The San Francisco call., 1909-01-03

II am to content myself with the
pror'ise of the future?"
THE future" she told him seriously.
is tomorrow; and tomorrow :"
She moved restIessly IN her chair, eyes
and lips pathetic in their distress
Please, we Will go now. if you are
ready
Il am quite ready. Miss Calendar .
He rose. A waiter brought the girls
cloak and put it in Kirkwood's
hands. He held it until. smooth
ing the wrists of her long white
gloves, she stood up, then placed
the garment upon her white young
shoulders, troubled by the indehnable
sense OF intimacy impaired by the
privilege. She permitted him this per-
sonal service. He felt that she trusted
him, that out of her gratitude had
grown simple and almost. childish
faith in his generosity and consid
erateness
As she turned to go her eyes thanked
him with an unfathomabIe glance. He
was again conscious OF that esoteric
disturbance IN his temples. Puzzled.
hazily analyzirg the sensation. he fol-
lowed her to the lobby.
page brought him his top coat.
hat and stick; tipping the child from
sheer force of habit. he desired
6A6oAtAS POAlCAf CSSANCAJ OlHdlc III
hotel livery. to call a hanson. To-
gether they passed out into the night,
he and the girl.
Beneath a permanent awning of steel
and glass she waited patiently. slender.
erect, Needless of the attention she
attracted from wayfarers.
The night was young. the air mild.
Upon the sidewalk. muddied by mil
lion feet two streams of wayfarers
A0uad fn0aSSanflU
Green park or east toward Piccadilly
circus; well dressed throng for the
most part. with here and there a man
In evening dress Between the car
riages at the curb and the hotel doors
moved others. escorting huttering but
terfly women in elaborate toilets heads
bare, skirts daintily gathered above
their perishable slippers. Here and
there meaner shapes slipped silently
through the crowd. sinister shadows Of
the city's proletariat, blotting omi-
nously the brilliance of the scene.
A cab drew in at the block. The
porter clapped an arc OF wickerwork
over its wheel to protect the girls
skirts. She ascended to the seat.
Kirkwood. dropping sixpence in the
porter's palm. prepared to follow: but
a hand fell upon his arm peremptory
inexorable. He faced about, frowning,
to confront slight. hatchet faced man.
somewhat under medium height.
dressed In a seek suit and wearing a
derby well forward over eyes that were
hard and bright.
Mr.. Calendar" said the man tensely
81 presume I needn't name my busi-
ness. I'm from the Yard"
MY name Is not Calendar"
The detective smiled YEARLY. Don't
be fool. Calendar" he began. But the
porter's hand fell upon his shoulder
and the giant bent low to bring his
mouth close to the others ear, Kirk
wood heard indistinctly his own name
followed by Calendars. and the words.
Never fear. I'll point him out"
But the woman" argued the de-
tective, unconvinced, staring into the
cab.
Am I not at liberty to have a
lady dine with me in public res
taurant?" interposed Kirkwood. with
out raising his voice.
The hard eyes looked him up and
down without favor. Then. Beg par
don, sir see my mistake" said the
detective brusquely.
II am glad you do" returned Kirk
wood grimly II fancy IT win bear
investigation"
He mounted the step. Imperial
theater," he told the driver. giving the
first address that occurred to him: 1t
could be changed. For the moment the
main issue was to get the girl out Of
the range of the detectives interest
He slipped into his place as the
hanson wheeled into the turgid tide OF
west bound traffic
So Calendar had e-eaped. after ALL
Moreover. he had ted the truth to
Kirkwood-
BY his side they r moved uneasily
'Who was that man7' she inquired
Kirkwood sought her eyes. and found
them wholly ingenious. II seemed
that Calendar had not taken her into
his confidence. after all. She was. there
fore. In no way implicated in her
fathers affairs. Inexplicably the young