The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, November 4, 1900, Page 7

been along 1 UM, Whle you , LEre's 4 sub- aicnl, toe ge, he 1 uad my now the the at Amer- jal they all cd on Lady Villiam found a clew Mr. Storey ‘1 will leave > look up his England?” h money my hands would s St. Paul's. I'm » fit you out, and Have you g for ld and free. send you to give you an open out a good deal k. What do you v kind, sir. I trust you will ere walking aleng _the ats were raised to Mr. Dex- “Good morning” salute rned er borrowing man, Mr. Glo- 1 %50, even wildcat rth the money %o be seen 1 am considered to be wdest. all-fired clever ted States. I am cred- r-seeing _achievements mining than the wisest nkers. To have me man along State street ng on close terms with s stock and ambitions to I's well known I don’t paper men and it is of the stock of the hat report got about 1 itz sale and its ad- ed 50 per cent. fer you cam't think reputation T have. All 1 was lucky from the 1 in old brass pot ¢ a piece of old B . 4 . But us, as my clever House would say; the Mail bullding.” of the road Joe Wil- ., was passing, a flower : and a contented smile T will rejoin you in a aid Glover, all the gold- h Dexter had fluttered n_to the winds at night's adventure, and the hope that Wil- liams might have discovered her. CHAPTER V. AND MR. DETECTIVE WIL- LIAMS. was the heroine of 1t the Athletic Club; a i mer ly the memb: their e friends were of ZELLA the De. of attendance id he h e trials of grace nd Zella had 1 for which snatcnes Irist of \icago force. luck t and a inted one he said, with s the rm m have addressed Willilams. 1 you reached your home night ?—or Iz to be correct. I g we had bet y this mc si And what then?" witne: insult that was o you, an punishment yor y administered to the ruffian nam f man.” id you not save me the risk o pr cer_had discovered her You were too quic for the loafing thief self.” “And there was another person on the for both of us— as well as for my spot,” she said with a smile; the color that had paled when Willlams declared himself coming back to her cheeks and with it her customary self-possession “You scorned his protecti e He think: ved his life. “You are making a romance of a very trivial matter,” she said, pleased at the time to Jearn that the stranger considered himself so deeply indebted to her. ‘Your friends are leaving the eclub,” said Willlams, as several ladies began to pause at the exit. *I want you to be good enough to give me your address; d, furthermore, to appear against the oner to-morrow.” I will give you my address, appear against the prison pr but T will hot r,” said Zella “Don’t say you law may decide will not; that is as the “No law shall make me appear, Mr Wwiiliams. be assured of that. Is it nof bad enough that the police cannot keep the streets free for a woman to pass along without being molested, and, when molested, one of their leading officers looks on and leaves her to fight her own ay ai‘au;\l a horde of ruffians?” said . hotly. My dear young lady, that is a most unkind exaggeration, and you must not speak to me In that w: Don't say you :m not do what I request; I can compel rou Willlams was not angry, but he held it diplomatic to appear so. “Very well, Mr. Williams,” sald the young lady, altering her tone to one of sweet appeal. “Dear Mr. Willlams, I do not wish to appear. “Very well, Miss Brunne said the of- ficer after some hesitation and appeal on the part of the girl; “it shall be as you wish. We will send Abner Digges to the House of Correction without your evi- dence.” “Thank you, Mr. Willams; thank you very much,” said the girl, her eyes rest- ing on his with a grateful expression. “I am repaid in having won the thanks of 80 brave a lady ald Wiiliams. “Good d-% Miss Brunnen. . “ “One moment. please, Mr. Willlams. How did you find me out? How came‘;’r::u to know my name?" “Quite easily, Miss Zella. I knew you were not a circus girl or the strong lady of a dime museum; so I concluded that you must be a leading member of the ‘Women's Athletic Club." “Very kind of you to know that I was not a circus girl said Zella, with a mock curts “And, by the way, who was the—cr—ihe gentiemen who said, ‘If he's a foreigner, then let a forelgner pro- tect you? " ams smiled at the evident embar- the lady and at her recalling T word of his friend. remember his very he words? n was rather remarkable,” nembers your face just as acute- Williams, “and