
. isn't that. It's because everybody will
be in love with YOU"
"Quite everybody she asked
Certainly, he replied Anybody
who didn't would be absurd"
'Ah, Joe." she laughed you always
were the incest boy in the world, my
dearl'
At that he turned toward her with n
sudden movement and his lips parted.
but not to speak. She had rested one
arm upon the desk and her cheek upon
her hand: the pen she had picked UP.
still absently held in her fingers, touch
ing her lips: and 1t was given to him
to know that he would always keep
that pen, though he would never write
with it again. The soft lamplight fell
across the lower part of her face, leav-
ing her eyes. which were lowered
thoughtfully. in the shadow of her hat
The room was blotted out in darkness
behind her. Like the background of
an antique portrait, the Office. with it's
dusty corners and shelves and hideous
safe, had vanished. leaving the charm
ing and thoughtful face revealed
against an even, spacious BROWNIES
Only Ariel and the roses and the lamp
were clear. and strange, small pain
moved from Joe's heart TO his throat
as he thought that this ugly office, al
ways before so harsh and grim and
1onely-loneliest for him when il had
heep n, oSt crowled-WaS now trauSdU-