The San Francisco call., 1910-12-04

eyes rose to his. he still held her in
terest.
and later-you had hard fall
"Still-and very-drunk" He in
terrupted her again grayely You're
the street evangelist" He fingered his
cigarette case. Il suppose our meeting
explains itself. Perhaps you called to
illuminate me on my ways of life"
Quite the contrary I've called to
apologize-rather to explain what Is
hard to explain" She sat forward nerv-
ously in the big chair. Did you have
money-quite sum of money-that
night?"
He came nearer, eagerly, as though he
would have touched her hand lying on
the table.
Il did-and lost It. And you-why,
can't begin to thank your
She sat back with sudden wincing,
shading her face with her glove.
Please don't. I didn't save 1t for
you. It's lost"
"Lost?"
Il found roll of money IN the cab
it must have been considerable-and it
seemed to me unsafe for you to have.
1 didn't know the cabman, or where
you might possibly go later and I
thought would keep it for you
Yes. But lost
y. i
a stranger TO you"-she put her hand
to her hair nervousIy, and again leaned
10 him-'but lost the money that
night When we reached the bottom of
the hill 1T had slipped somewhere I
searched in the cab and up the street
again, and everywhere. couldn't find
lit couldn't have been dropped on the
sidewalk"
You couldn't find it?"
NO. put it in my dress-here-
but-well, I've lost your money" She
rose and faced him abruptly: How
much was it?"
Arnold was lighting another cigar
cite: You don't mind if 1 smoke? I'm
bit shot to pieces today"
But the money!" she demanded. IT'S
a desperate matter with me-how much
was it?"
The young man rested his hands Ieis-
urely on the table and looked at her
with smile. ''Nothing-Tm not quite
sure myself"
You know" she retorted; ut was a
large amount. How much?"
Very little"
1t was not, 1 am a stranger here
l am preaching in the street, but that
IS no title to honesty. I've lost your
money and I'm going to account for it.
How much was it2 I demand to know
Her voice rose sharply
WeL' Arnold response was vel
Yety nonchalant, "forty-five dollars
You know better. 1 saw a hundred
dollar bill on the outside, and there
were many more. wish the truth"
That hundred was merely phony-I
mean counterfeit. l beg your pardon.
but the language Of the street comes a
deal easier with this present head"
wish to know the truth of this
money have lost for you"
all
\ ties, and three tens, and-honestly. ]
believe 1t was one hundred and sixty
five IN all-rnerely that-don't distress
yourself" Arnold hicked his cigarette
ash airily. She did not guess, beneath
his measuring ease, the splitting sick
ness on him Il suppose, as you are a
preacher, you worried deal. It was a
hard FIX he murmured.
You think I am an evangelist, which
I am not in the least" Her voice had
suggestion OF irritation at being put
on the defensive before this unregen-
crate and his languid eye interest of the
silken movement of her raincoat
1t was something about our souls, ]
recall said he; and didn't I say some
thing foolish? I was in the DEVILS own
humor / suppose 1 was unusually
drunk, but 1 wanted to be drunk, I'm
glad I was drunk. But it's a shame to
embarrass you.
This is not you who is speaking. >
She watched steadily his mordant eyes
You belittle your soul"
I have none. I am a liar and a
thief" He smiled slowly at her flush
ing face, the Frightening of her eye, the
imperious daintiness about her
You're the earth man-your feet IN
the clay" she went on. but your Soul
is above all this. And you can't even
deceive yourself You got drunk to
try it. for some reason, and you failed!'
He watched her still with a gentle
satire Of interest. She. went on with a
direct charge to his rebuffing. You
can find the serene and inner life Be
yond that, nothing matters nothing Is
real"
Beg pardon, but In my world every
thing matters and is real You your
self are very real-behind this patter OF
yours | believe you're magni1cently
human"