The San Francisco call., 1906-04-01

thus. perhaps unsconsciously. assumed
rs it possible that you would ask that
that hanger-on-into your house? He is
nothing less-he Is simply imposing upon
your good nature
Are you aware, Mr.. Chadeller, that
you are speaking of my guest?' Cathalee
suddenly interposed, with chilling and i'm
perious dignity.
Slightly preceded by Edith, the guest
had entered the room apparently uncon-
scious of the fact that he was the sub,
ject Of the ill-timed remarks. and adj
vanced to meet his hostess with entire
composure, bestowing not even glance
upon Mr.. Chadeller, against whom he al
most brushed as that gentleman abruptly
turned and quilted the room.
The group of gentlemen standing close
by were compulsory observers of the In
eident and after greeting her guest,
whether from embarrassment, or a mo-
mentary confusion, or loyalty to her
guest. she turned and introduced him to
Mr.. Burrows, Mr.. Morrison and Mr..
Lowe, which second thought would have
suggested was as unnecessary as unde-
sirable, and more than likely to result in
further embarrassment. The introduc-
tion was acknowledged by the merest
mods. after which the gentlemen wan
dered away as by common consent.
fear | am a disturbing element in
your social CIRCLE the guest remarked.
with mucn the same indifference that he
might have commented upon the weather.
And feel that should apologize for
my social circleH' she Indignantly replied.
Il think it perfectly shameful
No apology is necessary" he inter-
posed. You are not responsible for the
civillty Of your guests-or the lack of 1t.
| think them rather amusing than other
wise
The gentleman may or may not have
been conscious of the attention that he
might in no small measure have appor-
toned to himself. but he could hardly
have failed to note the decided change in
the demeanor of his hostess since first
they met. The briskness, and even ag
gressiveness of speech formerly so char
acteristic. had given way to softly mod
ulatcd tones expressive of certain fem
mime sweetness entirely foreign to her
demeanor toward all others.
IL my people are talking shop this
evening" she told him, as they wended
their way through the rooms. aside
from bridge and stocks there is little do
ing nowadays. one worldly creature in
formed me. Unless one takes up with
one or the tther, one is quite outside the
pale [ have refrained from indulging in
either up to the present time. but it seems
thdl nave HOW tl6CleQ TO .1QenIiIy my
self with the stock movement.
AS the lesser of two evils?
Not necessarily. ! really was not
aware of my intention until few mo-
ments ago. when | was informed that I
was already an extensive participant
one of the advantages of not being COM
PEELED to think for oneself. Are you IA
miliar with such things?" she suddenly
incurred regarding him attentively.
sSnv r1,of fAI
rather vaguely.
Because there is one in particular"
she explained, very confidentialy," in
which a lot of US are interested-some-
thing or other out West-Consolidate
Places, or something of the sort-whose
backs are TO De ttoken,"
'Indeed!"
'oh, yesl 1t is ali quite arranged. The
whole crowd are to. be driven into the
orally are to happen, and when it is all
over, we have made lot of money. At
least Mr.. Burrows Eas pronounced the
edict, and the othersM Gem to think the
deed is as good as accomplished.
And have s'ou y, sympathy for the
unfortunates %
t'It is perfectly ridiculous for me to ex-
hibit my dense ignorance for your amuse-
ment,' she laughed, suddenly conscious
guest. Il am simply an animated phon-
ograph. l catch little squibs here and
there as 7 go about, and then just say
them without any wel-defined idea OF
where they begin or end. I must stop 1t.
One Is simply flying in the face of fate
to just repeat without any definite idea of
their meaning"
True. People are very liable to make
trouble for themselves, and sometimes
m - ha OIo inc ,1rf-
ously at his companion, they uncon-
sciously disclose very great secrets
'Oh, l cannot possibly fancy myself do
ing anything quite so utterly stupid as
that" she protested.
And yet fancy sometimes plays strange
pranks."
You are pleased to be sarcastic. sir.
But I refuse to be drawn into any ar
gument. l am on safe ground for the
present, and there / intend to remain
she declared. with great assurance.
II was not conscious of preparing
pitfall for your unwary feet
II am willing to concede that you were
not. Nevertheless. l have become very
suspicious of those apparently harmless
little remarks you deal out so quietly
they are sometimes double-edged, have
sions 1 have played the role of the small
boy who didn't know it was loaded.
am now wiser-even If trif1e disdgured,
she laughingly declared.
But we have strayed from our sub
ject' she suddenly recalled. DO you
know what l have been talking about?
You are excusable If you do not. but l
refer particularly to all this talk in the
air"
Are you a bull or a bear, on these
Observation-Disclosures. believe you called
them?' he asked, quietly. amused at the
particular turn the conversation had
taken.
Bull? Bear?''
ITO be sure. Are you long or short?"
Must one be something-one or the
other?"
''Yes. One should choose with fine dis
cretion with such terrible happenings IN
store for-one or the other
well, really, | don't know what am
except that am simpleton In matters
of business she frankly admitted "but
/ hope I am not a bull; l should find
it particularly inconvenient to be driven
into the woods tomorrow. Mr.. Lowe has
all my business affairs in charge, you
know-of course you don't know but
am going to tell you. Mr.. Davidge had
the utmost confidence in Mr.. Lowe, and
L..