The San Francisco call., 1913-08-31
By Justus Niles Forn1an

quick as she. and caught her before she had gone
than step two
You'll come back when he's gomez he demanded.
'youll back Break o. Day? You won't
throw me over now-after all?" The woman al
beside with She pulled the hand
he held nodding her head desperately
Yes. oh. yesw she whispered Let Harry
Oh, for Heavens sake let me go! Yes I'll come back.
promise. Let go. Oh, won't You let go?
promise. promise anything.' she broke him
and ned into the cover Of the pine shrubs and
watched her 60 she escape easily. he said to
himself fringe Of shrubs turned corner
Of the high bank just little way beyond and dsap-
peared from sight. What he did not know and what
Stanley panic had forgotten. was tnat the
shrubbery abrupt end just round that cor
that the which 1t had root ended
too with faH of six eight feet to the rocks
and water below Above. the bank high and pre-
cipous. There possible way out except the way
which the woman mad entered In short sne was IN
of trap
stanley came down the steps and nodded pleasantly
who there If he cast one swift glance
round the place looking something. the other
old not it.
This is private pier" he said. 4 IT some
times my motorboats. It's nearer the house tnan
the ether landing in the cove yonder VI course ne
hastened TO add don't that object to your
being here. A good many people from the Neck walk
along beach. and If they don't steal the pier or
scatter shells and banana skins ABOUT we uoi
mind in the least
His eye wandered circle round the place and fen
at last thoughtfuny. that thick patch Of shrub
berry. The shadow of smile came Tor an instant -
his lips and passed
Stranger here?" he inquired
Yes" said the other man. In way-yes
He, part. thinking very swiftly, and ne
came-to bold conclusion. The woman was BY now,
he himself. far and safe Would she come
back to him? He knew that ne had no more l4an
shaken her with the recalling Of an old spell no more
than stirred ready with old pictures and
old appeals If he would have her now he must IN
some way commit beyond all retreat And he saw
the way before desperate way. il you like but
the man was in life. most OF his KIND
He drew little quick breath of decision and came
forward
some years ago. said Il met woman-a girl
and she loved me- going leave the silly con-
ventIonal marionette-show life she'd always lived and
come away with me knew what real life
was and she coming to me to learn Then things
came ss-circumstances-t doesn't matter
what So her. Well I've found her again and
paused and drew another quick breath It's your wile
he said. She's going away with me-"
Stanley gave short laugh. which seemed TO express
pure amusement and nothing eise-
"Oh she thought said he he sat down upon
wooden bench and took knee between his hands.
smiling cheerfuly at the who stood before him
Yes" said other. "she Is You might as well
know it. OF course" he explained, 4 could have taken
her away without knowing anything about
ii That's the thing. believe But don't do
things in dark Well ne demanded after mo-
.Iqs said the the bench. What am going
to dor His eyes imperceptbly toward that near
bv patch OF stunted pine shrubs and It seemed to him
that something white cleaned among them He smiled
slowly Why" said he II suppose the conventional
thing would be to you OF the pier yonder and
watch you swim ashoreor perhaps to beat You half
to death and then locked But ne said.
smiling STILL I'm like you. don't always do the con-
ventonal thing. Let's talk 1t bit You may SIT
down il you No? Very well. stand UP, then Tell
me more about this plan yours Why take my-take
the lady you mention away? She well here.
What have you to offer have not?s
II have life to offert cried the other passion
atelv II have to something that you have never
knowu-and that has known either-except
in dreams l know live. and don't
know IL Big houses and balls and
aren't 1fe Diamonds and pearls
and lapdogs aren't life. This foolish for
ment isn't life either it's all and your kind
know tell you you're starving her here. She's being
starved 10 death for what give her.
you're bit vague complained Mr. Stanley, his
ewes upon the thick pine shrubbery. Just what do
YOU mean by this life of yours?'
II mean" the other "a life lived close to
the good earth-a warmed by the and sweet
ened by the things that with the rain some
times for the good, life lived as men We're
meant to live It. the worldfree to come and
20 without question tefree of conventional things
and people That's what real life is. You've never
known IT. but that's what 1t Is
Stanley nodded his head, and he was no longer