The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-12-02
THE FAMILY CUPBOARD 4 Dramatic Story Of High
roO society Lie IN view 1or2


and an atmosphere to iure and stimu-
late the senses. And as he drowned
along at the call of the dance Ken
held slim. vibrant slip of girl in
his arms.
| 1t was a merry tune-and Ken
meth Nelson would pay the piper.
| He would pay-for Kitty's car and
| Tor her dainty little suite, for the
| privilege of knowing Mr.. Dick lie
Roy, and for the former cabman's
masquerade as his own daughters
chauffeur.
But, most of ALL he would pay for
the bitter fact that Kitty Claire had
come into his fathers life-and gone
out-as Kitty Mayi
But there was clean, decent strain
deep in the boys nature. At thes end
| OF a month he had not guessed what
an older, holder man would have
known at the end of an hour At the
end of month the boy who had in
suited Mary Burk with drunken kiss
while she was under the protection OF
MS own roof was respectfully bidding
Kitty May good night at the door of
an apartment just across the hall
from his own quarters. Again he was
drunk; but with the manners of a
Chesterfield he babe good night to the
| girl to whom a drunken kiss would
have been a lark, not an insult.
A DEEP wITCHERY
| Kitty's witchery of him was deeper
than the mastery of the drink to
which he had given himself But as
soon as her influence was removed,
WEAKNESS and liquor had their sway
Silk hat, dresscoat, patent leather
pumps. pleated shirt, tie, watch, coins,
billfold and cigarette case all formed
a melange on the floor Of his crimson
walled living room, and three minutes
| after he had said torturingly re-
spectful good night" to Kitty, Ken
meth was fast asleep.
Nine hours of heavy. drunken OBJ
| livion. Nine hours of loglike slumber
And then voice forced Kenneth back
| to consciousness.
Mr.. Kenneth, Mr.. Kenneth"
| "Hellor' muttered the waking prod
igal.
He rose on his arm sleepily. protest
ingly, like a child who begs for just
10 minutes to get awake
Hello, Potter" he sreproached.
! Why did you wake up so soon?"
Good morning, sir" said Potter,
who had been deposed from his lofty
estate as butler to the Nelson house.
hold. because there was so Nelson
| household-and who was now care
| taker in chief of Mr. Kenneth, for
whom there was nos caring.
| 1T is IL o'clock, Mr.. Kenneth
Kenneth rested trembling hand
on an aching head
| I've no objectionf Oh. Potter"
Yes, Mr.. KENNETH"
| At time like this even a staid old
family butler of irreproachable Eng
fish training must have a struggle not
!, to act as man instead of merely
man" to his master.
| "Oh, Potter, what head I've got"
/ Potter went out to the living room.
secured a pitcher of ice water which
he had brought for this very usual
emergency, captured a glass and
poured drink for his young master.
There's music for you" unused Ken
meth.
He took a great piece Of ice from
the glass, applied 1t to his head, then
seized the pitcher itself and fairly
drained its contents.
Potter said he, returning the
empty pitcher regretfully. you've
saved my lifew
Eyes, SIR said Potter calmly.
Give me cigarette. Too bad about
you. Potter. After 10 years of re-
spectacle service to end as a chape-
rom
"A what sir?" asked Potter in
amazement as he lighted the luxurious
cigarette in bed for his master
| "A chaperon, said Ken tersely be-
/ tween puffs. II take that to be moth
er's purpose in INJECTING Us on one
another, in the hope that your exam
pie and the restraint of your unim-
peachable respectability might keep
me froms all evil
| Repartee is not for servants.
Bath is ready, sir" said Potter in
reply.
"Oh. I'm very sick man, Potter"
| x.You probably have eaten something
that disagreed with you, sir.'
Don't kid me, Potter l can spell
Remorse without any assistance this
morning. Never again Do you hear
me?"
YES, SIR" said Potter unemotion-
| ally.
do you believe me?'
IT should, sir. You have said so
quite frequently. Bath is getting
| cold, sir"
| Just as Ken transferred from the
realms of white linen to those of
white thing there was a knock on
| the outer door, and one Richard lie
Roy appeared with the calm famil-
! iarity of habit