The San Francisco call., 1910-11-20

ocean break so near that Its salt spray
splashed the sands at their feet. I'm
rounder in the tenderlofn-nothing else
I'm a desperate failure. I had chance
to study law IN the biggest firm in this
town. studied it just 10 months; had
q chance to go to college, went just
IS months: I had chance to stick at
music with this voice Of mine-and I
threw it away; went in the army and
all I did was to get shot in the leg by
some Kackeyack. came back to this
town, and what have I been SINGER A
CRATER a hangeron Of the worst crowd
under Gods sun. Do you realize ftp"
You told me once you were almost
gambler"
Yes, tried to cut in with book at
Emeryville track-and I quit broke.
Wally Walters and I wrote a musical
burlesque once and tried TO land 1t on
O'Farrel street-and the bunk men
held US up"
He saw she was puzzled by his town
Jargon. 'T mean if we'd bribed the
grafters around the theater we'd have
had our show put on. I'm just telling
you all this to have you see what I live
in-the cold. fierce, dirty game it is
and this IS only the least of It all"
1T isn't right" she said slowly.
John you mustn't
'Nothings right-it's big graft.
never had man come TO me with
straight proposition in my life. 7 never
tried to spring straight game myself
that some crook didn't block me-" He
poured a handful OF sand into his hat.
She saw the thin curls blow about his
white forehead Kid" he went on, II
never had anything get so close to me
as you have-I never wanted TO be
square so badly in my life as do
now" ~
The girls gray eyes filled; the radi-
ance OF her morning was dying
Il guess It's cause you love me-" she
whispered
He stirred restlessly.
Look here. Last night you placed
$4,000 in my hand to keep for you,
you stayed all night in my rooms alone.
You simply floor me with your way of
looking at things-and trusting me"
why not?" she said staring at him.
Sylvia" he retorted, edo you know
who I am? I'm seld Arnold's son."
Arnold? Seld Arnold?" She was
thinking hard. then she started.
My fathers IN San Quentin. You
must have heard of the big case in the
San Joaquin. All the farmers hate
him-he financed the big irrigation
works and when the crash came a let
OF them were ruined. The railroad
smashed him because he supported
Pennoyer for governor-the public
They won his financial hackers away,
and then the old man did a foolish
thing"
She looked away at the sea, the trem-
ulous twitch Of her chin was all that
he saw OF her suffering.
L know, now. I was little girl,
but remember My father lived there
then and-he lost everything-church
and all. We moved TO Trinity and took
up some timber land"
Well, we dids@.Awe ruined half that
country"
The girl rose on one knee in the
sand looking intently at his somber
face. A slow mischief came into her
eyes; she half crept toward him and
then she leaped against HIS shoulder.
her firm arms about his neck, her clean
breath on his cheek Laughing, she
kissed him again and again, over
whelming him with her belief IN him,
her trust and love of him. The ,passers
on the sand, the carriage people on the
Cliff drive, looked on them amused.
He was confusedly trying to put her
back. Don't, little girl-don't" he
whispered. Let me tell you-let me
explain"
What do we care?" she cried joy
ously. Suppose your father is In
prison, and suppose he did ruin mine?
Oh. were young and free, and that
But that isn't It, No, you'n have
TO know
His face made her draw back; her
laughing eyes shrank from his steadi-
ness; she sat on her heels In the sand.
What do you mean. John? Isn't 1t
all right?p
II told you the kind OF man I am.
L was square, wasn't IT'
We'll. I guess you told me the worst
and I forgave you'll"
There are some things 1 can't tell.
The whole town would smile IL I tried
TO explain that you were straight after
you had stayed at my place last night,
but no matter. I'VE been square"
She sat staring doubtfully at him.
The silence grew long. He dug his
fingers into the sand and poured it in
q little yellow stream from one hand
TO the other. Without looking at the
girl who was trying to put back the
straying hair from her ears, he re-
sumed.
ahead to all my life. Sylvia, brought
you here to tell you-I wouldn't have
you in ii for anything!"
What do you mean?"
Hadn't we better go back to town.
he evaded. Haven't you some friends
you can stay with tonight?"
Tonight? What do you mean, John?"
horror now. His stern face was not
averted. steadfastly he dared look at
her.
Sylvia. here's your money-every
cent That's all was after. I was just
playing you-that's all"
She could not answer she could not
look at him.
But aren't you-aren't We"
I'm done for-that's all. And I'm
glad-for it gave me a chance to be
square with you. Little girl. it's for
your good-the simple honest soul in
you. I'm not going TO marry you
Sylvia. I don't love you"
The girl rose. Slowly she faced the
keen sea north. There the redwood for
ests were, the gloom of the hills, the
silent places. She looked into the wind
over the ocean, trying to fasten back
the wayward brown hair blowing about
her face. She turned to the east, and
there the city lay under dun cloud,
the brute town from which for 20
hours. his arms had sheltered her. Now
Never had she been so lonely. She
had not dreamed that any one could be
so sad the wind so chill, the world so
desolate. Mute and dry eyed, she faced
again the northern sea.
1T came over me this morning" he
went on slowly. Il saw how / had