The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-31

Its a very unusual case, ma'am,' he
apologized; Il hopes you won't old it
against me. I'm only trying to do my
duty"
And safeguard our property. You
are perfectly justified, officer
THANK you, maam. And would you
mind giving me your cards. please, all
of you?"
Certainly not" without hesitation
the woman took a little hand bag from
the seat of the carriage and produced
card; her son likewise found his case
and handed the officer an oblong slip.
i've no cards with me-" the Ameri-
can told the policeman; my name, how
ever, is Philip Kirkwood, and I'm stay
ing at the Pless."
Very good. sir; thank you. The
man penciled the information in his lit
tie book. THANK you, maam, and Mr..
Hallam, sir. Sorry to have detained
you. Good morning"
Kirkwood helped young Hallam into
the carriage, gave Mrs. Hallam his hand
and followed her. The man Eccles shut
the door, mounting the box beside the
driver. Immediately they were in mo-
ton.
The. American got final glimpse of
the bobby. standing in front of No 9
Frognall street, and watching them
with an air of profound uncertainty.
He had Kirkwood's sympathy therein
but he had little time to feel with him,
for Mrs. Hallam turned upon him very
suddenly.
Mr. Kirkwood. will you be good
enough to tell me who and what you
are?"
The young man smiled his homely,
candid smile. I'll be only too glad,
Mrs. Hallam, when feel sure you'll do
as much for yourself"
She gave him no answer. If was ff
she were choosing words. Kirkwood
braced himself to meet the storm, but
none ensued. There was rather a lulI
which strung itself out indefinitely, to
the monotonous music of hoofs and rub
Der tires
Young Hallam was resting his empty
blond head against the cushions, and
had closed his eyes. He seemed to
doze; but, as the carriage rolled past
the frequent street lights. Kirkwood
could see that the eyes of Mrs. Hallam
were steadily directed to his face.
His outward composure was tenn
pered by some amusement, by more
admiration; the womans eyes were
very handsome, even when hardest
and most cold. 1t was not easy to con-
ceive of her as being the mother of
son so immaturely mature. Why,
she must have been at least 3S or g.!
One wondered she did not look it.
The carriage stopped before a house
with lighted windows. Eccles jumped
down from the box and scurried to
open the front door. The radiance of
a hall lamp was streaming out into
the misty night when he returned to
release his employers.
They were returned to Craven street,
"One more lap around the trackp'
unused Kirkwood. Wonder will the
next take me back to Bermondsey Old
Stairs"
AT Mrs. Hallams direction Eccles
ushered him into the smoking room
on the ground floor In the rear of the
dwelling, there to wait while she
helped her son upstairs and to bed. He
sighed with pleasure at first glimpse
of It's luxurious but informal comforts
and threw himself carelessly into a
heavily padded lounging chair. drop
ping one knee over the other and light
ing the last of his expensive cigars
with a sensation of undiluted graft
tude-as one coming to rest In the
shadow of a great rock in q weary
land.
Over his shoulder homeliks illu-