The San Francisco call., 1909-08-22

do. She was resolved not TO admit
anything.
No doubt. but I wanted to see you
very much last night, and again this
morning. 1 may see you, this evening.
perhaps?" He was grave now. She
saw that he awaited her answer in
anxiety.
But" she hesitated just moment
too long before she added. I'm going
out this evening
She started nervously TO rise.
wait" he said in a voice that was
audible to the shop girl, your package
has not come"
She looked at him helplessly. so at
tractive and so inimical to her. He
swung around back to the counter, and
lowered his voice. Did you know l
called upon you yesterday morning
also?" he asked.
She nodded.
Mr. Cressy and waited for you to-
gether. Did he mention it to your"
Mo- Her lips lie. the word out
slowly.
That's a reticent friend of yours"
The exclamation and the truth of it
put her on her guard
Il can't discuss Mr.. Cressy with you"
she said coIdly.
yet no doubt you have discussed me
with him?"
"Neverr
"You haven't told him anything?'
The ineredulity, the amazement of his
face put before her, for the first time,
how extraordinary her conduct must
seem. What could he think of her?
What construction would he put upon
1t? She blushed, neck to forehead, and
her voice was scarcely audible as she
answered No"
But at that small word his whole
mood warmed to her. why, then" he
began eagerly, IF Cressy doesn't know
"Oh. but he" Flora stopped in
terror of herself. II can't talk OF him.
I must not. Don't ask mel she i'm
plored. and please, please don't come
to my house again.
He gave his head a puzzled. impa-
tient shake. Then where am 1 to
see you?"
I'm few days-perhaps tomorrow
i will let you know" She rose. She
back her courage. There was no fur
ther way of keeping her.
But he followed her closely through
the crowd to the door. Yes he said
quickly under his breath, "in Few
days, perhaps tomorrow, as soon as
you get rid of 1t, you won't mind meet
ing me! What are you afraid Of?
Surely not me?"
She was. but hotly denied It,
81 am not afraid of you. am
afraid of them"
OF them He peered at her. What
are you talking about now?"
All. she had said too much She
bit her lip. They had reached the cor
ner, and the gliding cable car was
approaching She turned TO him with
last appeal
clr
come with mel Don't follow mei'
Not until she was safely inside the
car did she dare look back at him.
He was still on the corner. and he
raised his hat and smiled so reassur-
ingly that she was halfway home be-
fore she realized that, in spite of all
she had urged upon him, he had not
committed himself to any promise And
yet,ss she thought in dismay, he had
almost made her give away Harry's
confidence. She was seeing more and
more clearly that. this was the danger
of meeting him. He always got some
thing out of her and never, by chance.
gave her anything in return. If he
should seek her tonight she dared not
be at home, Any place would be safer
than her own house. 1t would be bet
ter to fulfill her engagement and go to
the reception with Clara and Harry.
That was a house Kerr did not know.
1t was awkward to have to an
nounce this sudden change of plan
after her pretenses of the morning,
but of late she had lived too con-
stantly with danger for Clara's lifted
eyebrows to daunt her. The mere
trivial act of being dressed each
day was fraught with danger. To
get the sapphire off her person before
Marrika should appear; to put it back
somehow after Marrika had gone; TO
shift it from one place to another as
she wore gowns cut high or low-and
every moment in fear lest she be dis
covered in the acti This was her daily
maneuver Tonight she clasped the
chain around her waist beneath her
petticoats. But Marrikas sensitive
fingers. smoothing over. for the last
time, the close fitting front of the gown.
felt the sapphire, fumbled with 1t, and
tried to adjust it like a button
''That is all right" Flora said
quickly Nothing shows" Was IL al
ways to make itself known. she
thought uneasily. no matter how 1t was
hid?
She was ready early. in the hope
that Harry might come as he. had been
wont to do. a little before the ap-
pointed hour. But he turned up with
out a moment to spare. Clara was
downstairs in her cloak when he ap-
peared There was no chance for
word at dinner. But if she could not
manage it later in the wider field of
the reception, why. then she deserved
to fail in everything.
But she found, upon their arrival
that even this was going to be hard to
bring about. For she was Immediately
pounced upon-first, by Ella Butler =
why, Flora" at the top of her
voice. "where have you been all these
days?' Then in a hot whisper, Did
you speak to her? 1t hasn't done one
bit of good
'I think you are mistaken" Flora
murmured. But be careful. and let me
know" She had only time for that
broken sentence before she was sur
rounded; and other voices took up the
chorus.
She was getting to be perfect her
nit
She was forgetting all her old
friends.
And less kindly voice in the back
ground added. eyes. for new ones"
She realized with some alarm that
though she had forgotten her public,
it had kept it's eye on her. She an
swered, laughing. that she was keeping
Lent early and allowed herself to
be drifted about through the crowd by