The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-31

cold green eyes beneath her puckered
brows. Il do not understand" she said
slowly and in level tones.
Il didn't expect you to-" returned
Kirkwood; mo more do /. But,
anyway it must be clear to you that
I've done my best for this gentleman
here" He paused with an interrogative
lift of his eyebrows.
This gentleman is my soli, Fred
erick Hallam. But you will ex-
plain"
Pardon me. Mrs Hallam; shall ex-
plain nothing, at present. Permit me to
point out that your position here-like
mine-is, to say the least, anomalous.
The random stroke told, as he could
tell by the instant contraction OF her
eyes of q cat. ut would be best to
defer explanations till a more aonven-
lent time-don't you think? Then, if
you like, we can chant condolences in
an antiphonal chorus. Just now your
er-son is not enjoying himself appar-
emily, and the attention of the
police had best not Ia called to this
house too often in one night"
His levity seemed to displease and
perturb the woman; she turned from
him with an impatient movement of her
shoulders.
Freddie, dear. do you feel able to
Eth? Oh. I dare say-I don't know.
Wonder would your friend ah-Mr.
Kirkwood lend me an arm?'
Charmed" Kirkwood declared
suavely. IF you'n take the candle,
Mrs. Hallam-"
He helped the boy to his feet and.
while the latter hung upon him and
complained ENORMOUSLY, stood waiting
for the woman to lead the way with the
light; something which, however, she
seemed in no haste to do. The pause
at length puzzled Kirkwood and he
turned to find Mrs. Hallam holding
the candlestick and regarding him
steadily. with much the same express
sion of furtive mistrust as that with
which she had favored him on her own
door stoop.
"One moment" she interposed in con-
fusion: II won't keep you waiting"
and, passing with an averted face, ran
quickly up stairs to the second floor,
taking the light with her. It's glow
faded from the walls above and Kirk
wood surmised that she had entered
the front bedchamber. For some mo-
ments he could hear her moving about;
once, something scraped and bumped
on the floor, as If a heavy bit of fur
niture had been moved; again there
was a resounding thud that defied spec
ulation; and this was presently fol-
lowed by dull clang Of metal.
His fugitive speculations afforded
him little enlightenment; and mean
time, young Hallam, leaning partly
against the wall and quite heavily on
Kirkwood's arm, filled his ears with
puerile oaths and lamentations; so
that, but for the excuse of his really
severe shaking UP, Kirkwood had been
strongly tempted to take the youngster
by the shoulders and kick him heartily
for the health of his soul.
But eventually-it was not really
long-there came the quick rush of
Mrs. Hallam's feet along the upper
hand holding her skirts clear of her
pretty feet as she descended in a rush
that caused the candies flame to flicker
perilously.
Half way down, Mr. Kirkwood!"
she called tempestuously.
Didn't you find it?' he countered
blandly.
She stopped jerkily at the bottom.
and after a moment of confusion.
Find what, STRIP she asked.
What you sought, Mrs. Hallam"
Smiling, he bore unfiinching the pro-
longed inspection Of her eyes, at once
somber with doubt of him and flashing
with indignation because of his i'm
pudence.
You knew I wouldn't find 1t. them!
Didn't your
81 may have suspected you wouldn't tt
Now he was sure that she had been
searching for the gladstone bag. That,
evidently, was the bone of contention.
Calendar had sent his daughter for it,
Mrs. Hallam her son: Dorothy had been
successful. But, on the other
hand, Calendar and Mrs. Hallam were
unquestionably allies. Why, then?
Where is 1t, Mr.. Kirkwood?"
Madam, have you the right to
know?"
Through another frightening pause,
while they faced each other. he marked
again the curious contraction of her
under lip.
II have the right" she declared
steadily. where is it?"
How can l be sure?"
Then you don't KNOW
Indeed" he interrupted, IT would