The San Francisco call., 1909-07-25

stuff now and then How'd you like
to look in there before we go on TO
what you call em's-the regular
placer"
You mean for a ring7'' She was
doubtful only of his being in earnest
You have so many OF the ShrOve
kind he explained. I thought you
might like it. Flora. you're 50 roman
ticp he laughed
IT like it, she cried too touched at
his thought for her to resent the i'm
putation. 7 should love it, But
didn't know they had such things"
Now and then-thOugh II Is rare
chance"
But that viii be just the fun OF IT,
she hascened. half afraid lest Harry
should change his mind. TO see II we
can possibly find one that win be dif-
ferent from all these others"
She kept this little feeling OF ex-
ploration close about her. as they left
the car, a block above the green trees
or the plaza. and entered one Of the
narrow streets that was not even a
cross street. bur an alley running to
bags end, with balconies. green rail-
ings and narcissi taking the sun.
A slant eyed baby in mauve blouse
stared after them, and a white face so
poisoned in its badness that II gave
Flora start peered at them from
across the street It made her shrink
and take hold OF his arm. The mere
touch OF that arm was security. His
Dig presence, moving agflely beside
her, seemed to I'll the street with its
strength, as if. by merely finging out
his arms. SamsOnlike. he could burst
the dark walls asunder.
In the middle of the block. sunk a
little back from the fronts OF the
others. the goldsmith's shop showed
single. filmed window: and the pale
glow through IL proclaimed that the
worker in metals preferred another
light to the suns. The threshold was
worn TO a hollow that surprised the
foot; and the interior into which II
led them glOOmed SO suddenly around
them after the broad sunlight that it
was moment before they made out
the little man behind the counter. sit
ting hunched up on a high stool
HullO, joe" said Harry. in the same
voice that hailed his friends on the
street corners; but the goldsmith only
nodded like a nCdding mandarin. as IT,
without looking UP, he took them in
and sensed their errand. He wore a
round. blue Chinese cap drawn over
his crown pair OF strange goggles
like a mask over his eyes. and his
little body seemed to pOise as
lightly on his high stool as a wisp as
if there were no more flesh in il than
in his long, dry fingers that 50 mar
velOUsly manipulated the metal. Save
for that glitter OF gold on his glass
plate. and the grin of a lighted braZier.
all was dark. discOlOred and cluttered-
And the way Harry bloOmed upon
this back ground OF dubious antiquity.
He leaned on the little counter. which
creaked under his weight. in his biz,
fresh coat, with his clear, fresh face
bent above the shallow tray OF trink-
ets-doubtful jades, dim-eyed rings.
dull clasps and coins-his large. fas-
tidiOus finger pOked among. He was
the one vital thing in the shop.
Over everything else was spread
dimness Of age like dust. 1t envelOped
the little man behind the counter, not
with the fFailness that belongs to hu-
man age. but with that weathered,
polished hardness which time brings to
antiques OF wood and metal Indeed.
he appeared so like carved idol in
a curio shop that Flora was a little
startled TO find that he was looking at
her. Cinnamon had always seemed TO
her blank autOmatOns; but this one
looked keenly. pOintedly. as II he per
sonalIy took note. She told herself
whimsically that perhaps il was his
extraordinary glasses that gave point
to that expression; and presently when
he took them OF she was surprised TO
see it seemed verify true His little
physiOgnOmy had no more expression
than a withered nut. But there was
something about IL more disturbing
than its vanishing telhgence. some
thing unexpected. and out OF harmony
with the rest OF him. yet so illusive
that. fit over him as her eye would,
she failed 10 find IL.
Harry" she murmGred to Cressy,
who was still stirring the contents OF
the box with a disdainful forehnser.
this little man gives me the shiverS-
"Old joe" Harry smiled indulgently.
Hes a queer customer. Been quite
a fEurehead IN Chinatown FOR 20 years
saw. Joe. heap badr' and with the back
of his hand he hicked the tray away
from him
The little man undoubled his knees
and descended from the stool He stood
breast high behind the counter He
dropped a lack luster eye 70 the box
'eVelIy nice" he murmured with vague.
falling infection
"Oh. rotten Harry laughed at him.
You no like?"
mo. No like. You got something
eIse-something nice?"
NO" Ii was like a door closed in
the face Of their hope-that falling in
Election. that blank OF vacuity that set
tied over his face and his whole drOOp-
ing figure. He seemed to be only
rnutely awaiting their immediate de-
parture 10 climb back again on his
high stool. But Harry sIili leaned on
the counter and grinned ingratiatingly.
"Oh. Joe. you good fen. You got
something pretty-maybe?"
The curtain OF vacuity parted just
crack-let through a CLEAN OF intense
| intelligence Maybe The goldsmith
chuckIed deeply. as II Harry had un
Willingly perpetrated some joke
some particularly clever conJurers
trick He sidled out behind the cOuu-
ter. past the grinning brazier, and
shuff1ed into the back OF the shop.
where he opened a door.
Flora had expected a cupboard. but
the vista il gave upon was a long
black incredibly narrow passage. that
stretched away into gloom with all the
suggestion OF distance of a road going
over a horizon. Down this the gold
smith went. with his straw slippers
J clapping on his heels. until his small
} figure merged in the gloom and pres
emily disappeared altogether. and only
the faint fipper-fap OF his slippers
came back. growing more and more
distant to them. and finally dying into
silence In the stiffness that followed
while they waited they could hear each
other breathe The little shop with the