The San Francisco call., 1909-07-25

you read more into it than is there.
You wanted the flowers. l had stick,
and in my youth 1 was taught to strike
clean and straight. I am really a very
simple fellow"
Looking him in the eyes. which were
of a clear, candid gray, she was ready
TO believe it. 1t seemed as If he had
let her look for moment through his
manner, his ironies, his armor of in
difference, to the frank foundations of
his nature.
But. you see. the trouble is you
don't in the least look It." she argued.
so you think because have a long
face and wild hair that I am a sinister
person? My dear Miss Gilsey, the most
desperate character 1 ever know was
five feet high and wore mutton chop
whiskers. 1t is an uncertain business
Judging men by their appearance"
She could not help smiling. But most
people do
"'I don't class you with most people"
She gave him a quick look. You did
the first night"
"Possfbly-but less and less ever
since You have me now in the state
of mind where I don't know what
you'll be at next"
This was fortunate. she thought.
since she had not the least idea herself,
beyond a teasing desire to find out
more about him. He had shown her
many fieeting phases which. put to-
gether, seemed contradictory. She
could not connect this man, so mild and
amusing. strolling beside her, with the
alert, whetted, combative person OF the
night before. or even with the aloof
and reticent figure on the parade
ground His very attitude toward her
self had changed from the amused
scrutiny of the first night into some
thing more indulgent, more sympa-
thetic. There was only one attitude on
his part that had remained the same
one attitude toward one person-and
her mind hovered over this On each
occasion it had stirred her curiosity
and though she had not admitted 1t,
made her uneasy. Why not probe him
on the subject now that she had him
completely TO herself? But as soon as
silence fell between them she saw that
wave of preoccupation which had sub
merged him during their walk from
the parade ground to the Purdies' ris
ing over him again and floating him
away from her. He no longer even
looked at her His eyes were on the
ground, and it was not until they had
crossed the open expanse of the shall
low valley and were climbing toward
the avenue of cypress that she found
courage 10 put her question.
Have you and Mr.. Cressy met be-
fore?"
He raised his head with jerk and
looked at her a moment in astonish-
ment.
DO you mind If answer your ques-
tion American fashion by asking an
other?' he said presently. What put
it into your head that We may have
met before?"
at the club, and again this morning"
Kerr shook his head You are an
observant young person. The fact is.
I'VE never met him-of that am GER
tain. but 1 believe I've seen him be-
fore and for the life of me I can't
think where At the moment you
spoke 1 was trying to remember"
WAS it in this country" Flora
prompted, hopeful of fishing some
thing definite out Of his vagueness.
NO. it was years ago. 1t must have
been in England" He looked at her in
ouirfngly, as if he expected her to help
him
Oh. Harry's been in England she
said quickly; and then, with a flashing
thought, came to her the one scene
Harry had mentioned in his English
experience. Was it at ball2 The ques-
ton came TO her lips. but she checked
il there. She remembered how Harry
had stopped her the night before with
nod. with a.look, from mentioning
that very thing. Still she hesitated-
for the temptation was strong. But no.
II was only loyal to Harry to speak to
him first.
so. you're not going to tell me2'
Kerr remarked, and she came back to a
sudden consciousness of how her face
must have reflected her thought.
..No-nox at this time she said, smil-
ing. though somewhat flushed.
He knitted his brows at her. They
had reached the arched gate. and the
car that would carry her home was ap-
preaching
~Ah. then, 1 am afraid it viii be
never he said.
was it possible that this was their
last meeting? Did he mean he was 60
ing away? The questions formed in her
mind. but there was no time for words.
He had stopped the car with a flick of
his agile cane, and handed her in as if
he had handed her into carriage; and
not a word as TO whether they would
see eacn other again. though she hoped
and hesitated to the last moment.
Her hand was In his for the fraction
of a minute. Then the car was widen
ing the distance between them and she
was no longer looking into his face.
which had seemed at their last moment
both merry and wistful, but back at his
diminishing figure. showing black
against the pale Preside hills.
~HAnTEn W