The San Francisco call., 1909-09-05

He looked away from her, around the
room, as IL to pick up his answer from
some Of the corners We'll. anyway.
It's lucky we waited ABOUT that set
ting" he said with quick irrelevance.
eff you're going to be annoyed IN this
way you'd better let me have IT.
Why hadn't she thought OF thatl II
was what any man might say. after
hearing such a story as hers. yet II was
the last thing she had thought Of. and
the last thing she wanted.
"Oh, leave 1t with me-" she quavered.
at least till you're sure!'
"Oh, nor He gave his head q quick.
decided shake. IF something should
come out you wouldn't want to be
mixed up IN It."
Then why not give 1T back to the
Chinaman?" she tried him.
"Oh. that's ridiculous" He was IN
passion His darkening eyes. his
swelling nostri1s. his aspect so out OF
proportion to her mild and almost
playful suggestion. frightened her. He
saw 1t and instantly hts mood dropped
TO mere irritation "Oh, Flora. don't
make a scene about II. This thing has
been on my mind for days-the thought
that you had the ring. I was afraid
had no business to let you have IL in
me tonight has clean knocked me out
don't know what I'm saying. Come.
let me have IL; and II there's anything
queer about the business, at least we1l
get II cleared up"
But, smiling. she retreated before
him
why, Flora" he argued half laugh
ing. but still with that dry end OF irri-
tation in his voice. what on earth do
BY this time she backed against the
window. and faced him. Why. it's
my engagement ring"
He looked at her. She couldn't tell
whether he was readiest to laugh or
rage.
You gave it to me for that" she
pleaded. why shouldn't I keep II.
until you give me a real reason for
giving 1t up? II you really know
anything. why don't you tell me?' She
was sure she had him there; but he
burst out at last
WELL for fact. know IL Is stolenr'
He leaned toward her; and his arms.
still flung out with the hands open as
argument had left them, seemed 10 her
frightened eyes all ready for her. ready
with his last argument, his strength
Once before she had feared herself
face to face with the same threat in
the eyes and body OF another man, but
here, her only fear was lest Harry
should get the sapphire away from her
His doing so would dash down no ideal
of him. 1t was mere physical terror
that made her tremb1e and raise her
hand to her breast. Instantly she
saw how she had betrayed the sapphire
again. He had taken hold OF her wrist.
and, twist as she might, he held II, hor-
ribly gentle.
She pressed back against the glass
until she felt it hard behind her
Harry" she whispered. If you care
anything, II you ever want me for
yours. you'll take your hands away"
She meant 1t; she was sincere
in that moment. for all she
shrank from him. Her body and mind
would not have been too great a price
to give him for the sapphire.
But these he seemed to set aside as
trivial. These he expected as a matter
of course; he was going to have that
other thing, too-the thing she had
clung to as a man clings to life; and
that now, parting from. she would give
up not without a struggle as sharp
as that with which the body gives up
breath. She wrestled. He seemed all
hands. He put aside her struggles. her
pleadings, as II they were thistle down.
Then all at once she felt his arm
around her neck. She couldn't move her
body. She could only turn her head
from his hot breath. For a moment he
held her, and yet another moment: and
then. terrified at what this strange
immobility might mean. she raised her
eyes and saw he WAS not looking at
her. Though he held her fast he was
not conscious OF her. Straight over her
head he looked. through the window
and down into the garden. Her eyes
fOI1 49,
of its morning aspect all blanched and
dim. She saw the silhouette Of rose
branches in black on the sky. She saw
the flowers and bushes all one dull tone
But In the midst OF them the oval OF
the path shone white; and there, as In
the afternoon, standing. looking up
ward. was the dark figure Of man.
Her heart gave great leap. Just
so she'd been summoned once before
that day, but what Internal freak had
fetched him back to repeat that dan
gerous sally, and brought him finally
into his enemy's grasp? She tried to
make gesture to warn him, and Just
there Harry released her. dropped her
so that she half fell upon the window
seat. and made a dash across the room
for the light. In a moment they were
In darkness. In a moment, to Flora
pressed against the window. the gar
den sprang clear. and on the formless
figure below the face appeared, white
in the starlight, looking up. She cried
out in wonder. 1t was not Kerr. 1t
was~the blue eyed Chinaman.
After her haunted drive, after her
escape. after Shima's search, he was
there. still inexorably there; small,
diminished by the great facade OF the
house, but looking up at IL with his
calm eye. surveying IL. measuring IT'S
height, numbering It's doors, trying tn
windows. Harry was beside her again.
He was tugging frantically at the win
dow. 1t resisted. She saw his hands
trembling while he wrestIed with IT.
Then 1t went shrieking up and he
leaned out.
What do you want?" he called. and.
though he used no name. Flora saw he
knew with whom he was speaking
The Chinaman stood immobile. lifting
his round. white face. whose mouth
seemed to cape a little Harry leaned
far out and lowered his voice.
Go away. joel Don't come here
never come herer' There was a CULVER
In his voice Anger or apprehension. or
both. whatever his passion was. for the
moment II overwhelmed him. and as
the Chinaman stood unmoved, unmov-
ing. at his commands. Harry turned