raves about your all Le late, K said Bridget ing €]l to the detec J y! 2s they left the bufid- I3 s in vain to check a i extra shade of pink plexion nterview with the ms rk. Joe W ams h: Ts Miss Brunnen excused 4 witncss against the with quick sympathy the young lad . and Abner Digs nth jn the House of [ runk and in the . and using a bowieknife to danger, etc. Mr. Ed- supported t¥ of ective and the sen was the enient that Digges evidently been in the town f week and was 1 vacation af ANy Mo of z an olorada L 1 th might be re said, a re for him way down in Ken- father had made the old days. would have had wenty Knives against him, if he had been o enough to draw upon a woman th trate d remarked; to elicit th ejoinder from Digges that he ¥ t arawn a woman, ¥ t kyote, who [ Glover;"” — nor did b 1 the individual m w man, but a < clothes; he'd lay a hun- was a ederate of petticoats s A ppel winked at the de- t ed And, when i n removed, the Judge s studied'the noble art’ for Zella Brunnen; a w hing couldn’t have . I gues And that's ‘“'You don't remember me?’ he ous bow.” what he thought of her; a man in petti- coats! CHAPTER VI MR. HIRAM DI-IXTHR‘S CONFESSION AND THE MORAL THEREOF. “Quitting the Mall?"’ asked Williams in response to Ned Glover's hasty “Good morning."” “What do you mean?” ir. Hiram Dexter is not only the prin- I stockholder, but Storey’'s most inti- repeated Willlams almost with “‘You left Mr. Dexter standing idewa'k with as much Indifference you were the greatest stockholder afer in search of work.” sald Glover, looking round in to catch sight of Mr. Dexter’'s coat- as his would-be patron disappeared he hall-way of the Chicago Daily Mail g “I don’t think that is how he felt, I begged him to excuse me."” “You shunted him with never as much as a suggestion of apology in your man- ; and he stood and watched you across amazed as if one of his culations had suddenly gone as if time tall; “I'm very sorry; apologies presently. the news? Have you found her “Her! Whom?"” replied Williams, with well-acted surprise, “Whom?” in kis turn, repeated Glover. “You know whom I mean.” Jh! The woman who didn't require your protection? No. I'm gping to look up the cireus pecple. There’s a new side- show down in Halsted street, with a strong lady; breaks paving stones with her fist, and—" “Then you don’t mean to help me?"’ sald Glover, interrupting him, in an offended manner. “Help you?” replied the detective, rals- ing his eyebrows. “I didn’'t know you were broke. I see now. Dexter wouldn’t part, eh?” “You are not going to make me angry, ‘Williams “Very well, then,” rg)lled the American. “Just you follow Mr. Dexter, and tell him what a fool you are, and meet me at the Grand Palace to-night, and I'll tell you T'll amaze him with Meanwhile, what's THE SUNDAY CALL. all about the circus gal. If you don't square things with Dexter, and keep your position pn the Chicago Daily Mail, you can wipe me off your Visiting list. Under- stand. Williams hailed a passing car, and waved his newly made friend a parting salute. Glover, biting the ends of his mustache, crossed the road and entered the office ‘of the Mail. “Go right in,” said the janitor guarded the editorial portals. “Mr. Dexter, 1 beg you will accept my abject apologics for leaving you abiupily. 2007, "I was, 1 am sure you will under- stand, out of no disrespect. . . 1 veg your pardon, M1. Storey, 1 did not sce you.” who o on not seeing me,” said Storey, deeply interested in some papers on his patent automatic desk, that was loophoied and echoed the tick of an with drawe aujacent tape, that was teling him the latest news from Lond Berlin, Pa 1 Hoskosh, with impartial indifference. You gave me the gu-by, as one mignt a poor relation, Mr. Edmund Glover,” said Dexter, tlting an easy chair in which he was seated against the wall, and contem- piaung ur gushman, in whose fortunes ne hud so readily taken an interest. Givver puiled at his mnuswacne, which he had been hitherto trymg to eat, and looked from the engrossed Storey o the inquiring, Dexter. ‘I'm devinsn and that's the truth,” he d presently. he truth js— Well, you see, I have a kind of lory on hana for the ‘Mail ana—er Wililams is not an easy feiluw to get hotd of when you want him most, ana “You thought him of more umportance an myseil. Well, perhaps you are assured, sir, it was not out of any pect. indeed, I don't know how to vyou for the interest you have taken nk me when I've done s you. As