The San Francisco call., 1909-03-07

back-more sedately--toward the river,
debouching on the esplanade just one
block from the Hotel du Commerce.
AS he swung past the serried tables of
a cafe, whatever fears he had harbor-
ed were banished by the discovery
that the excitement occasioned by the
chase had already subsidized. Beneath
the garfsh awnings the crowd was
laughing and chattering, eating and
slipping its book with complete uncon-
Germ, needless altogether of the hag-
gard and shabby young man carrying
a black hand bag, with the Black shade
of Care for company and a blacker
threat of disaster logging his foot
steps. Without attracting any atten-
tion whatever, indeed. he mingled with
the strolling crowds. making his way
toward the Hotel du Commerce. Yet he
was not at all at ease; his uneasy con-
science invested the gladstone bag
with magnetic attraction for the
public eye. To carry it unconcealed in
his hand furnished him with a sensa-
ton as disturbing as though its worn
black sides had been stenciled STOLEN!
in letters Of fame He felt it rendered
him cynosure Of public interest, an
object of suspicion to the wide cold
world. that the gaze which lit upon
the bag travelled to his face only to
espy thereon the brand of guilt
For ease of mind. presently he turn
ed into convenient shop and spent ten
invaluable francs for a hand satchel
big enough to hold the gladstone bag.
With more courage, now that he had
the hateful thing under cover. he found
and entered the Hotel du Commerce.
In the little closet which served as
an office, over a desk visibly groaning
with the weight of an enormous and
griny registry book, a sleepy, fat,
bland and good natured woman of the
Belgian bourgeoisie presided, a benign
and drowsy divinity of even-tempered
courtesy. To his misleading inquiry
for Monsieur Calendar he returned a
cheerful permission to seek that gen.
tlenan for. himself.
Three lights. Msieu'. in the front;
suite seventeen it is Msieu does not
mind walking up?" she inquired.
M'sieu did not In the least, though
by no strain Of the ina gination could
1t be truthfully said that he walked
up those steep and redolent stairways.
of the Hotel du Commerce, d'Anyers.
More literally, he flew with winged
feet. spurning each third padded step
with a force that raised tiny cloud
of fine white dust from the carpeting.
Breathless at last he paused at the
top of the third flight. His heart was
hammering. his pulses drumming like
wild things; there was a queer con-
striction In his throat, fire of hope
in his heart alternating with the ice
of doubt. Suppose she were not there
What If he were mistaken. what IL he
had misunderstood, what If Mnlready
and Calendar had referred to another
lodging house?
Pausing he gripped the balustrade
fiercely, forcing his self-control, fore
ing himself to reflect that the girl
(presuming. for the sake Of argument
he Were presently to find her) could
not be expected to understand how
ardently he had discounted this mo-
ment OF meeting. or how strangely Il
affected him. Indeed, he himself was
more than little disturbed by the lat
ter phenomenon. though he was nc
longer blind to Its cause. But he was
not to, let her see the evidences of his
agitation, lest she be frightened.
Slowly schooling himself to assume g
masque OF illuding self possession and
con1posure, he passed down the cofri-
dor to the door whose panels wore the
painted legend IL and there knocked.
Believing that he overheard from
Within a sudden startled exclamation
he smiled patiently, tolerant of hel
surprise.
Burning with impatince as if with
fever. he endured long minutes wait
Misgiyings were prompting him t.
knock again and SUMMON her by name
when he heard footballs on the Other
side Of the door, followed by click o.
the lock. The door was opened Grudge
ingly, a, bare six inches.
OF the alarmed expression in the
eyes that stared into his, he took no &C
count, His face lengthened a little a.
he stood there, dumb, painting. staring
and bis heart sank, down, deep dowr
into gulf of disappointment, weight