The San Francisco call., 1910-11-13

never too hot for comfort. streamed in
and the afternoon street idleTr,
fashionably dressed young men,
watched the shoppers and matinee
goers and gossiped over the form bulle-
tins of the races, or bought the tip-
sters sheets hawked about by the
newsboys.
Arnold and his bride were by the
front OF shoe store. when bare
headed young man. critically looking
over the display, spoke to him with
great heartiness; a sunny faced fellow,
boyish, eager with the days life. prod
igal of It's youth. He did not discern
at the first glance that Sylvia was
Arnold's companion.
Hello. Hamrny. What's doing in the
third race today That Stillman colt
all the way isn't it7"
Hasn't a chance" retorted Arnold;
Innocent brings the money"
Eddie Ledyard's face clouded. They
were just telling me-do you suppose
Nella knows anything about cit? She
hears a lot Of inside talk, doesn't shef
"Nena? Where'd you see herr"
"Oh, I just met her at SkeIly's--she
was talking with some fellow who Is
following the wise money at the track.
But Innocent"
Arnold glanced at Sylvia's uncon-
scious study Of the store display He
nose Son. keep away from that girl
Nella. She's got sort of foolishness
about you-and you know betterT
Eddie Ledyard laughed blithely. "Oh.
Of course-it's only josh" Then his
eyes gripped their little worry. But
Innocent-good. eh9"
"Only horse in the race" Ham waved
a debonair adieu, guiding his bride
along the way.
The boyish book keeper looked
doubtfully after him. Arnold should
know; he was close to the dope" SO
the street had It, and he never SAID
things without a reason Ham didn
play the races much, but now and then
his name was buzzed about with a
"killtng''-he was a fellow who was
let in on good things" by the wise
people which was the reason certain
youthful coterie hung on any word
from him Eddie smiled a farewell at
Arnold, who was moving on with the
girl in blue The boys had been more
than street friends-Eddie Ledyard
was a freshman at Lick high school
when Jack Arnold graduated, and they
had played on the same football team
the seniors last season.
At II o'clock, when the tide of life
through Market street was quickenlng,
the loiterers turned TO car that
would transfer to the Cliff ride. BEFORE
the entrance OF an once DuilOih5 oSAOSp
the thoroughfare stood a red automo-
bile. man in the tonneau was signal
ing sharply to Arnold Then he de-
scended from the machine with another
quick gesture.
Arnold paused. sylvia, I'm wanted. :
He glanced irresolutely about as II
10th to take her across to the stran-
ger, yet at loss as to where she
might be left. Then he nodded at the
~ T. q nd turned to SYl-
via. 'Ill have to go, Kid. Suppose you
wait in the parlors Of the big store We
were in-just a few minutes.
She was more than pleased.
Arnold crossed to the vestibule of
the Security building, where Ponce
Commissioner Stillman awaited him. He
was a brisk alert eyed man who had
been of the Handsome Harry" type in
his university days. 10 years ago, be-
fore he acquired his flesh; Joker. a
raconteur, of fiattering address, never
at loss for a quip, an .indefaugaDle
worker, a lieutenant of the boss,
shrewd attorney of the firm of Chatom,
Bence & Co. But for polite reasons
the police commissioners name was not
on the gilt legend across the windows
of the great law offices, to secluded
room of which he now, In great jovi-
alftv, conducted Arnold. He had sent
messengers for the young man that
morning and had secured the city Tor
him the previous night, unavaillngly, he
said-and Il was a matter of import
ance Stillman closed the opaque glass
window to an outer room, where two
clerks pored over papers and reports
the other window looked down on the
spacious court of the building.
The politician offered cigar and sal
back easily in his desk chair. smiling
over one of his witticisms- His man
: ner was ingratiating. patronizins
more fattering than unpleasant his
study of the younger man was unob-
trusive, but incessant.
Stillman was the right hand man OF
the boss, as cool, willy. astute as the
boss himself; he was known in the
street as the "rent collector Through
, his connection with the boss and his
position on the police board, where
his associates were merely puppets, he