for disrespect, you , that is understood. Anyhow, it sn't a selfish impulse that made Wil- mething liams at the moment more attractive to vou than me. So shake, and say no more about it. They shook hands, whereupon _Mr, Storey turned upon his circulating chair, red in the conversation. ead? What is it? A cor- Platt mine petered am indicted for big- was a typical Westerner, Storey big boots, generally bony lanky long face, closely shaven, a shock of grey legs hair, and a pair of dark eyes, shadowed by heavy evebrows. “You'll be convicted of a joke if you don’t " Dexter renlied. “Don’t sdid, with a courte- jeopardize your reputation. “That's past praying for,” sald Storey, “Everybody knows you are my patron,”’ with a quick wink ‘at Glover, that put the young man entirely at his ease. “I'll sell you out and swamp you, Storey, If you say another word.” “Swamp the ship? Ease her of an in- tolerable cargo, you mean?”’ “That's how we show our affection for each other, Mr. Glover. When you get more used to Us you will hear him call me everything but an honest man; and me denounce Storey as a mean, bald-faced cuss! But we are not on sufficiently fam- iliar terms at present.” “He's only 1r¥ing to take the edge off your opinion of my opinion of a time- serving old Yank,” said Storey. *But, to return to our mutions. What's gone wrong, or going to? . . . Is your story of the interview in the editor's box yet?" “The truth is," sald Glover; tq be at once interrupted by Dexter—- “See here; | was telling Mr. Glover what a fine thing 1t was for him to be seen walking friendly and all serene with me, and how I meant lo advise vou to send him to the Platts Valley mincs, and how, furthermore, I would pool him an interest in the enterprise, when he caught sight of joe Willlams, a mere police oflfcer. and, off hand, he says, ‘Excuse me,’ turns his back and leaves me standing on the side- walk, as If ['d been trying to borrow a five-dollar bill from him!" 1 hope he haz made you dance to the tune 1 set before he gave you so bright a sample of his English politeness,” sald the editor of the Mail, now contemplat- ing the two with a genlal smile. ‘Talk!"” sald Dexter. “I guess I fllled him right up—" “‘On every other subject than that upon which you more particularly desired in- formation.” said Glover, seeing that he had_been more quizzed than censured. “Got his typewriter along?” said Sto- rey, again winking at Glover. };0. .11;; not exactly.” i “How do_you mean, ‘not exactly,’ blooming Britisher?” sald Dexter, > “I mean the lady was not there in per- son, but——" ‘‘See here, Storey, you are encouraging this reporter of yours to size me up with a jibe concerning Miss Brunnen. Now listen, both of you . . . Storey kn ‘when I am In earnest. ... There's a difference between striking you with a feather and hitting you with & club. . . . But, by gosh! if either of you speak lightly of that young lady, you make me your ememy. . Yes, you do, by the living Jingo!" “Well, well, old fellow, keep cool,” sald Storey, rising and advancing towards him. “Dash my boots, old man, I honor yQur sentiments, and I res’zect the great soldier’s daughter. Shake!” They “shook,” after which symbol of friendship Dexter offered his cigar case, first to Storey and then to Glover. While they lighted up he chewed the end of his weed, and, thrusting his hands into his pockets, walked about the room, not at- tempting to disguise his agitation. “See here,” he_said, presently facing them as th at, Storey at his desk, Glo- ver by the may be a fool. It is not given to every man to be always ahead of his If T had met a Mi Bru tw thirty years ago would have reckoned myself the luckiest man in the United States if she would have given me the right to protect her and the privilege of being her slave. But it was never my lot to meet a woman 1 would have cared to mar And now I can only cherish the hope that I ms be a kind fat her. But do think me to do more n_empl fair wag ; by ndent even her a present. She to permit me to make is as accomplished as Is beautiful. . . . T had never felt my loneliness—the ioneliness of an old t she entered my services as RIS That is the honest truth. Just 3 I loved and honored my mother, one ¢ the best women God ever put the bre v do 1 toward this vou of life into, woman: this moth fatheries child of America daughter. . That's how it So let » at that, you two. me. now. . . . I will see Thereupon he took up his hat the