The San Francisco call., 1910-11-27

snrr., fercs and md met many ~drags" that per-
n1exed him. Concealing his cnasIln
he drove the other prisoners 70 ~
door. But the girl clung to the ral.
turning on Arnold with a scream U
rage. 80. sos,s
you know, Toll 'em 7 wasn't ooin
ANYTHING Here you get on--Eou
some damned politician-sonle sure
thing man strong with the onlee
.sShut thatr' beloved the sergeant
Nav. you wouldn't do thing 20
him. wouldJa? Him with hts gooo
clothes an his pull .-u..,
Redmond" began Arnold snes
right. George Just wanted 70 give her
tie run-and she wasn't doing a thing,
'She can tell that TO the Judge TO-
morrow. Up!
Tbe girl shrieked as they forced
her to the door. The tall woman
In black turned a troubled face. but
they did not see her Arnold stood
his face darkling. the liquor craze
driven for time from his brain.
"T,ook here" he said that girrs
right - she was trying to stop the
Don't go tellin' me my business"
the desk sergeant clustered
Arnold swung before him Yes,
damn YOU. YOU run that girl in for
nothing. but you don't do a thing 10 =
Get out Of herer' snarled the sers
geant.
yes. I'm let of. rve got drag.
haven't I2 I'm strong higher up. amt
II That poor devil OF a sailor viii
get 10 days and lose his ship ana
wa ges and that lad from the cavalry
will be cinched at camp. and that weak
minded girl will be robbed BY the
bond sharks and the judgell wink at
It. o. it's great to be an American!
It's a hne old graft-and TO he'll with
the crooks like you"
The sergeant was dumb with aston
ishment-his little pig eyes rolled be-
wilderedly between the oily fat OF his
cheeks. Then dismay gave place 70
wrath. Get out OF herer' he roared.
Take him home-he's drunk
Arnold shook his fist at the brass
buttons. Send me up Go on, you
crook. Afraid of me, aren't you? o. it's
a great thing to be an American
"Gitr' howled the sergeant. and a
laughing patrolman slipped an arm
about John Arnold and led him away.
On the broad steps he freed the bel
ligerent. Pull out. Jack. Old Red
mond will jug you if you roast him
it's fierce. Now get home. boy
The young man leaned against
polished pillar of the hall OF Justice
and looked across the dark spread OF
Portsmouth square. His dimming
senses rose to note the fantastic roofs
of Chinatown, a dragon flag limp in the
promised morning. Still and sleeping
the city lay. He stretched an arm TO
it. What's right in II all? What's
right?"
The stars beyond the dragon flag
rocked; intent with his sickness. he did
not hear the door open. the woman
come out. Seeing the man she stopped.
and then he slowly turned with a dull
glance at her. the preacher Of the mys-
tic Christ in the street of fakirs.
It's you" he muttered, and you've
failed. too. You're way above il ALI
you've given nothing to US all--you'ye
failed. too"
She was silent before his insolence.
The light on her face from the electro
lier recalled a fickering remembrance
OF his student days-a medallion he
had seen, a Minerva head. The woman
had face as pure. as unmOved as thaT
classic profile. He turned from heH
with growl I'm going back I want
il right"
And then stepping clear OF the col
umn's base, he pitched headlong to the
pavement She hurried after him,
kneeled. turning his face to the light
Blood splashed her gloves. cabman
came from the all Night stand across
the street.
Bad tumble" he said. bending over.
Its Jack Arnoldr'
Wed better get him to the hospital"
She wiped the blood from his head.
The driver hesitated. "Mebbe not.
He's not hurt much and he's pretty well
known-Fd hate to mix him at the
'mergency He lives jus up the hiu."
We'll, home, then. Bring your cab
across"
They got the senseless man into II
with difficulty. The woman held him
on the cushions as the vehicle whirled
through Chinatown. Once he struggled
to CONSEQUENCES "Le' me explain-He
cares-He cares"
BE stilll" she whispered and held
him closer in her strong arms It
seemed a stealthy joy had come. the
outpouring OF a maternal softness as a
glow in the white stiffness Of her souls
way. she who had moved alone and
with empty hands.
At the curb below his rooms they
lifted him TO his unsteady feet. feeling
OF her handkerchief bound about his
head. While the driver took him I'D
the stairs she searched for his hat in
the carriage. She found something else
"a dirty package, a sort OF sflken case.
bulging with money. She looked out at
ing him with commiseratlng tests; with
a frowning thought, a hesitance. she,
placed the packet in her bodice >
The cabman returned He can get m
all right-say's he mustn't wake up
GRANNY He laughed And he says
to thank the LADY,!
You know him"-shs said calmly
very wellT"
Everybody knows him. A lad round
town - one of the race track
crowd. But square"-she was tender
ing him money-~no. not from you. III
take you home. They call you the
Christ Crisr downtown. don't they2
And we ought to help sinners" He
laughed. I'VE all know you," the driver
muttered They turn TO watch you
your grand voice"
She smiled weari1y. All the town
knew her as the street knows It's pag-
eantry-no more. And so. across the
abyss dividing her pale Christ from thu
red shores OF life, she knew the world
no more. Untouched. listening curt
ously to the agony beyond the gulf. she
had moved alone, complacent, soul suf-
ficient.
Arnold felt along the balcony rail 70
his door. The clock in the hall OF Jus
tice- struck 5. He looked on the city
lights. on ths ocean fog above ThAR
the lights became comets, the clouds.
whirling bands-he fell squaraIy as