The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04

wick. with the brief uneven
laugh of nns drawn nerves
Good God. sirp he oried. You
.,sI, can san sprmiss." interrupted the
You turned up In the nick Of time.
Tor al the world like"
harlequin popping through a stage
Nolan Incarnation o, N. nrov
fools" ano
Brentwick dropped a calming hand
upon his shoulder. Your simtie seerns
sinsulsrly happy. Philip. Permit ne
10 suggest that you Join the child In
my study" He laughed quietly. with
= sngnt nod toward an open door at
I.is Ins enc OF tn ehailway. For myself,
III De with you IN one moment"
faint. induIgent smile lurking n
tne snauow OF his white mustache. he
Watcheo the young man wheel and dart
through the doorway. Young heartsi"
ne commented insudibly-and a trace
sadly. Youth
Beyond the threshold OF the study.
hirk"ood paused, eager eyes searching
Its somber shadows for a sign Of Dor.
othy.
A long room and deep. It was
lighted only by the circumscrfbed disk
OF Illumination thrown on the central
oesk by shaded reading lamp. and
the nickering glow of a CRATE fire
set beneath the mantel of q side wall.
AT the back, heavy velvet portieres
cioakeo the recesses OF two long win
oows, closed 5ealously even against the
twihght. Aside from the sH-indows.
ooors ana chimney piece, every foot
OF wall space was occupied by tower
ing bookcases or by shelves crowded
TO the limit OF their capacity with an
amazing miscellany Of objects OF ART
the fruit OF years OF patient and dis
eliminating collecting. An exotic and
heady atmosphere, compounded 81 the
faint and intangible exhalations of
these insentient things fragrance Of
sandal wood, myrrh and musk. reui-
niscent whifrs OF half forgotten in
cense, seemed to intensity the impress
sion OF gloomy richness and repose.
BY the fireplace, a little to one side.
stood Dorothy, one small foot resting
on the brass fender, her figure merStn1
into the dusky background. her delicate
beauty gaining an effect of elusive and
ethereal mystery In the waning and
waxing rudy glow upnung from the
bedded Goals.
"oh, Philipr She turned swiftly to
Kirkwood with extended hands and a
low. broken cry. I'm SO glad. :"
A trace Of hysteria in her manner
warned him. and he checked himself
upon the verge OF q too dangerous
tenderness. -Thersi" he said eooth-
ingly. letting her hands rest gently in
MS palms while he LED her to q chair.
We can make Ourselves easy now"
She sat down and he released her
hands with q reluctance less evident
than actual eff ever I say another
word against my luck"
Who" inquired the girl, lowering
her voice. who is the gentleman in
the lowered dressing gownT
Brentwiok-George Sylvester Brent
wick: an old friend. I've known him
for yeers-ever since came abroad.
Curiously enough. however, this IS the
first time I've ever been here. I called
once, but he wasn't ina few days ago
the day we met. I thought the
place looked familiar. Stupid OF mer'
Philip" said the girl with a grave
face but a shaking voice, '1t was"
She laughed provokin siy. "It
was 30 funny, Philip, / don't know
why 1 ran. when you told mo to. but ]
did: and while I ran. I was conscious
OF the front door. here. opening, and
this tall man in the lowered dressing
gown coming down to tho gate az IL
II were the most ordinary thing in
the world for him to stroll out, drssned
that way. in the evening. And he
opened the gate. and bowed. and said,
ever 80 pleasantly, Won't you ooms
in. Miss Calendar"
He did," exclaimed Kirkwood. but
how
How can I say?" she expostulated.
AT all events. he seemed to know mo;
and when he added something about
calling you in, too--he said Mr.. Kirk
wood didn't hesitate"
It's strange enough. surely--and for
tunate- Bless his heartf' said Kirk
wood.
And. 'Humi" said Mr.. Brentwick
CONSIDERABLY, entering the study. He
had discarded the dressing gown and
was now IN evening dress.
Tha girl roaa Kirkwood furnAd