The San Francisco call., 1910-12-25
CHAPTER XIV

~ N her way through the halls of
z the Albemarle the next morning
" card was given Miss Wayne.
She went to the reception room
and there met Edith Chatom The
other woman rose with direct and
composed introduction.
Il have seen you before-often," she
added. 81 know who you are. But
last night you were with John Ar
nold--he was ghastly, spattered with
blood. You see he used to be a-an
acquaintance; we have never lost our
interest in him. What was the matter?
Tell me-
"A suicide-fis friend"
Miss Wayne's voice was not inviting.
The two women faced each other, tall,
direct, with potent life, measuring each
the others strength. They had each
the clean and leisured culture of the
world, yet were sharply Differentiated
sEdith Chatom felt at once the need of a
defense against the others resolution
her aloof personality, her unfearing
The affair was in the morning pa
pers-though not all the truth The
boy shot himself after losing every
dollar on the races. / believe he had
used some of his employers money!
MIR. Arnold was with him?"
Immediately after. He was respon- :
sible in a way-he'd led the man on.
You are Miss Chatom? I believe you
owned the horse against which young
Ledyard bet, didn't you?n
My brother did. It's awfully hard,
but these things do happen"
You are largely esponsible-you
and your sort of people"
That is uncalled for Edith Chatom
flushed and checked her retort But
Mr. Arnold-lnay I ask of him? What
he-how he feels himself involved?"
II am going to see him. If you are
his friend. you might come"
Thank you. He might understand,
perhaps"
The two women went out and over
the hill in the sunny morning. There
was little speech on the way to the
Family Liquor Store. Grace Wayne
went up the outside balcony stairs and
the other followed, after a glance at
the little alley, the decayed board
fence. the heavy German in the
Bismarckian mustaches, in apron and
shirtsleeves who was sweeping at the
side door OF his saloon.
No response came TO Miss Wayne's
knock They weIYt through the upper
hall and to the kitchen.
Miss Cranberry was doing her
morning dishes. NelIa Free, her skirt
floor, the underskirt standing out in a
fluff of iridescent pleats about the
chair sat near. The girls veil was tied
tightly about her brow above her blue
eyes, which were cast lighter from the
heavy rings below them; her pale
cheeks showed freckies. her lips were
drawn. She regarded the visitors in
differently. returning her gaze to the
child In overails, which was crawling
about the floor. In its clutch was q toy
engine. the plaoating gift which NelIa
always brought as pretext for visit
to Miss Granny's.
The little old woman was shrill with
astonishment at the presence of the
two women in the kitchen door. She
wrung her red hands from the suds.
wiped them on her apron. seolded the
elucking parrot and came to greet
them with a tinlorods courtesy.
Yes. yes she answered.: .but
Mr.. .Hammy isn't here. He's been here
SO little the last month. only using his
rooms once or twice. And now there's
trouble, trouble
Do you know where he is Nella?'
The girl started as her name came
from Miss Wayne's lips; she moodilv
shook her head and rubbed her hi gh
French heel against a crack Of the
floor. 7 expect he's at Hdd.e's nlotb
er's- The papers wrote some fierce
stuff about me and Eddie They said