The San Francisco call., 1909-08-22

his request, and hand 1t to him-and
damn them both? If only she could
escape seeing him altogether until she
could find out what Harry was doing
and what she must do!
Meanwhile, there was her promise to
Ella. She recalled it with difficulty. 1t
seemed a vague thing in the light of
her latest discovery, though she could
never meet Clara in disagreement with
out qualm. But she made the plunge
that evening, before Clara left for the
Buffers, while she was at her dressing
table in the half disarray which brings
out all the softness and the disarming
physical charm of women. From her
low chair Flora spoke laughingly of
Elias perturbation. Clara paused. with
the powder puff in her hand while she
listened to Flora's explanation Of how
Ella feared that some one might after
all these years, be going to marry
Judge Butler Who this might be she
did not even hint at. She left it ever
so sketchy But the little stare with
which Clara met it. the amusement the
surprise and then the shortest possible
little laugh. were guarantee that Clara
had seen it ALL She had filled out
Flora's sketch to the full outline, and
pronounced it, as Flora had, an alb
she had gone away with her delicate
brows little drawn together, as If
she'd really found more than laugh,
something worth considering, in Elias s
state of mind.
Flora was left with the uneasy feel
ing that perhaps she had unwittingly
delivered Ella into Clara's hands; that
Ella, too, was in danger of becoming
part of Clara's schemes. Danger
seemed to be spreading like contagion.
1t was borne in upon her that from
this time forward dangers would null
tiply. That nothing was going to be
easier, but everything infinitely harder.
to the end; and now was the time to
act if ever shes hoped to make way
through the tahgle.
She heard the wheels of Claras de-
parting conveyance. Now was her
chance for an interview with Harry
She spent 20 minutes putting together
three sentences that would not arouse
his. suspicious. She made two copies,
and sent thenr by separate mes
sengers, one to his rooms, one to the
club, with orders they be brought back
if he was not there to receive
them. Then-the miserable business of
waiting in the large house full of
echoes and the round, ghostly globes
of electric lights. with that thing
around her neck for which-did they
but know of it-half the town would
break in her windows and doors.
The wind travelled the streets with
out, and shook the window castings.
She covered over the library fire, lis
tenihg. The leaping flames set her
shadow dancing Ikea goblin. a bell
rang and the shadow and the flame
gave a higher leap as if in welcome
of what had arrived. She went to the
library door. In the glooms and lights
outside Shima was standing. and two
messengers. 1t was odd that both
should arrive at onces She stepped
back and stood waiting with a quicker
pulse. Shima entered with two letters
upon his tray She had a moments
anxiety lest both her notes had been
brought. back to her. but no-the en-
velope which lay on top showed Harry's
writing. She tore it open hastily.
Harry wrote that he would be delight
ed, and might he bring a friend with
him: bully fellow whom he wanted
her to meetg He added she might send
over for some girl and they could have
jolly little party.
Flora looked at this communication
blankly. Was Harry who had always
jumped at the chance of tete tete,
dodging her2 In her astonishnient she
let the other envelope rail-. She stopped
and then for a moment remained thus
bent over it. The superscription was
not hers. The note was not addressed
to Harry, but to her, and in a hand
writing she had never seen before!
Again the peal of the electric bell