The San Francisco call and post., 1913-12-19
Now Read On

come near us without soilfng your
skirts-without fading the rose. III
always remember today. but go-
please, gov'
He opened the door. Almost In
tears stumbling - grieving for the
lover whom she could not shield
Mary went out of the room-and as
the boy to whom true love had come
too late-thought. out of his life.
There was a sulky pause. Kitty
felt no jealousy - she would never
measure Mary Burk's rare quiet
charm as a menace to her own hum
ming bird vitality-to her own peony
gayetyl But the money. She had
almost had the fine flush of power
from a full pocketbook again.
so? You had money and you gave
it away" There was a sort of still
hatred in her voice.
Not her money!" said Ken broken
ly. He walked over to the window
and gazed out--out into the clean
sunshine. He scarcely dared dream
of his lost Mary in this room.
What do we care WHOSE money
are you going to let me starve?
Kitty's petulant tones broke in on his
reverie.
"I'll get you money" said Kenneth
with the grimmest sort of determfna-
tion. He still felt the debt of the
house of Nelson to this girl-and
man must. have love. If the best is
out of his reach, he is sadly likely to
take the worst, If a smiling face
masks the hollowness of the cheap
substitute.
.when'n you get me the money!"
insisted Kitty.
Now" He took out his watch and
came over to her-away from the sun
shiny window and veverle-back TO
the drab room of heavy air, to KITTY
and facti
.srll pawn this,s
Advancing in business like fashion
Kitty examined the watch
What is 1t WORTH
TT cost one hundred"
you can't get over twenty -hve,
said Kitty with brisk certainty can
I have ten7''
Ten. You can have 1t all,
There was a happier time-when
with the assurance of youth and In
tbe argot of Broadway, Ken would
have added-"And cheap at half the
price. For given money he knew
Kitty would be sweet again. She was
like gas meter-that sputters ana
refuses to give out light unless IL is
fed the quarters that 1t likes to de-
youni
He started for the door-and as
he opened it, he found Dick lie Roy
standing on the threshold in the very
act of entering without the prelimi-
nary of knock.
what are you doing here?" snap
ped-not Ken--but Ken's overwrought
nerves.
What dye want of my poor life?'
asked Dick with his unfailing jaunti-
ness. He seemed to have an ability
| shared by ducks. rubber and craven
nette cloth OF shedding the heaviest
and grimmest of rains,
Nothing What do you want OF
me?" asked Ken with knowledge that
had been bought and paid for.
eve come to say goodby. answered
Dick in the tone of an unjustly sus-
pected cherub
Say 1t before I get back-that
| gives you 10 minutes-youll go then
| for goodr' said Ken. He had deter
mined on a season Of housekeeping.
Kitty should have her dues-his
broken life must be patched as best
1t could--but to the waits and strays
of Kitty's errant fancy he would no
longer offer refuge
The door slammed with insistent
emphasis.
Dick looked at 1t refiectively.
Where's he going?"
10 mock MS WHICH. cApidlucU
Kitty. nonchalantly.
Dick came closer and said in con-
| fidential and familiar tone of under
standing and god fellowship
"Gettin' to be a regular little fell
I, low. ain't hep
Hes all in." said Kitty. unsenti-
mentally.
Sure he is. but what's the odds
lif you love him? Loves bettern
| W. co "
] it quick enough We1l--Im Off I
open Monday up in Albany. Eighty
per-if it is four shows a day-looks
pretty soft-after this!'
! He looked around him with sneer.
His rowing eye fingered bit on
Kitty's face to see how she would
| take the suggestion he meant to con-
vey.
aGoodby, Dick." said Kitty in a
/ faraway voice.
She had put the table between
them. and had seated herself in a
high, straight chair Her hands were
/ clasped loosely in her iap-and she
seemed scarcely conscious Of Dick LIE
Roy and his eighty per-"
Dick came over to the table and
leaned across it-so that his sleek
brown head was close to her golden
/ one. He did not attempt to touch
her--he only gave the impression OF
nearness. His eyes were always in
tent on her faraway blue ones:
they were sweeping her face with the
remorseless revealing of the clear
searchlight
"A hundred and seventy-five
douhlei" He waited a moment for
this to sink into Kittys money
loving consciousness.
II got 1t in black and white
His voice took on a deeper tone, but
his manner was guarded--held In
leash. "A hundred and seventy-five
doubIe-nnd wedding ring, IL you're
fond Of jewelry."
| Kitty put her elbows on the table
and sunk her chin In the palms of
her hands. She was still staring
staring intently. Dick wondered
what she visiohed But the visions
Of even Kitty Claire are little be-
yond the happy go lucky Dick lie
Roys of this world.
/ s'No'' said Kitty.
Cow<amrs~A rOr.nw~n-