The San Francisco call., 1909-08-22

heavy sound. Yet before that sound had
ceased to vibrate she heard ii shut
again. Was he coming back? There
was a presence in the vestibule, very
vaguely seen through Ihe glass and lace
of the inner door. Her heart beat with
apprehension. The door opened upon
Clara.
Flora precipitatelv retreated She
was more disturbed than relieved by
the unexpected appearance. For Clara
must have seen Kerr leave the house
Three times now within three days he
had been found with her or waiting for
her. She wopdered if Clara would ask
her awkward questions. But Clara,
when she entered FIora's dressing room
few moments later with the shopping
list, instead of question offered a
statement.
Il don't like that man." she announced.
''Who?"
That Kerr. 1 met him just now on
the steps. Don't you feel there is
something wrong about him?"
"Oh, don't know" said Flora
vaguely.
Clara gave her a bright glance
But you weren't at home to him."
I'm not at home to any one this
morning" Flora answered evasively,
feeling the probe of Clara's eyes. I'm
feeling i'll. I'm not going out this
evening. either. 1 think I'll ring UP
Burlingame and tell Harry" 1t was
in her mind that she might manage to
make him stay with her while Clara
went on to the reception.
Burlingame! Harry.p Clara echoed
in surprise. why, he's in town I
saw him just now as l was coming up
Are you sure?"
yes. He was walking up Clay from
Kearny. l was in the car"
Why that-that is" Flora stam-
mered in her surprise. Then some
thing must have kept him." she altered
her sentence quickly. But though this
seemed the probable explanation she
did not believe it. Harry walking
toward Chinatown. when he had told
her distinctly he would be in Burlin-
game! She thought of the goldsmith
shop and there returned to her the
memory of how Harry and the blue
eyed Chinaman had looked when she
had turned from the window and seen
them standing together in the back
of the shop.
You do look ILL.," Clara remarked.
''Why don't you stay in bed, and not
try to see any one?"
Flora murmured that that was her
lutcIlllOll, DuI size was IdT from speak
ing the truth. She only waited to make
sure of Clara's being in her own rooms
to get out of the house and telephone
to Harry.
IT was not far to the nearest booth,
a block or two down the cross street
She rang, first, the office. The word
came back promptly in his partners
voice. He had gone to Burlingame by
the early train. 1t was the same at the
club. He must be in town, then. on secret
business. She left the apothecary's S
and. with serious face, walked on down
the street, away from her house. She
was thinking that now she knew Harry
had lied to her. And it was the sec
ond time. But perhaps it was just
because he thought her innocent that
he was keeping her so in the dark.
Suppose she should tell him fatty what
she had found out about him today?
She walked rapidly. in her excite
ment, turning the troubling question
over in her mind. She did not realize
how far she had gone until some girl
she knew, passing and nodding to her.
called her out of her reverie. She was
almost in front of the University club.
A few blocks more and she would be
in the shopping district. She heSitated,
then. decided that it would be better to
walk little farther and take cross
town car.
A group of men was leaving the club.
Two fingered on the steps, the other
coming quickly out. at sight of him
she averted her face and, hurrying,
turned the corner and walked down a
block Her heart was beating rapidly.
What If he had seen her, She looked
about-there was no cab in sight-the
best thing to do was to slip into one
of the crowded shops. full of women.
and wait until the danger had passed.
Once inside the door of the nearest,
she felt herself with relief. only one
of a horde of pricers, lockers and buy
ers She felt as if she had lost her
identity. She went to- the nearest
counter and asked for wells. Partly
concealed behind the bulk of the
woman next her. she kept her eye on
the door. She saw Kerr come in. How
absurd to think that she could escape
himi She turned her back and waited
a moment or two still hoping he might
pass her by. Then she heard his voice
behind her:
Wen, this is lucki'
She was conscious of giving him a
limp hand. He sat down on the vacant
stool next to her. laughing.
You are a most remarkably fast
walker he observed.
Il had to buy VEIL" Flora muir
x1,rrad