The San Francisco call., 1909-09-26

mingled crying and laughter, she
slipped out of the bed, and. still in her
nightgown, ran down the hall, and
Knocked on Mrs Herrick's door, until
the dismayed lady opened it.
'I thought it was he," Flora gasped.
Il thought it was he who had taken
the ringi Why didn't he tell me? why
did he keep it secret? 1 would have
done anything to have saved it for
him. and | let Harry get it! oh, isn't
it cruel? Isn't it pitiful? Isn't 1T
ridiculous?"
Mrs. Herrick. who, for the last S6
hours, had so departed from her cur
riculum of safety, and courageously
met many strange appearances, now
was to hear stranger facts. For Flora
had let go completely, and Mrs Her
rick. without limiting at Mysteries, let
her laugh, let her cry, let her tell
piece by piece, as she could, the story
of the two men, from the night when
Kerr had spoken so strangely at the
club on the virtues of thieves to the
moment when, in the willow walk, they
discovered that the jewel was gone
Clara's part in the affair, and the
price she had exacted, even in this un-
nerved moment Flora's instinct with
held, to save Mrs. Herrick the last
cruelest touch. But for the rest-she
let Mrs Herrick have it all-and un-
der the shadow of the grim facts the
two women clung together, as II to
make sure of their own identities.
II don't even know who he is" Flora
said family.
She had not a moments hesitation as
to whom the he meant You will
have to ask him when he comes.
DO you think he will come back?
Mrs. Herrick had the heart TO smile.
But think of what 1 have done. l
have lost him the sapphire, and he
loves it-loves 1t as much as he does
me-"
Again the glance, Did he tell you
that?''
Flora nodded. The other seemed in
tently TO consider. He will come back"
she declared.
Upheld by her friends assurance.
Flora found the endurance necessary
TO spend the day, an empty, stagnant
day, in moving about a house and
garden where a few hours ago had
passed such storm of events. She
reviewed them, lived them over again,
but without taking account of them.
Her mind, that had worked so sharply,
was now in allegiance. She lived In
emotion, but with tantalizing sense
of something unexplained which her
understanding had not the power to
reach out and grasp. For day more
she existed under the same roof with
Clara, for Clara stayed on.
At first it seemed to Flora extraordi-
nary that she dared, but presently it
began to appear how much more ex-
traordinary it would have been if Clara
had promptly fed. By waiting dis
Greet length of time, as If nothing had
happened, she put herself indubitably
on the right side of things. Indeed,
when one thought, had she ever been
legally off it?
That was the very horror. CLARA had
simply turned the situation ovtr and
seen its market value. and how enor-
mously she had made it pay. Flora
herself had paid; and she had seen the
evidence that Harry had paid, paid for
his poor little hour of escape which a
mere murderer might have granted
him in pity. Yet Clara could walk be-
side them, meet them at dinner with
the same smooth face, chat upon the
terrace with the unsuspecting Mrs
Herrick, and even face Flora in a Sc
curity which had the appearance of
serenity since she knew that nothing
ever would be told. AT every turn in
the days business Flora kept meeting
that placid presence; and 1t was not
it primed for departure. Flora was
with AIRS. Herrick, and Clara, coming
to seek them out. had an air of casual
farewell. The small sweet smile she
presented behind her misty veil, the
delicate white gloved hand she offered
were symbols Of enduring friendship, as
if she were leaving them only for few
hours; as it, when Flora returned to
town, she would find Clara waiting
for ha,, i,,f he III
1T was only Clara's wonderful way. This
uprising and departure were her last
Now all her waiting was for Kerrs
returning. She did not know how she
should face him, but she wanted him.
A telegram came hour before him,
came to Mrs. Herrick announcing him;
and then himself, driven up on the high
seat of the cart just as daylight was
closing She and Mrs. Herrick had
walked half way out toward the rose
garden; and, seeing them there, he
stopped the cart in the drive, leaped
down and ran across the grass. Both
hurried to meet him. The three en-
countered like friends, like intimates,
with handclasps and hurried glances
searching each &other's faces.
Did you save tt?" Flora asked,
He looked a Mrs. Herrick, hesitating.
you can tell, she knows" Flora as
NO, 1 haven't saved it-not SO far"
he said. He had taken off his hat and
the strong light showed on his face
lines of fatigue and anxiety. HE gave
me the slip-no trace of him No one
saw him come into the city; nothing
turned up in the goldsnith's shop. His
friend, the blue eyed Chinaman, has
dropped out of sight. I haven't made
1t. public, he glanced at Flora-'but
our men think he's gone out by the
water route-Lord knows in what or
where. He must have had this planned
for days" He didn't look at Flora now
He turned his communication carefully
on Mrs Herrick. There were seven.
vessels sailed, that day, and all were
searched; but there are ways of snug
Cling opium, and why not men?"
They were walking toward the house
Kerr looked up at the window where.
a short time before, Clara's face had
looked down upon the confusion in the
garden.
rs that paid woman still here?'
.'Oh, no; she's gone" Flora looked at
him warningly. But Mrs. Herrick had
caught his tone. why shouldn't she
beg' she demanded with delicate as
perity.
Kerr had dropped his monocle Be
cause in common decency she couldn't.
She sold Cressy to me for good