The San Francisco call., 1910-01-30


for relieving me of the company OF that offensive
creature Do you think that Mrs Dusoy will be
safer"
Perfectly now that the launch is lightened," re-
turned the willy Carter. Look" he added, pointing
to something of which he had been for the last
FIVE minutes the life savers have put out around the
point"
Mrs. Pulsain actually shuddered.
What narrow escape. Think of being found in
that miserable little launch in this condition and
snapshotted and questioned and written about for
weeksl never would have heard the last of it,
Carter laughed
"You seem to think publicity greater danger than
the raging main ITSELF he ventured, feeling his way
toward more intimate ground. She did not resent
it, acceding his right tacitly
Very nearly" she smiled though looking back
can see that / should have been glad enough to ac-
cept even the life if it had come to the final
question"
Carter appreciated her motives in adopting a light
tone, but he determined that while she attempted
evade embarrassing display of gratitude by such
tactics, he would entrap her at her own game.
How did the launch get into dificulty?" he asked
at not the launch but Mr.. Tenny that had the
difficulty she answered. "He was impossible When
the clouds came up wanted him put ashore, but
he wouldn't. What a spectacle he made of himself"
She dismissed the unfortunate Tenny with a gesture
of disgust Carter eased the sloop toward home. As
he busted himself with the sheets he conscious
that she was inspecting him carefully with the all
embracing. sidelong glance of woman who weighs
and apPrases in instant. 1t was pleasant to know
that his cap set we'll upon his handsome head and
that the blue serge coat and white became
him.
Where did you acquire your skill in seamanshp,
Mr.. Carter?" she inquired, adjusting her hair with
few deft touches
About the lagoofs and river mouths of Virginia,
where was born Mrs. Pusain. 1 owned a boat as
soon as could walk
you have not lived long in New York, then3"
That accounts for the fact that have not met YOU
before" she said
Il the happier in having remedied my loss in
such timely manner" he smiled back gracefully.
Encouraged by her answering smile he took more
direct
Zone finds it difficult to establish a new circle OF
acquaintances when one is removed from ones own
section, Mrs. Pulsain The Hopes the Champneys
the Bdwells and the Gatz-Browns include my list of
friends here"
Measure of the Man
She measured him again After a paase she re-
verted to their immediate situation.
This will be a preposterous story for the crowd
And when they know it will surely spread"
>"What harm then?" queried Carter, who was puz-
zled at the insistence with which she returned this
incidental phase OF the adventure
"Why, don't you see?" she broke out "Im not
schoolgirl, to be rescued in romantic style and
brought back looking like drowned rat They talk
enough now if l make move that is not in keeping
with dowager of sixty. Heaven knows what they'll
say to this. And my husband will never let me put
my foot in a boat again"
Carter smiled in earnest at the tone of vexation.
She very after all, society leader and
grande dame though she might be- with her pretty
vanites, her inconsistencies. her trivial anxiety
appearances and the Judgment of others. He felt
sure of her. She far from overawing
: ALLOW me the liberty of a suggestion" he said,
gayly. "The sun is out again. Go forward the
deck and dry off I'll cut out a mile or so and we'll
take an hour more in getting home By that time,
unless you're considerably less capable than believe
you to be, will suspect that you've had
wettng. So there's your dreadful melodrama dis
posed Of"
"But Emmeline and Mr. Tennyp
ooh, you've nothing to fear from them Tenny
won't be apt to go into details And guess you can
restrain Mrs. Dusoy. And for me, why, I'm
conspirator."
The twinkle with which he outlined his plot brought
a ripping laugh from Mrs. Pulsain. AS he watched
her he reflected that she had be- in fact not
far removed from the schoolgirl she had professed
horror resembling She turned toward him sym
pathetically charmed from her defenses by his
and spirit.
ooh, if we can only do it. You're putting me under
great many obligations to you, Mr.. Carter. How
1 repay you?"
"Why" he said. dwelling payfuly upon the word
but with keen glance at her face "n you
be guide for through the social wiIds if seem
to be proper subject"
She looked at him with hint Of sharpness and
sudden But her smile fingered and he boldly
held to the situation with clear, genuine laugh
"You might begin my initiation with that re-
ception of yours. I've been led to believe that it's
of the thickest jungles of all to penetrate"
Daredeviltry of Finesse
For instant he feared that ne had overshot the
mark and lost. The the daredevltry of
fnesse. He seemed to see all the hardness that her