The San Francisco call., 1910-09-18
TIT 1903 .bY TIE BOBTSe-rIEISIsTI1I1 COMPANY

guard had closed his teeth and died
without word, not even a confession
to the priest. The horsemen, II was
said. had swept straight through the
city In the direction of the Mission. and
ii was supposed they had disbanded
there and scattered through the
ranchos. where it was impossibIe to
trace them. But the belief was general
that the prisoner had not gone with
them that the sortie had only been a
blind for his escape In some less OBJ
vious dirsction. abetted by the half
darkness.
That week the city was under strict
surveillance and I went seldom upon
the street. For after my first relief at
his escape was over. I was in constant
dread lest he be retaken or shot; and
when 1 did have TO be out went
shrinkingly, dreading lest see his facY
haggard and gh0stly, gazing down at
me from some window. or glimpse him
retreating up some evil alley
"Oh. you are too good for -thisf"
my heart accused him 'TO think
of you sinking and hidingl
could forgive you anything. even
killing him-yes, or even wanting to
kill him-but not this running awayI
What power is IT that this woman has
over you. when a little while before
you seemed so brave2'
The fear that it was because he loved
her went through me, the bitterest
thought Of all. Against il I treasured
the one sentence he had spoken to me.
the only words I had ever heard him
speak and the looks he had given
the gentleness which had cOnsOrted
oddly with his dark face and great
strength. and that first shocked. re-
pToaChful gaze which so haunted me:
and then the way he had helped me,
smilingly. over the hard places in my
testimony against him. How that had
moved me!
Yet what were few. fran glances
besides the thing he had done for the
Spanish Woman? I saw her once driv-
Ing upon the street. The CLINT OF her
splendid hair made a crown around
her head. She leaned back in the car
riage, smiling, looking happy and tri-
umphant; and It was a strange thought
that these days so dreadful for me-
were good days for some one else.
BY the end OF the week the theory
that Johnny was hidden In the city was
abandoned. and search was directed to-
ward the mining camps. whence from
time to time came reports that he had
been seen. But all OF these turned /.
out 70 be false leads. and the idle talS'
about it swung into Just the channel
that I had feared-how that, OF course.
ne had been guilty since he had tried
TO escape and had succeeded
Whatever chance there had been for
him before. chance for appeal or chance
OF pardon, was gone now. 1t was as
II he had sunk into q deep pit, out
or which he would never rise. I told
myself that must not think about It
that surely he could not be anything
to me any more; and yet my mind
turned to nothing else but the memory
Of him. and seemed to fix and fasten
upon the Thought I knew that father
saw I brooded-
Whether he knew why. did not like
TO think; but he used to take me out
upon long drives, among the hills
across the bay, and out to the Preside
10 see the military maneuvers; SO that
he kept me with him much OF the time.
And he would urge me to 20 about
to see the girls I knew; but Halle was
the only one I wanted to sec at all
She had been very tactfuI after the
first Outburst OF enthusiasm over me
upon the witness stand; and as soon as
she understood how I hated and couldn't
endure any illusions to It. had never
mentioned 1t to me again. though I
used sometimes TO catch her looking
st me in a way which made me know
she was sympathetic and curious; and
that made bond between Us.
To BE Continued Next sunday