The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-18

bothered of the lot He came at 1t
first in words.
Farrell Wanda" He felt it over, as
If. like doubtful coin, it might have
rung false Now, what did 1 know
of Farrell Wand?"
Farrell Wand?'' Kerr took 1t up
rapidly. why, he was the great
Johnnie who went through the Scot
land yard men at Perth in a. and got
great assortment of things under the
most peculiar circumstances-took the
Tilton emera1ds off Lady Tiltons neck
at st. James"
why, Harry. you" Flora began.
You told us that" was what she had
meant to say, but Harry stopped her.
Stopped her just with look, with a
nod; but 1t was as If he had shaken his
head at her. His tawny lashes. half
dropped over watching eyes, gave him
more than ever the look Of a great
still cat; a domestic, good humored
cat, but. in sight of legitimate prey
Her eyes went back to Kerr with
sense of bewilderment- His voice was
still going on. expansively, brilliantly,
juggling his subject.
He knew them all, the big-wigs up
in parliament. the big-wigs on change
the little duchesses in Mayfair, and
they all liked him, asked him, dined
him, and-great Scott, they paid, Paid
their decency when the thing came
out-but poor devil. SO did hel"
And through 1T all Butler gIoomed
unsmiling. with outthrust underlip.
mo. no." he said slowly, that's not
my connection with Farrell Wand.
What happened afterward? What did
they do with him?'
Kerr was silent, and Flora thought
his face seemed suddenly at Its sharp
est.
1t was Clara who answered with an
other question. Didn't he get to the
colonies? Didn't he die there7'
Judge Butler caught it with a snap of
his fingers. Got it," he triumphed.
and the two men turned square upon
him. They ran him to earth in Aus
tralia. That was the year 1 was there
pc. l got snapshot of him at the
time"
1t was now the whole table that
turned on him. and Flora felt with
that unanimous movement, something
crucial. the something that she had
Deen waiting for: and yet she could In
no way connect 1t with what had hap
pened, nor understand why Clara. why
Harry, why Kerr above all should be
SO alert For more than all he looked
expectant, poised. and ready for what
ever was coming next.
What sort of a chap?" he unused
and fixed the Judge moment with the
same stare that Flora remembered to
have first confronted her
What sort? Sort of a criminal" the
judge smiled. They all look alike"
Still" Clara suggested, such a man
could hardly have been ordinary"
In the chains gang-oh, yes said
Butler with conviction.
OH Then the picture wasn't worth.
anything7"
Why, no" Butler admitted slowly.
though. come to think of it, it wasn't
the chain-gang either They were TAX
ing him aboard the ship. The crowd
was so thick 1 hardly saw him, and
only got one shot at him. But the
name was a queer one. It stuck in my
mind"
But then" Clara insisted, what be-
came of him?''
.'oh, gave them the slip" the judge
chuckled. He always did. Reported
to have changed ships in midocean.
Hal, is that another bother"
Harry stretched his hand for it. but
it stayed suspended-and for an in
slant, it seemed as If the whole table
waited expectant Had Buffers camera
caught the clear face OF Farrell Wand
or only a dim figure? Flora wondered
il that was the question Harry wanted
to ask. He wanted-and yet he hesi-
tated, as IL he did not quite dare touch
tt He laughed and filled the glasses.
He had dropped his question, and there
was no one at the table who seemed
ready to put another.
And yet there were questions there.
in all the eyes; but some impassable
barrier seemed to have come between
these eager people. and what, for In
calculable reasons, they so much
wanted to know Tt was not the genial