The San Francisco call., 1909-01-03

HI cAtCCI goAAH VI LCl NhS ACeNA-
ized) more than in aught else. lay her
chiefest charm: She could be little
more than a child. indeed, IL he were
to Judge her by the purity of her
.shadowed eyes and the absence of
emotion in the calm and direct look
which presently she turned upon him
who sat wondering at the level, pen
ciled darkness of her brows.
At length aware that she had sur
prised his interest, Kirkwood glanced
sside-cooliy- deliberate, lest she should
detect in his attitude anything more
than impersonaI approval
A slow color burned his cheeks In
his temples there rose a curious
:pulsing.
After a while she drew his gaze
again, Observation-Disclosures. all unaware
of the havoc she was wreaking on his
temperament.
cloaking an unhappy heart with placid
brow and gracious demeanor; but such
conception matched strangely her
glowing youth and spirit. What had
she to do with Carer What concern
had Black Care, whose gaunt shape
in sable shrouds had lurked at his
shoulder all the evening, despite his
rigid preoccupation, with being as
charmingly flushed with budding
womanhood as this girl?
Eighteen" he hazarded. "Eigh-
teen. or possibly nineteen, dining at
the Pless ip a ravishing dinner gown.
and--unhappy? oh. hardly-not shep'
Yet the impression haunted him, and
ere long he was fain TO seek confirma-
ton or denial of it In the manner of
her escort.
The latter sat with back to Kirk
wood. cutting a figure as negative as
4
.Surmise little from fieshy, thick neck.
a round. glazed bald spot, a fringe of
grizzled hair, and two bright red ears.
Calendar?
Somehow the fellow did suggest
Kirkwood's caller OF the afternoon.
The young man could not have said
precisely how. for he was unfamiliar
with the aspect OF that gentleman's
back. None the less the suggestion
persisted.
BY now a few of the guests, theater
bound, for the most part. were leaving.
Here and there a table stood. vacant
that had been. filled. cloth tarnished.
chairs disarranged; in another moment
TO be transformed into its pristine
brilliarce under the deft attentions Of
the servitors.
Down an aisle, past the table at
which the girl was sitting, came two,
NAMING NO& dA AODDe ZIG man. a
Slight and. meager young personality.
in the lead. Their party had attracted
Kirkwood's notice as they entered;
why, he did not remember; but IL was
in his mind that. then they had been
three. Instinctively he looked at the
table they had left-one placed at some
distance from the girl, and hidden
from her by an angle in the wall. 1t
appeared that the third member had
- ,rar7+c
his tobacco and a nQueur brandy.
Kirkwood could see him plainly, loung-
ing in his chair and fumbling the stem
OF a glass; a heavy man of somber
habit. his black and sullen brows low
ering and thoughtful above a face
boldly handsome.
The woman of the trio was worthy
of closer attention. Some PAGES in the
wake of her lackluster esquire. she
was making a leisurely progress, trail
ing the skirts of gown magnificent
beyond dispute. half concealed though
Il was by the opera cloak whose soft
folds draped her shoulders. Slowly,
carrying her head high, she approached,
insoient eyes reviewing the room from
beneath their heavy lids; a metallic and
mature type of dark beauty, supremely
lf-confident and possessed.
Men turned involuntarily to look
after her, not. altogether in undiluted
admiration.
In the act OF passing behind the
putative Calendar, she paused momen-
tariiy. bending as If to gather up her
train. Presumably the action dis
turbed her balance; she swayed a little.
and in the effort to recover. rested
the tips Of her gloved fingers upon the
edge OF the table. simultaneously
(Kirkwood could have sworn) a single
LET kcr Inc NO
pitched for the ear OF the hypothetical
Calendar alone. Then she swept on,
imperturbable. assured.
To the perp1exed observer It was
indubitably evident that some com
munication had passed from the woman
to. the man. Kirkwood saw the fat
shoulders of the girls companion
stiften suddenly as the womans hand
rested at his elbow; as she moved
away. a little rippling shiver was
plainly visible in the muscles of his
back, beneath his coat-mute token
of relaxing tension. An instant later
one plump and mottled hand was care
iessiy placed where the woman's had
been; and was at once removed with
fingers closed
To the girl. watching her face
coyertly, Kirkwood turned for. clew to
the incident He made no doubt that
6le nd0 observed the passage PROOF
OF that one found in her sudden start
ling .palloF '(of indignation?) and in
her eyes, briefly .alight with some in
Ecrutable emotion. though quickly
yelled by lowered lashes. Slowly
enough she regained color and COM
posure while her vis-a-vis sat motion
less, head inclined as IL IN thought
Abruptly the man turned In his chair
to summon a waiter, and exposed his
profile. Kirkwood was in no wise
amazed TO recognize Calendar badly
frightened Calendar now, however, and
hardly 10 be Identified with the sleek.
glib fellow who had interviewed
Kirkwood in the afternoon. His habby
cheeks were ashen and trembling, and
upon the back OF his chair the fat
white fingers were drumming inces-
sanity an inaudible tattoo OF shattered
nerves.
Scared silIy!" commented Kirkwood.
'rwhy?"
Having spoken to his waiter, Calen-
dar for some seconds raked the room
with quick gIances as If seeking an
acquaintance. Presumably disappointed
he swung back to face the girl, bend
ing forward to reach her ears with
accents low pitched and confidential.
She. on her part, fell at once atten-
tive. grave and responsive. Perhaps a
dozen sentences passed between them.