The San Francisco call., 1908-08-16
She, ,gove, But o~s5ra s[o .5tartle>d
1slo-T5e)e, st The, GROUP. then roo 30 It

you re a uedQ one. lou got 10 go 10 the
devil your own way, 1 guess. But. for
Gods sake, don't whine about how good
you were. Brace up or shut up
The man looked at him with hollow
eyes. "Ah," he said, that's queerl
You might be my crusading ancestor
Sir Hector-Taire ou Faire'-and three
cross -crosslets ftched, azure on gules
with a dove crest-+Taire ou Faire'-
Shut up or brace up'-sometimes I
think I could-but not alone-what was
hers. now? There was a leopard re-
gardant-and a bar dexter-Oh, yes
Meliora Speramus'-No, couldn't drag
her into my mire and muck-nor the
kiddo."
He muttered away to himself. and as
he did so his head sank again. The
crystal ball fell from his fingers and
rolled across the floor toward the door
of the ladies' room.
Jake followed it lazily with his eyes,
and when 1t stopped he looked up and
saw the door was ajar. He walked over
to it. She was standing there with her
eyes on the crystal ball, staring. AS he
came up she raised her hand and beck
oned, drew him into the little boxlike
room and closed the door behind her.
Who is that man?" she asked in a
whisper. Her look was little wild;
she awaited his answer breathlessly.
'Oh, he's bum what loafs round
here considerable, said Jake. HE
won't bother you. ma'am. I'll see to
that"
But his name mean. Do you know
lit" Her little while gloved hand went
to her heart in an expression of anxi-
ETY..
4 don't know. Never asked him.
Why?"
along the floor as I watched him
Sure. What of it?"
She sank down on the chair and her
fingers drummed the side of the table
nervously.
Don't you know anything about
him. He looks to me like someone
once knew. but it seems impossible.
couldn't hear what ne said"
Hes an Englishman," said Jake.
"Leastways he said so. Down on his
luck an pretty much on the booze.
He can't be anybody you'd know
But the crystal BALI Her brows
had drawn together in thought; she
looked up at Jake as if to some dear
friend, SO sad and appealing was her
face. Then, after a long breath, she
loosened her veil from her neck and
put it back. Her hair was the color
of honey in the sun, fine and crisp,
full of tender waves and curves.
Jake stified an expletive.
Say. was you looking for some one?'
he asked. gently.
She looked at him soberly. yes.
Some one very dear to me. who disap-
peared year ago. This man gave
me strange start of surprise-hes so
like hin-and then. the ball-it re-
minded me so of hint was one of
his fancies. Oh. you must find out
who he is. Can't you ask him his
name?'
He said he come from-where was
it? Surrey
"Ohw Her hands few together over
her breast. What else did he say?'
There was some place. I forget,
now
'.Betchworth?"
That's right
She sprang up suddenly, making for
the door. Jake put his hand on her
arm. She was surprised. but not fright
ened.
sit down. ma'am." said the bar
keeper. Il want to give you straight
tip. This chap here is no good ]
don't know whether he's your husband
or not. but he's lost his grip. I know
the signs. I've seen 'em come an go,
in here. an they don't many of 'em
brace up after they get as far as this
one has. He's on the down coast. You
leave him slide. for you can't help
him. Nobody can. He's been whinin'
some tonight, but by tomorrow he'll be