The San Francisco call., 1913-09-20

Warren was not there. She dropped
the letters In the box and walked to
one of the long. low French windows
that opened out on the street This
was their last night in Paris. Never
had the lights and gayety of the
streets seemed so ailuring
She pictured Warren at one of the
little outdoor tables before the Cafe
de la Paix. slipping cognac and
watching the gay throng that
streamed by that popular corner
Then, like an inspiration, came a sud
den thought that sent the color TO
her cheeks, why could she not go
now? Tf she took a cab-she would
be perfectly safe.
Whenever Helen yielded to an I'M
pulse she yielded quickly. knowing
that If she stopped to think It over
she would probably not yield at all,
And now she rushed up to the desk
with an eager request for a cab
Three minutes later she was being
whiried toward the Cafe de la Paix.
What If Warren should not be there2
But she need not get out of the cab
unless she saw him. Her heart was
beating fast To be driving alone at
night through the streets of Paris
the very daringness of 1t thrilled her
with sense of adventure
When the cab drew up Helen gazed
cut in dismay She had not realized
how many tables there were in front
Of this famous cafe. How could she
find Warren in all that crowd7
The driver opened the door expect
antly, but Helen would not leave the
sheltering refuge of the cab until she
had located Warren. At length she
saw him at a small table far back of
the green hedge.
With eager excitement she sprang
out, paid the cabman and started
through the maze of crowded tables.
Warren was just as she had pictured
him, his hat pushed back. leisurely
smoking a cigarette with small
cordial glass before him. lie did not
see her until. with an excited laugh.
she slipped into the chair beside him.
He did not seem surprised. Warren
was never startled. Now he merely
1ieked the ashes from his cigarette
and asked with cold displeasure:
What sort of a caper do you call
this?"
"Oh. dear, I couldn't stay there
alone. I should've come with you.
It's our last night in Paris-and
couldn't spend it packing"
How'd you get here?"
Il took a cab-it was perfectly
safe"
Suppose I hadn't been here?"
HE is ANGRY
I'd have gone back-I didn't leave
the cab until saw you"
We'll. you might expect such esca-
pades from a young girl-but you're
old enough to have more sense"
Please don't be cross, dear slip-
ping her hand into his under the
table 4 pictured you sitting here
and 1 couldn't help coming
What do you want to drink?e un
graciously, as the waiter suggestively
wiped OF the little marble topped
table
I'D rather have an ice. Do they
serve ices out here?"
when little later the waiter
brought tall, slender glass of mer-
ingue glace Helen dipped into it with
a sigh of content.
For almost an hour they sat there,
watching the changing crowds at the
tables and the never. ceaslng stream
of people passing by.
Dear. wouldn't you think they'd
have these street cafes In New
York?"
Sidewalk space too narrow and
taxes too high" answered Warren,
who by this time was in a better
humor. This sort of place isn't so
profitable. See that fellow over
there with the panama hat7 He's
been sitting there all evening and
he's ordered only that one glass OF
beer. The managements losing money
on that table, all right"
The theaters were out now. and cab
after cab rolled up, from which
stepped women in conspicuous toi-
lettes. Many of them were actresses,
and some of them looked as though
they had come direct from the stage.
Their escorts were dapper Frenchmen
with opera hats and light gray spats.
One tall blonde in a trailing white
gown was followed Dy a huge white
bulldog with a jeweled collar. From
the next cab swept pale. slender
woman with cleaning dark eyes-a
famous French actress.
Dear. this Is a wonderful place.
isn't it? You do see things here. No
mo, let's not go yet as warren
pushed back his glass and glanced az
his watch. They're just beginning to
come in from the theater we may
never be In Paris again-oh I'd love
to stay little longer"
We'll. you're a marvel of consis-
tency.@ shrugged Warren. You
didn't have time TO come at all-now
you want to stay all night. But all
right. sTve no packing TO do-rm
game as he 1T a fresh cigarette and
showed his empty gloss toward the
waiter.