place. Storey looked at Glover looked at Storey, Dexter ting foot- steps echoed g the ridor and the outer door closed upon ““There’ fellow for said Storey. “The mc nich . Glover, get married w ou're young. and dc wait until to contemplate the bility of er man’s happines ¥ou might have been blessed! Were you ever in love, Mr. Glover?” il a few hours ago.” in_thur ¢ do you mean? T met he the street at “On the street! And at A nice con for ue. T only = Didn’t know know now. A ruffian attacked her. I went to her assistance. She felled the brute with the dexterity of a pugilist and pi! that a story 3 the Mail?" midnight.” midnigh “It's stant. her for an in- don’t w who she was: are getting up for No, sir. It's a story 1T am getting up for myself. But vou will have a note of it, no doubt, in your police reports f to-morrow's paper. “Who Is the woman, dig von cev?” Jo I ur 1 did not say, sir. 1 could tell me. That is offended Mr. Dexter. “Youth will be youth. But I hope you are not what your people cali ‘a masher,’ Mr. Glover? * * & If you are, be- ware of falling in love with M Brunnen. s '+« '« By Jjove! I shouldn't wonder that Dexter meant to warn you, as well as me, poor Old Honesty e A very pleasant thing, no doubt, to have a pretty and accomplished type-writer con- tinually at your elbow. A five-dollar bill to nothing, he has received more than 2 hint from Miss Brunnen that he is not for her, nor she for him! * ¢ But, have a care, Glover, that you don't come be- tween him and his—daughte; ‘“After last night he need have no fear of me, Mr. Storey.” “See that after last night make a bigger fool of yourself than my dear old friend, Hiram Dexter. * * * hoped ohy you don't Have a care, Mr. Glover. * * * Come to me when you have got - as_you think wise with the Dex terview. ¢ % ¢ et it be in two hou at the furthest.” - “Yes, sir.”” said Glover, golng straight to one of tiie small boxes Set apart for re- porters and others engaged on the staff of the Mail_where he sat down before a pile of “copy” paper, and finished his cigar. CHHAPTER VIL BREAKFAST AT MRS, BOARDING HOUS They called it “the anne It was a large, lofty room, that had been added to the long, rambling timbered home, known as the Parkside boarding house. It was something more than what is called a frame house, though there are wooden cottages still existing in Massachusetts that were brought over from England by the first settlers. Therefore, it does not follow that a frame house s a ram- shackle place. The Parkside boarding house, moreover, had a brick foundation, and its surrounding veranda looked out upon a garden with shade trees and a few ragged flower beds. It was situated in a street of curious and detached houses that had escaped attack from the great fire. Its sidewalks were wooden, and its road- way unpaved; in spite of which, however, it was generally clean, having a surfacé of sand and gravel. Since the erection of the annex, Mrs. O'Hagan’s establishment was the most important-looking place in the district. The saloon ot dining room was paneled in a light wood that had been varnished. The panels were decorated with lith- ographs of Washington, Lincoln and Dewey; for the American-Spanish war had oniy just been concluded. There wers also. in tdy [rames, Bewspaper engray- O'HAGAN'S ings of the defeat of the Spanish fleet, views of the Lakes of Killarney, and a picture (from the Illustrated London News) of the blowing up of Clerkenweli Gaol In London, with other pictorial re- miniscences of the Irish revolt. Mr. Glen- coe, who was a Scotchman, and Mrs. Fer- guson, who hailed from Belfast, occasion- ally found it difficult to put up with Mrs. O'Hagan’s Fenian sentiments; but, as shs equally annoyed her American arders with her claims that America was only “Ould Oireland, under another name, that Ireland had made the United Statés and kept the country going, both sides got into the habit of smiling at the old lady's extravagances. Moreover, it was easy to be self-deny- in the matter of nationality and pa- triotism and the rest, in consideration of the O’Hagan cuisine. A breakfast, for ex- amg at the Parkside Boarding-house was only equaled by the best restaurants in the city. The bill of fare might be more varied and include a more numerous array of side dishes, but Mrs. O'Hagan presided over a meal that was not only and comfort t Dleasant to the eye g to oifactory sern but as wholesome as it was daib She vowed that porridge