The San Francisco call., 1910-12-25
CHAPTER XII-Continued


come far" And her clear gaze con-
tinued. You have ali the power with
in you; you are supreme; you can rise
above all this brawling; that is my
faith for you" She went on with a
swift impulse Il tell you, this is not
you!"
He tried TO evade her with indiffer-
ence, the jesting that was ever his
shield. "Wel. and then what-what
of it alI?"
The orchestra broke to smart
fantasy. the han darkened, a curtain
rose. showing the white screen. From
the gallery came the snap OF moving
picture machine, the hiss OF the car
bon. Arnold could see his companions
face, hurt. in sort of proud patience.
regarding him He was restless be-
meath the sense of power she gave,
and had turned from her to the green
light peryading the room. when man
leaned across and touched his arm.
Ham, is that you?"
1t was Hendricks. OF the Call
Hello, Ben; yes"
You'd better come. A note was left
for you-a note"-the newspaper man
bent down with a queer smile-"the
police have it."
"A note?"
Eddie Ledyard left 1t to you-he
killed himself half an hour ago"
Miss Wayne felt the man by her
strain in his seat; his elbow went
against her arm with shove that
put it off the table.
Its bad" the Call man went on.
THE races broke him-msybe he's
short in his accounts. You'd better
come
Arnold swung out of his chair His
mother-his sister he muttered.
Benny. break this story, can't you?
Can't you kill it in the local room?"
Couldn't be done. But we won't
flash the racing business in it-it isn't
policy just now-we can't afford to
stir talk on the track
The other did not hear his words.
He was slipping down the aisle to the
door, past the stilled crowds watching
the moving pictures. over his head
the biograph snapped and sizzled-it
seemed that the arc was in his brain;
he reeled against the doorkeeper
and then fell to the pavement.
"Where?" he whispered-he did not
notice that the woman was at Benny.s
side-"where?"
"Stillmans-in the gold room. Ken
nedys got the note"
The young man turned and ran the
two blocks to the Maplewood saloon.
In the bare room there was no unusual
group. only a policeman at the door
leading to the rear and a white
aproned mixer peering past him into
the passage. The officer lowered his
arm, then raised it so that Arnold
lodged under. Before the door of the
gold room captain of police and an
other patroIman were listening to an
explanation from Fergy. the head bar
keeper. and reporter stood with
arms extended, hands on his hips. look
ing quietly in the small room.
Captain kennedy stepped back.
"Jack-is that you?-say, Jack. here"
But Arnold was past them. A revolt
yer was on the table. On the leather
top of the broad seat that ran about the
room under the polished panels of white
birch and inlaid gold lay the suicide.
Nella Free had one arm under his sun
ny head. She was wiping spattered
blood from his cheek and from the
lashes of his wide open eyes. Blood
was on the floor, the seat, the won
drous wooden panels, the girls gloves
and the lace of her waist
Arnold ran around her with a cry
and knelt by her side, reaching his hand
under Eddies coat. dragging his limp
head nearer to stare in his eyes.
Yes, he's gone" he said, with a sort
of nonchalance; hes gone"
Nella broke into sobs as she contin-
ued to sponge the dead boys face. Ar
mold dragged the body nearer, so that
it was as if the man and woman were
struggling over it with monosyllabic
protests. The police captain touched
the young mans arm. Here, here"
he said-'you'd better take her away
Stillman's girl-aint it? Ham, take her
away"
Never mind" retorted Arnold, hes
gone-Eddie's gone"
Then he put his arm on Nella's
shoulder. Don't cry, kid, don't you
cryn'
There was a stir at the door Hen
dricks and Miss Wayne appeared. The
latter came to the group by the seat
the dead boy. %the girl wiping his
cheek. Arnold and the police captain.
Captain Kennedy again touched Ar
nolds shoulder. Here" he muttered.
The young man took the crumpled
note which had been found on the table.
His name was on the back in the boy
ish scrawl be had known since his high
school days. Within was written:
tHammy, you said Blanca In the
fourth"
Another stir at the door. The coro-
ners assistants had arrived. The gold
room filled, a buzz of voices raised.
Arnold turned listlessly away; he
wiped the blood from his hands on the
table top and then. seeing the smear,
rubbed It out with his sleeve.
"Hammy. get her away-Cri's sake
get her away"
Arnold turned as the officer piucked
his coat He went to Nella and lifted
her hand which held the stained wet
handkerchief Come on. Mel g.
She shook herself free and he turned
about to meet Miss Wayne. Help
me-, he muttered. help me, won't
you?"
She stopped to lift the girl, turning
her face TO the door. Arnold took the
other arm and they led her out and
through the corridor to the side door of
the Maplewood and then to the street.
The three went past the police patrei at
tho r,trb the LITTLE cfarfOfiS thrOng Tho