The San Francisco call., 1906-12-16
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PAUSED AB- N
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EYES WI@ENING
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HIS 5PEcTACLE5


Mr.. Louden come, he only stayed long
enough to hear what had happened
and started out to find Happy-thats s
my husband. He's bound to keep them
apart, but he hasn't found Mr.. Fear
yet or he'd be here"
Ariel had sunk back In her chair.
'.why should your husband hide?" she
asked, in q low voice.
'Waitin' fer his chance at Cory" the
woman answered, huskily. Il expect
he's afraid the cops are after him. too,
on account of the trouble, and he
doesn't want to git locked UP till he's
met Cory again. They ain.t after him.
but he may not know it. They haven't
heard of the trouble. reckon, or they'd
of run Cory in. He's around town to-
day, drinkin' heavy, and 1 guess he's
lookin' fer Mr. Fear about as hard as
Mr.. Louden is" She rose to her feet.
lifted her coarse hands and dropped
them despairingly. ''Oh. I'm scared!"
she said. Mr.. Fears ben mighty
good to me-
A slow and tired footstep was heard
upon the stairs, and Joes dog ran into
the room droopingly, wagged his tail
with no energy, and crept under the
desk. Mrs Fear wheeled toward the
door and stood rigid, her hands
clenched tight. her whole body still,
except her breast, which rose and fell
with her tumultuous breathing. She
could not wait till the 1aggard step
reached the landing.
''Mr. Loudenr' she called, suddenly.
Joe's voice came from the stairway.
IT'S all right, Claudine. It's all fixed
up. Don't worry
Mrs Fear gave a thick cry of relief
and sank back in her chair as Joe
entered the room. He came in sham
biingly, with his hand over his eyes
as If they were very tired and the light
hurt them. so that. for a moment or
two, he did not perceive the second
visitor. Then he let his hand fall. re-
vealing a face very white and worn.
ITS all right, Claudine,' he repeated.
Its all right"
He was moving to lay his hat on
the desk when his eye caught first the
roses, then fell upon Ariel, and he
stopped stock-still with one arm out
stretched, remaining for perhaps ten
seconds in that attitude, while she, her
lips parted. her eyes lustrous, returned
his gaze with a look that was as in
scrutable as 1t was kind.
YES" she said, as il in answer to a
question, 'I have come here twice to-
day" She nodded slightly toward Mrs.
Fear. II can wait. I am very glad
you bring good news"
Joe turned dazedly. toward the other.
"Claudine." he said, you've been tell
ing Miss Tabor
ST cert'nly havev Mrs. Fears express
sion had cleared and her tone was
cheerful. 81 don't see no harm in that!
I'm sure she's a good friend of yours,
Mr. Louden."
Joe glanced at Ariel with a faint.
troubled smile, and turned again to
Mrs. Fear. I've had a long talk with
Happy
I'm awful glad Is he ready to lis
ten to reason?" she asked, with a tit
ter.
He's waiting for you"
"Where?" she rose quickly.
stop" said Joe, sharply. You must
be very careful with him"
Don't you spose I'm goin' to be?'
she interrupted, with catch in her
voice. Don't you s'pose I've had trou-
BILE enough?"
NO" said Joe, deliberately and i'm
personally, II don't. Unless you keep
remembering to be careful all the time,
you'll follow the first impulse you have.
as you did yesterday, and your excuse
will be that you never thought any
harm would come of 1t. He's in a queer
mood: but he will forgive you if you
ask him"
We'll, amt that what I want to
do" she exclaimed.
II know. I know" he said dropping
into the desk chair and passing his
hand over his eyes with gesture of
infinite weariness. But you must be
very careful. / hunted for him most
OF the night and all day. He was try
ing TO keep out of my way because he
didn't want me to find him until ne had
met this fellow Nashville. Happy is a.
hard man to come at when he doesn't
care to be found, and he kept shifting
from place to place until L ran him
down. Then I got him in corner and
told him that you hadn't meant any
haru-which is always true of you.
poor woman!--and / didn't leave him
till he had promised me to forgive you
If you would come and ask him.
And you must keep him out of
Cory's way until I can arfsnge to have
him-Cory. I mean--sent out of town.
Will your"
Why. cert'nly," she answered, smil-
ing- That Nashville's the vurry last
person / ever want to see again--tbe
fresh thing." Mrs Fears burden had
fallen; her relief was perfect and She
beamed vapidly: but Joe marked her
new responsibility with an anxious
eye.
You mustn't make any mistakes" he
said. rising stifly with fatigue.
Not me. I don't take no more
chances. she responded, tittering hap
PLY. Not after yesterday Ny, but
its load of my shouldersi I do hate
it to have gentlemen querreling over
me. especially Mr.. Fear. ] never did
like to start anything; like to see
people laugh and be friendly, and I'm
mighty glad It's all blown over
kind O. thought it would, all along.