was an Irish dish. Indeed, everything that anybody praised, anything that was worthy of praise, was Irish. She declared that tom: ;es were Irish: that eranberries grew wild abou Drogheda that the pumpkin was common enough in every part of the “ould counthry”; that apples grew on the hedges about Killarney: while the lake was crowded with Spanish mackerel, and the shore with terrapin! Oniy la knew the dear old woman well enough to observe the sly twinkle in her eye as she made these declarations: and the stanchest American patriot would be moilified at the tribute pald to the na- tional foods by the way in which the were cooked and served. Tomatoes sliced, with a small mountain of ice in their cen- ter: a fine dish of Spanish mackerel: a preparation of chicken after the manner of Virginia: sweet potatoes: squabs; hot cakes; a fine bowl of fruits; and hot coffee in a great, old-fashioned urn: a snow- white table-cloth: and what did it matter whether Mre. O'Flagan vowed that ‘twas the Irfsh won the victory of the North against the South, or that she repeated e libels of England's bitterest enemies at wounded dervishes at Omdurman re tortured by Tommy Atkins. “Did you hear of the street brawl, ‘am?" " asked Mr. Glencoe when the ning appetites of the boarders were fairly well appeased, and they were tak- ing their coffee leisurely. did that,” was the reply. paper says the woman was a lady, struck the villain a blow that down mc he wind out of him,’ is the t." said Mr. Glencoe. how,” was the com dow of a bartender who had retired on a small income and cecunied the humblest of the Park-ide Yo lady, { Boarding-house’s bedrootam. at that reck would be in the s hour.” sald Zella. "I was self that very night.” u're different,” said * sald Mrs, O'Hagan. “And [ happen to know that she was out on a mission of mercy, an errand of loife and death, the saints be praised!" She looked across the table with a frown at Zeila, and vent on straightway to change the subject. Ye all know that Miss Zella Brunnen acts as private secretary to ould Mr. Hi- ram Dexter, the millionaire. Did ye see the interview of him in the Chicago Mail?” “I have not seen the paper,” saild Mr. Glencoe. “Then don't see it, dear Mr. Glencoe,” said a. “Why not, me darlint? Ladlés and gin- tlemen, it's jest a testimonial to wimmin, that should plaze the community at large. It was to interview Misther Dexter on the new discoveries of gould the reporter called upon him: but Misther Dexter could only talk about the wonderful rise and progress of wimminkind and the great merits of a young la in his employ. She happened to be out at the toime, by which token he was able to do her honour. He mintion’d no name, of coorse, but the de- scription of a voung lady who could rade Frinch, was perfect in the English and the Oirish ‘tongues, wrote shorthand, was a typist, and wan of the most graceful fencers of the Wimmin's Athletic Club, and w: a very fairy on a bicycle—Y “Qur Zella, of cou exclaimed ‘sev- eral boarders at onc “Of course, of course. God bless her sald Mrs. O'Hagan, greatly to Zella's em- barrassment. “if you plaze, misthress, a gintleman is in the parlour to see ye; he said he'd walt yer convanience,” announced the waitress. ““Then let him. How do I know if I want to see him?” “Oh, go, dear, and see him! We will all excuse you,” said the widow of the retired bartender. “But if T go, ye'll none of ye finish yer breakfasts comfortable.” “Oh, yes we will!” said Mr. Glencoe. “And indeed we wiil,” echoed Mrs. Fer- guson. “You know how our dear hostess dotes on me,” said Zella, embracing in her glance the whole table. “You must really make allowance for her. If, in the kind- ness of her heart, she will' overrate me in every possible way, you must forgive her; and not think me vain enough to feel seriously the things she says about me. “We just reckon ye up at your own roper and modest valuation,” ‘sald Mr. lencoe, “and are not ruled by the exag- gerations of Mistress O'Hagan. If her lips were as reticent as the parritch she makes, or the chickens her cook achieves that are just pairfect, she wad be too angelic for this life; so let us e'en be con- “tent to gt'e her tongue full tai “Why, certainly!” remarked t! bare tender’'s widow. “That is exactly how we all feel, Mr. Glencoe.” In the midst of this pleasant council of triends and fellow boarders, the voice of Mrs. Bridget O'Hagan could be heard, as she was leaving her private parlor, evi- dently