The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-31
CHAPTER VIII
Madame I,Intrigante

MIS-. Hallami cried k1rKWooo, De-
meath his breath.
The woman ignored his existence.
Moving swiftly forward, she dropped
on both knees by the side Of the boy.
and caught up one of his hands, clasp
ing it passionately in her own.
Fred" she cried, a curious break in
her tone. My little Freddie! Oh, what
has happened. dearieT'
"Oh. hello, mamma" grunted that
young man, submitting listlessly to her
caresses and betraying no overwhelm-
ing surprise at her appearance there.
Indeed he seemed more concerned as
to what Kirkwood. an older man, would
be thinking, to see him so endeared
and fondled, than moved by any other
emotion. Kirkwood could see his
shamefaced, sidelong chances; and
despised him properly for them.
But without attending to his response
Mrs. Hallam ratified on in the uneven
accents Of excitement IT waited until
1 couldn't wait any longer. Freddie
dear. I had to know-had to come
Eccles came home about and said
that you had told him to wait outside.
that some one had followed you in here,
and that bobby had told him to move
on. / didn't know what"
What's o'clock now?'' her son in
terrupted.
It's about 3. I think. Have
you hurt yourself. dear? oh, why didn't
you come home? You must We known
1 was dying Of anxiety"
"Oh, I sayi Can't you see I'm hurt?
Had a nasty fall and must We been
asleep ever since"
My precious onel How
Cant say, hardly. say,
don't paw a chap SO, mamma . :.
I brought Eccles along and told him
TO wait because-well. because 1 didn't
feel so much like shutting myself UP in
this beastly old tomb. So 1 left the
door ajar, and told him not to let any,
body come in. Then 1 came up stairs
There must We been somebody already
in the house; I know 1 thought there
was. It made me feel creepy. rather.
At any rate, I heard voices down be-
low, and the door banged, and some
body began hammerin' like fun on the
knocker."
The boy paused. rolling an embar-
raised eye up at the stranger.
Yes. yes, dear!' Mrs. Hallam urged
him on.
Why. IL made up my mind to cut
my stick-let whoever 1t was pass me
on the stairs. you know. But he fol-
lowed me and struck me, and then
jumped at him, and we both fell down
the whole flight. And that's all. Besides,
my heads achin' like everything"
But this man.
Mrs. Hallam looked up at Kirkwood,
who bowed silently. struggling to hide
both his amusement and perplexity
More than ever, now, the case presented
front inscrutable to his wits; try as
he might. he failed to fit an explana-
ton TO any incident in which he had
figured, while this last Development
that his antagonist of the dark stair
way had been Mrs. Hallams SOM
seemed the most astounding Of all, baf-
fling calculation completely.
He had abandoned all thought of
flight and escape. It was too late; in
the brisk idiom Of his mother tongue
he was caught with the goods on. !"
May as well face the music" he coun-
seled himself, in resignation. From
what he had seen and surmised of Mrs.
Hallam, he shrewdly suspected that the
tune would prove an exceedingly lively
one; she seemed a woman OF magma
ton, originality, and an able bodied
temper.
You, Mr. Kirkwoodl"
Again he bowed, grinning awry.
She rose suddenly. You will be good
enough to explain your presence here. .
she Informed him with dangerous Sc
renity.
ITO be frank with you
Il advise that course. Mr.. Kirk
wood"
Thanks, awf'ly. l came here
half an hour ago, looking for a lost
purse full-well, not quite full of SOW
ereigns. It was my purse, by the way"
Suspicion glinted like foxfire in the