The San Francisco call., 1910-10-02

promise shan't cost you anything.
shall answer no questions. Now,
shall have to send a message to Sonora
Valencia"
"oh, do not" I begged. "she will
stop you from going back. You don't
know what she is capable of; she can
do anythingr'
NO one can undo what you have
done" he said. she will not stop me.
I must send her a word to tell her she
is to go away on the lugger without
me"
But why?" I cried. II am afraid to
have you go near the house. l know
I shall never see you again"
Come, you must be brave. 1 am
only going to write line and slip it
under the gate, We must not be cruel
if we are righteous, you know
! hardly understood his scruple, but
the determination of his voice made me
feel that It was right Thus reassured
the practical question rose as to what
there was he could write with or upon.
We should have to be quick, for al
ready the first pale change, which is
scarcely dawn but only that fading of
the deepest blue of night. was in the
sky. He fumbIed in all his pockets,
and in the folds Of his sash. We ex-
plorej the seat and the floor of the car
riage In my eagerness my cloak
slipped from my shoulders, and as he
drew it up around me again, with merry
Gus fingers fastening the clasps across
the bosom, What is that?' he asked
suddenly.
put my hand down and it touched
a stiff little edge of paper thrusting
my dance program. I had quite for
gotten about it, One side of it was
scrawled thickly with names, but most
of the other side was clear, and the
little white pencil was still fastened
to #.
He took it from me, and holding it on
the palm of his hand, Il wonder if you
have any idea what thing you are ask
ing me TO do?" he said. I did not
speak. because I felt that if 1 opened
my mouth it would be to say something
weak and foolish, and when 1 had put
the card into his hand 1 had seen him
hesitate; so I knew that he needed all
my strength. He bent his head and
began to write slowly and laboriously
because of the swinging of the car
riage; and, letting down the window, I
put my head out and addressed the
driver. who was hunched up like a
shivering- bird on his high seat.
Drive to Sonora valencia's house"
For perhaps an hour he had been
Jogging us around and around the
square, and one would have thought
that this order would have come upon
him as a surprise. But he only turned
his head slowly toward me and then as
slowly back again, with movement
that made me think of a mechanical
toy, then he guided the horses heads
from Washington square into Lombard
street
1 had sunk back into my corner and
covered my eyes with my hand. do
you want to read what have written?"
I heard Johnny ask.
! shook my head I felt that 1 had
made him do something terrible, as he
said I did not know how terrible. 1
did not even look when the carriage
stopped, when / heard him getting out.
the beat Of the brass knocker. A mo-
ment passed, with fear thick at my
heart; then he was back again. He
gave the direction to the driver before
he got in, and the cab turned and was
rafting down the street with speed
that suggested that the hackman was
at last stirred to excitement by the
name of our final destination. We two
looked into each others faces.
you had better drop me at Mont
gomery," Johnny said.
NO." 1 answered, Il am going to
take you all the way" He frowned. I
thought he was going to object. Let
begged. ut will make it easier for
me"
Still with his eyes on me his lips moved
with some word. Not sound came
through, but 1 thought he had said my
name. And all the while through the
cold, gray twilight we were driving
downward through the city. The far
ther we went the more a strange and
calm feeling settled upon me, and the
more I forgot everything in the world
but him. 1t seemed as If for ever we
would continue to drive on together
with this wonderful quietness be-
tween rs.