addressing a visitor. “But bedad, I Insist! Any friend of Misther Amos V. Storey is welcome at the bord of Bridget O'HR?an." “1 ean hardly say friend: I am in his employment,” was the repiy. “Which is the more to yer honner. It's proud I am to have Misther Storey’s rec- ommendation to wan of his famous wr! ers. Come this way. sor, and I'll have the pleasure of inthroducing ve to mse friends and borders, and ask ye to sit down and ate wid us.” hank you: have breakfasted.” Thin it's a cup of coffee, perhaps, ve'll be takin'. It would be a sin if ye didn't ate or dirink wid us.” The boarders looked at each other, and began to fold their napkins., Zella blushed and fixed her eyes upon the doorway, to drop them { < jon as ‘the stranger said are very kin I hope so_informal oduction not be considered an g She_could nev that volee. It was he. The stran who had sald, hen let a for protect 3 CHAPTER VIIL MEETTN ABOU It was Mr. Amos V. Storey, the editor- proprietor of the Daily M who recom- mended Ned Gloyer to take a room at the Parkside boarding-house. Neither he nor Ned Glover had any idea that Miss Brun- n was domiciled under the roof of Mrs. Bridget O'Hagan. Since his coming thither was a mere accident, so far as his of Zella was concerned, it would seem as it Fate had a hand in their meeting. Joe Williams had told him that the lady who had declined his protection the memorable night In State street was Mr. Hiram Dexter's typist. This had consid ably disconcerted him in his imagi n., the in the brignt rays of ti HOW THE L WAS BROUGHT therefore, covery but it haa given an to the confession of Dexter that was pointed there Glover had pleased I a fecling for e pictures were not but they sparkle held the reader form of jou cated per e very ver's was him to S not ¢ Ppe I find T am ave not g, and I had Ived to set- ou in e you ¢ quicks making x boss s O'Hagan here wo 1 be gits hould av butes thim among the and in that way kapes he scales ¢ ce alven ‘Then I'T interview madame, as you suggest, begin to save mone: By the wa ir, what about sending m to Platts Valley? - You are better where you are, I think «But if Mr. Hiram Dexter would give me an interest in his enterprise, ever so small a one? I don’t, for & moment, see why he should.” nThael you may boom it, Gloyer. But you can't very well boom it in the ‘Mail® without my ;‘,;ns;flt. see " “Quite so, Mr. Storey. wAnd moch I like dear old Hiram, Platts Valley can wait. Talk of queer fellows, there's one for you, if you like. Madly In love with that typewriter girly don’t you think so0? “It seemed like it,” sald Glover, his face flushing for a moment, as he thought of her under the lamps in State street. Wil- liams had not told him the girl’s name. He had simply said, “T've found her; she’ old Dexter's typewriter.” Thereupon Ned had recalled the confession in Storey’s room. And when he presently left his considerate editor-proprietor, with a sub- stantial advance in his pocket, to find out the Parkside boarding-house, he was trying to persuade himself that, after all, it ‘'was a delusive, illusive, will-o'-the-wisp face he had seen In this frame of mind Glover pushed his way through the crowd toward the draw- bridge, which was open when he got there. He watched the hurrying throng, jumping on and off before the mov roadway closed, as if -it were matter of life and death that each individual should reach his destination without a moment's lay. Then, full of embarrassing thoughts, and a half-doubtful resolve to call upon Mr. Dexter and make the acquaintance, if possible, of his typewriter befors the day was over, he took the first car he could clamber Into, and in due course landed within half a mile of the shabhy and picturesque locality, where the sun was shining on the bright windows of Mrs. Bridget O'Hagan's establishment: and a surprise awaited him, at which the reader may be said to have been present. CHAPTER IX. “IN LOVE, OLD WOOD BURNS MORE FIERCELY THAN GREEN.” It was love at first sight. Whoever not loved so. has not loved at all. To zhe.: la there was a message to the strangers voice. It touched a respomsive chord in her heart, and at night awoke her in a dream. In Ned Glover's soul, hitherto un- ruffled by even a breath of love, a pair of eves ignited the smoldering tinder of a young man's fancy, and afterward there followed, with all speed, the flame of jealousy, to neutralize the first bilssful emotion. (Continued next week.)