to the office. He arrived late, to find the compositors already fretting for copy. His editor promptly asked for the whaleback stuff, and Condy was forced into promising it wi

second hand-served only to fill space in the paper. They were lacking both in

otional actress, and by a solemn article compiled after an hour's reading in

ote out some two thousand words of it. In order to get the "technical details," upon which he set such store, he consulted the Encyclopedias again, and "worked in" a number of unfamiliar phrases and odd-sound

e sandhill," he told himself; and the next moment had resolved to go

s, putting the rooms to rights; or consulted with the butcher's and grocer's boys at the head of the back stairs, or chaffered with urbane and smiling Chinamen with their balanced vegetable baskets. She knew the house and its management at

or even expecting it, Blix came across a little Japanese tea-house, or rather a tiny Japanese garden, set with almost toy Japanese houses and pavilions, where tea was served and thin sweetish wafers for five cents. Blix and Snooky went in. There was nobody about but the Japanese serving woman. Snooky was in raptures, and Blix spent a delightful hal

," she whispered; "isn't that sple

Jack Carter was to be present. Then she suddenly remembered "Morrowbie Jukes," "The Return of Imri," and "Krishna Mulv

bably expect Frank Catlin. He was a fair specimen of the Younger Set, a sort of modified Jack Carter, and called upon her about once a fortnight. No doubt he would hint darkly as to his riotous living during the past few days and refer to his diet of bromo-seltzers. He would be slangy, familiar, call her by her first name as many times

that it was not Frank Catlin, but another boy of precisely the same breed; and Blix return

of that week; "that is, that I never thought of doing it before." Then suddenly she put up h

What-what's the ma

een her fingers. "He's got it on," she

rf nervously, "it's-it's very swell

fingers in he

e not brilliant, you're good and kind to your aged moth

you get with every pound of tea you buy; and this, this, THIS," he whimpered, waving his hands at the decorated sewer-pipe with its gilded cat-tails. "Oh, speak to me of this; spe

and I won't have it abused. Let's go into the dining-room, anyway. We'll

and sat there looking out. Blix had not yet lighted the gas-it was hardly dark enough for

ne westward till it climbed, climbed, climbed up a long slope that suddenly leaped heavenward with the crest of Tamalpais, purple and still, looking always to the sunset like a great watching sphinx. Then, further on, the slope seemed to break like the breaking of an advancing billow, and go tumbling, crumbling downward to meet the Golden Gate-the narrow inlet of green tide-water with its flanking Presidio. But, further than this, the eye was stayed. Further than this there was nothing, nothing but a vast, illimitable plain of green-the open Pacific. But at this hour the color of the scene was its greatest charm. It glowed with all the sombre radiance of a cathedral. Everything was se

p!" said Blix

and green. In a few moments her bows were shut from sight by the old fort at the Gate. Then her red light vanished, then the mainma

y sat thus, watching the stars light one by one, and the immense gray night settle and broaden and widen from mountai

thout form or outline. The sloe-brown of her little eyes and the flush of her cheek were mere inferences-like the faintest stars that are never visible when looked at directly; and it seemed to him that there was disengaged from her something for which there was no name; something that appealed to a mysterious sixth sense-a sense that only stirred at such quiet moments as this; something that was now a dim, sweet radiance, now a faint aroma, and now again a mere essence, an influence, an impression-nothing more. It seemed to him as if her

e a whisper; "Blixy, wish I

, isn't it, Condy?" she answered, tur

ght, straight thing, and be clean and fine, that you can't just BE

you strong; and then when you get to be good you can make your goodness count. What's a good man if he's weak?-if his goodness is better than he is hi

that." Then, after a pause: "I played Monday ni

she spoke quietly: "Well-I'm glad you told me"; and

other me that does precisely as he chooses, whether I will or not. But I'm going to do my best. I haven't played since, although there was plenty of chance. You see, this card business is only a part of thi

nd master of himself anywhere. Condy, IS there anyth

it is a good

ONG man-strong in everything-is the grandest thing in the world. Women

t the moment. The spell of the sunset was gone and they had evidently reached the end of that subject of their talk. Blix rose to light the gas.

!" exclaimed Condy; "a

r the story-or what

y unrolled his manuscript and read through what he had written. She approved, and, as he had fores

it. Instead of having the story end with his leaving her down there and going away, do it this way. Let him leave her there, and then go back after a long time when he gets to be an old man. F

eighth wonder! Magnificent-glorious! Say!"-he fixed her with a g

tent with that. But remember that story don't go to 'The Times' supplement. At l

dy. "Why, this is going to be on

ith sudden concern: "Have you g

an!" declared Blix; "

eat," he

eamed oysters; how would

oysters!" Then, with abrupt solemnity: "Blix, I n

e gas-stove, and they ate them there-Condy sitting

Just now it happened to be the morning's paper that Victorine had left on the table. For five minutes Condy had been picking it up and laying it down, frowning

y. Address K. D. B., this office.'-Hum!" he commented, "nothing equivocal about K. D. B.; has the heroism to call herself young

y are who put personals in the papers. K. D. B.,

are usually a plain, matter-of-fact sort, quite conscientious, you know; generally middle-

e," urged Blix

sition, accomplishments, money, desires acquaintance pre

," said Blix. "He's to

do for K. D.

He'd make her

ntroduction to good, honest woman to make home for his chil

ugh! I know just what kind of an old man B. P. T. is. I know he would want K. D. B. to warm his slipper

o or three to himself,

t be mean! R

one for K. D. B. Behold, the

desires acquaintance respectable young woman, good housekeeper and

just see it sticking out between the lines? And he live

glass of grog

s a long c

chews

w that nasty, smelly tobacco? But

he for K

iddle-aged gentleman. Captain Jack is a respectable middle-aged gentleman, and wants a good housekeeper. Oh, and besides, I can read bet

to be there and see the

id Blix, "to bring these two toge

table and jump

e to K. D. B. and sign it Captain

B.," she interrupte

he added, "to meet at some place; and then

? How would they know each

know them, and they can know each other. Of course as soon a

y wouldn

er. They would be thankful to

be the gre

a. Only we are running the show, and

his kind's too swell. K. D. B. wouldn't use Irish linen-never! Here, this is better, glazed with blue li

will we hav

laza, Lotta's fountain, the Mechanics' Library, and even the ca

uarter; quiet little old-fashioned place, below the level of the street, respectable as a tomb. I was there just once. We'll have 'em meet there at seven in the evening.

to work at t

ain character, and write a letter consistent with that character. Then it'll sound natural. Now, K. D. B. Well, K. D. B., she's prim. Let's have her prim, and proud of using correct, precise, 'elegant' language. I guess she wears mits, and believes in cremation. Let's have her believe in crem

they evolved the two following miss

tain

radicably convinces me that you are honest and respectable. I do not believe I should compromise my self-esteem at all in granting you an interview. I shall b

will find you

ctfull

D.

s K.

great favor of a personal interview? I shall esteem it a high honor. I will be at Luna's Mexican restaurant at seven of the clock P.M. on Monday evening next. May I express the fervent h

to co

AIN J

ndy while he mailed the letters in the nearest box, for he was quite ca

envelopes. But Condy was suddenly smitten with nameless misgiving. "Now we've done

back to the flat, and ba

s still sitting up tinkering with the cuckoo clock, which he had taken al

, "did you ever-when you were a pioneer, when you firs

only amusement the min

you to t

l into his lap and stared. Bu