The San Francisco call., 1910-12-04


mind. Theresa's got some pretty shoes
with beads on them-that Nella girl
brought them for her"
That's like Mel" he unused, "and did
Unc' Pop get the rope for the barrel
swing?"
"Yes-and the expressman gave us
lime barrel" Miss Cranberry pressed
Arnold's hand on the coverlet. There
Were few small concerns of the block
into which he did not stop to inquire
on his way downtown of a sunny morn
ing when the Happy Alley kids We're all
around Aurelio Pico, the retired
vaquero, who was wont to bring rs
spindle into the alley and braid his
.horsehair riatas along its so foot free
space. Even the solemn tarry faced
students in the Japanese boarding
houses across the street knew him and
he them: he was curiously attached to
the nondescript old block which was
neither Of the Latin quarter, nor Of the
respectable "hill," nor yet Chinatown.
though the oriental wave was fast
submerging it.
Arnold lay quiet with Miss Gran
berry's hand on his compressed brow.
Granny, I had q fight-a big Swede
and a lad of the cavalry"
There. there. never mind, know
And the police ran in glrl--a girl
who wasn't doing a thing
1 know how weak and foolish we aret'
He turned. beaten by his recollec-
tions. to the wall Granny, I didn
marry sylvia You can't understand
but I had to get out of II.
7 know. boy" she quavered. i be-
lieve you must have tried. And there's
a God who cares for trying. o, yes;
I've not lived 20 years down here not
TO understand
A shadow fell in the doors sun. A
manikin in blue overa1ls and red knit
cap stared in. The young man started.
1t seemed odd--that child? His mind
went back-it was his, then the waf
from the country up in back?
That kid" he muttered, didn't she
didn't they"
she never came back and the woods
man left Tuesday. He waited for the
wedding, but you did not come, and his
ship was leaving for the north.
He turned away again and, grooming
a lullaby. the old woman left the room.
After while the young man drew UP in
bed and motioned TO the infant
.'Tu call you Bill" he began, and
I'll see you through-you and the pup
The Cookhouse Kid gouged its ear
and gurgled-
Bill" continued the foster guardian,
for YOU and the pup I'll have 70 make
good" And when Miss Cranberry re-
turned, his voice came thickly from ina
coverlet Bill. when I get through
this. I'll finish the barrel swing Tor the
alley bunch-you and Angelo ana
Theresa and the Joost kids"
Mr. Hammy," put in the old LADY,
shaking her finger from end OF the
bedstead, I'd rather have you get roar
ing drunk seven days a week than TO
forget to finish the barrel swing" But
she sighed as she departed.
a r-eaSf
dwelt on a multitude of things, and
deal Of others he shut steadfastly from
his mind What was I sayingY he
nuttered.- Who'd I talk to? DID
drag her name into all that bar room
gossip? Poor kid-poor little girl-IIl
write-Tll tell her
He broke off, staring at the paper
loss IN the dim corner Of his room,
single Idea beginning to form out or
chaos: III write and explain-Tn send
the noney-or did I send the money
He thought slowly, then whirled out
OF bed with a cry, searching for ms
clothes, and knelt, going through the
pockets with shaking fingers.
Granny" he called, rushing 10 the
door. did I have any money left?
IT'S on the dresser with your keys,
she answered. and he looked feverlshiy
for II. There were gold and silver and
a crumpled note-Of the S16e or MS
legislative salary. there remaired Sol.
But nothing else-not a bill CT hers!
He sat unsteadily down on the bed and
called back a jarring memory Of white
anroned men. laughing cronies. lunch
counters, sawdust, the voices OF
women, japanese galleries, hquor
smells, gold woven tapestries, ghtterlng
incandescents. the blare of bands, quar-
rels-and oblivion.
How'd I get homer he muttered.
Somebody found me-somebody!
womanl Robbed-robbedi o, you
damned fool-her money-ten thou
sand."
He reeled backward and fell face
downward across the bed.
At half past o'clock Mary Melody
came down the hill from the Powell
street car. She was tired, thinly
dressed. and the mist felt damp. Under
the awning Of the Family liquor store
she met a woman who seemed taller,
broader, more radiant in every way or
physical personality than she really
was because of a curious emanation OF
an inper self. Her dark hair clustered
low on her brow and about the fine
ears; her nostrils were vide her ctih
a trIfe sharp, her neck beautifully
modelled under the skins pallor; her
eyes indistinguishably uncertain in
color. She wore a pale gray SILK water
proof enveloping her to the chin, a cap
of the same stuff, suggesting the ele-
giant ease Of simplicity.
Does Mr.. Arnold live above-in these
lodgings?" she asked
Yes" answered Mary.
Il wish to see him." She was ascend
ing the stairs, but, with a smile, stepped
aside for the lame girl to precede. Miss
Melody faltered before the strangers
sureness. I think-Mr. Arnold's sick
I think"
He'll see me. It's another day of
San Francisco winter, isn't it?" Her
arm was assisting Mary as they reached
the floor above. Almost by gesture
of command she won from the other
the direction of Arnold's rooms, and
passed on to them, leaving the lame
girl with an intense and envying doubt
of the inexplicabie grace Of her car
riage.
In the passage the stranger saw an
old woman clucking TO parrot hung
IN the dirty window of a kitchen be-
yond. She paused, and at the instant
from a door directly by her, a young
man appeared. He wore a befiowered
lounging robe of padded Chinese silk
and a cigarette was between his teeth.
His dark face was hard; a feverish
surprise shot over it, then he calmly
threw away the cigarette and stepped
g4~,~- So