The San Francisco call., 1910-12-11
CHAPTER TX-continued

night. Before the Maplewood door he
stopped. Come on-have a drink"
Fred protested: he had had enough
at dinner; he was going to take the
next boat to Berkeley. where his wife
was boarding while the cottage was
being built But Arnold insisted; he
dragged Fred in. and the first man they
met was Harry StilIman. the police
commissioner. immaculate. debonair,
smiling IN a crowd at the bar He
left it and came TO the newcomers.
The legislator seemed crestfalleR be-
fore the politicians witty sallies.
Down over Sunday. eh? Fred. were
losing you-they tell me YOU don't mix
much with the boys. Now, here. you
know" He 5erked some quip in the
assemblyman's ear and they both
laughed. Weldy in odd protest Lets
so in the gold. room" added Stillman.
His eye roved 10 Arnold with a quick
significance which the latter under
stood. for he turned away.
Wen crack a small bottle" con-
tinued the police commissioner. Jack.
Join us in 20 minutes" lie threw his
furred automobile coat to an attend
ant at the door to the rear Of the
Maplewood establishment, and Weldy
followed him within.
Arnold idled 10 minutes with a group
at the bar; then went TO the street
OF late he was harried by restless
imps-'little Fuckers under your scalp.
he described them to Sammy Jarbo-
that would not allow him TO be alone.
to be unoccupied, that forbade him the
hours Of reading or idling with his
voice and piano at his rooms, which
had formerly served as surcease to his
vagrant life. Night and day now he
must be down town. around the haunts
Of his kind For one week he dwelt
moodily on Sylvia Spring. and then he
killed remembrance with another
drunk and went his way more evenly.
She's gone home" he told himself,
and some day I'll send her money
back-Tu break the books for her or
cut into something at the city hall.
I'll be square there. and then forget
knife this town deep somewhere
And so, battling his memories. he
plunged on the races, a figure in the
betting room, with his cleangraven
face his immaculate clothes. each
afternoon. lie began to plot how he
would set an easy graft at the city
hail. he had connections powerful
enough to let him in on many sources
Of revenue hitherto passed indifferently
by. for he cared little about money. He
had spent as he received, and for
years had forgotten whether or not he
had ever had ambitions. 1t had been
as easy TO Jest with them as IL had
been with his conscience. TO whip and
bind them 10 his evil.
But now III get money" he prom
ised. as he stood without the Maple
wood. IT'S what they're all at, and
can be cleverer than most. III get
ali I can-Tu get back for what they've
done to me-"
And this idea that now he was
matching his cunning, his single wit,
against an enormous. compact and in
tricately organized social force, ma
lign, soulless and Of illimitable
power. stuck TO him He suggested
TO himself the caveman, an outlaw
caveman, contriving to outwit man.
moth-yes, the renegade savage in the
place of the savages. He glutted his
humors with the picture. The most
cunning savage might slay the NAM
moth and then cheat his fellows, too,
Three doors from where he stood by
the curb the, glare Of an electric sign
above the side entrance OF the Maple
wood cafe fell ton red motor car. A
woman was the only occupant Arnold
watched her for a time and then went
leisurely 70 the machine.
Hello, Nel." he said. with brusque
cheeriness to dispel his mood; "how's
the world with you,"
The girl hardly stirred in her furs;
her eyes were fixed on the crowds in
the street of fakirs.
Sunday nights the human tide eddied
and choked the thoroughfare. congest-
ing about the haranguing speakers. the
beaters Of drums and cymbals. the stri-
dent panaceaists and proclaimers of
revolutions. But Nella Free was
watching enc beyond the others-the
woman in black. who lowered above
the street throngs. whose face she saw
under the fare and swing OF the gas
torch, whose arm. lifting the somber
robe. was classic in its appeal whose
voice thrilled over the yapping fakirs,
so that now and then the girl in the
motor car caught word Of its resur-
gent fervor.
She laid a hand on the young mans
sleeve as he leaned over the tonneau.
Listen! Its grand, just like a the
ater-like an actress speaking."
1t Is" answered Arnold indifer-
entity "Acting-superb acting.
The girl looked at him with curious,
attentive rebuke. You're getting bit
ter, Hammy, ain't your And you're
getting funny little lines about your
eyes. You don't care for anything or
anybody"
superb acting. he murmured. and
smiled at her; then swung lightly into