The San Francisco call., 1909-09-19

easy for me? I'm not asking you to
give up the picture. I'm only asking you
to wait"
Clara nodded toward the window,
through which Kerr could still be seen
with Mrs. Herrick. "On account of
him?"
"On account of him."
For the first time Clara smiled. 1t
crept out upon her face, as 1t were in
voluntarily. but she sat there smiling in
contemplation for quite 10 seconds. At
last, You want me to suppress my
information? My dear Flora, don't you
think you want me to do more than
is honest?'
Honest" Flora cried The words
sounded hideous to her on Clara's
tongue; and yet what right had she.
she thought with shame, to judge of
Clara's honesty when she herself was
leagued with a thief? Clara" she
said humbly. before this upholder of
the right, Il can't pretend I'm not sup
pressing things. I've only asked you
to see ms before you do anything more.
Now. you've come. Will you tell me
ono thing-did you bring the picture
with your
Clara weighed it. We'll. If I did
This was the considering Clara, and
Flora realized whatever she could ex-
peet from her she couldn't expect
mercy. 1t was another thing she must
appeal to-
Clara" she urged. wait three days,
and you shall have the whole Of It, You
have only the picture now. You shall
have the jewel. too. Then you can get
the reward and still be-honest.''
She let the word fall into the silence
fearfully. as II she were afraid Clara
might detect its sneer. But this time
Clara neither smiled nor frowned.
1T isn't the reward I'm thinking
about. That's really very little, con-
sidering"
Twenty thousand dollars!"
Would that be much to your
No." Flora admitted; 'at least I
mean 1 could pay It."
We'll. them" Clara triumphed, why
the picture alone If it's worth anything
is worth more than that" With a
birdlike lifting Of the head she gave
sidelong interrogative glance.
Flora for moment steadily returned
the look. 1t was coming over her what
Clara meant; a meaning SO simple it
was absurd she had not thought of it
before-so hateful that it was all she
could do to face 1t. She felt tight
ness in her throat that was not tears
Shame and anger contended in her. Oh,
for the power to have refused that
shameful bargain-to have scorned at!
She turned away. She closed her eyes.
moving quietly about the winding
walks with Mrs. Herrick. She faced
sharply about. What is it worth to
you?'
Clara put her OF with the last sweet
meekness OF her cleverness. Whatever
it's worth to you-and him.
Flora was In command of herself
now. There are some things can not
set price on. II this is what you have
come down for, we are simply waiting
for you to name IT, She looked over
Clara's head. She had stood abashed
when Clara had put on the majesty Of
right. but now 1t was Clara herself
who was abashed, not at the thing
itself. but at the fact of having to
utter it. She sat grasping one Of her
gloves in her doubled hst; and. leaning
forward. with her eyes like jewels in
her little pale face and the white aura
of4her veil. waited as II she thought
that by some silent agency of UNDER
standing Flora would presently take
up pen and write the desired figure
in her check book.
But Flora stood inexorable, straight
and black. crowned with her helmet OF
cleaning hair; and. with her hands be-