The San Francisco call., 1910-11-06
CHAPTER II-ContInued

TNERRERTs wits did not follow
at first; there waE. at time. a
grim satire IN Arnold; he would
say things that showed. after
all. that you had never been close
20 him. that be was surveying g
you and himself from some view
point fnimitabIy his own. Louis re-
called. as all the street did, that Ar
nold's family name had stood for much
10 years ago-much that Louis knew
Of only as his Indifferent eye wen-
dered over the social pages OF the Sum
day papers It was broken now, al
most forgotten: from the only son, the
last scion Of the house. the years had
erfaced resentment shame or hope of
reparation- He had accepted, he told
himself. with a clear. impersonal sur
vey and he had promised himself, what
ever the conditions, to be the master OF
his life And so he had come down the
way, still seeing his fall clearly, In a
sort OF philosophic pride at the mordant
keenness with which he knew himself
and was unmoved, without law, without
conscience. without soul. 1t was as he
wished.
They're all crooks"
Arnold laughed easily. Naturally.
But I'm through with the little ones.
with money I can reach the big ones.
] mean socially. Moneyll make them
forget q good deal-and now I'll have
some money" He tinkled his glass
along the polished wood. Dads pretty
old for San Quentin. He won't be the
same game old fighter that tried TO
swing the whole San Joaquin into his
irrigation scheme. And because he
stood wrong higher UP the railroad and
the land ring smashed him.
He wouldn't take orders, and they
got his hackers away, and then ne
signed his name TO some paper that
wasn't good, and they got him-the
other crooks An. well, now I'll swing
that pardon. Every day rub shoulders
with more crooks free than dad would
meet in q thousand years 10 prison,
but that's ali right-Tm not kicking
about the game-Tm the son Of con,
and that's all right. too. Only, now
with money
You can't reach the governor.
There's bigger men than you can go TO
ChatOm. and Chstom gives the word
and the governor programs like little
man. II your old man was clean as
Angel Gabriel what chance have you
Eot2~
Arnold laughed. Money he repeat
ed; watch me"
And a girl on your hands"
That's all right. I'll treat her fine
Ham, you don't love her" Louis
voice protested curiously. "You-why.
no woman in this town ever held you
for little minute"
Hams mimic laugh rang out. Wen,
this kid-she thinks I'm the only thing
that has ever happened ] had her the
first time i met her-she hadn't
chance" And then his cool voice deep
ened: And I tell you I'll be fine to
her. I'll cut you fellows off the map.
What's the use OF this2 What's all this
midnight racket What's this town
ever done for me2"
It'll 90 something for you now"
Ferreri had a sleepy resentment.
Heard the latest? Grand jurys gone
into the registration for last August
primaries That'n get pretty close TO
you-you and Fred Weldy were in the
registrars Office. and you packed some
awful raw ones. But you put it through
and StiIlman got Weldy into the legis-
lature 10 help protect the races. Oh,
sure. the whole town knows that, all
right But yOu-you took some fierce
chances-you do things so openly"
John Arnold gvrated his highbau In
differently. "Weu. if the racetrack can't
protect its men from the grand jury,
Stillman better quH running this town.
TO hell with the grand jury We've got
five Of the superior judges, haven't we?
We can hold the supreme court on a
pinch. can't we, long as the railroads
behind the track2" But his mood
changed: Wen. I'm through Tonight
the queer work and I part company. I
quit"
The TtaIian-American laughed gain.
Girl" he murmured: girl / see you
cuittin'. They won't let you quit
they've got you. The big fights only
beginning and they need you. And you
don't love her. ] got a picture OF you
family man. Lord, you."
The other was staring at his gaunt
face in the mirrors-the thin curls
about his white, high forehead, the eyes
deep set, unreadable. dark. with their
trick OF laughing even in his reserve.
Look here" he muttered, suppose I
did? Suppose there was a way for me?
I'm always thinking Of the hills, some
how, and tonight she said we'd have a
place somewhere there" he pointed
through the garish lights off to the
mort th--'with roses all around the DOOR"
They were silent along Fergy's poll
ished bar. Ham was staring above the
wicker doors. Fergy held pink globe
Of q goblet up 10 flick last bit of lint
away. and II hung. its iridescence flung
back from every angle OF the room.
That's me-" Arnold muttered, -some
day"
Ferreri turned Lets blow down the
line. They're burning champagne in
the red fire tonight. and it's only half
past 2 The whole town cleaned up on
the Native Son But that little girl
he Eignaled TO the drink mixers behind
the MEplewood bar. THE house is In
every one"
"Ali right" Arnold had briefly
hesitated-"scotch In q high glass"
Ferreri lifted his glass solemnly TO
his friend and the men in the white
aprons: ITO the little girl-Ham's 1T
tie girl!-
Arnold went 70 the lunch where a
clean little japanese lifted the great
silver dish covers. Frank Arasaka-
California japanese are invariably
''Franis.S or -Joes," OF ~CharIies,"-
smiled with serene fr1endIiness on the
young msnS n brown faced spectacled
student OF language and medicine, he
remembered the days when Arnold had
helped him through the English
primer. In the Imperial hotel on
Stockton street ~over the HILL" they
had argued economics over the raw