The Black Pearl

of the emotional, gay temperament supposed to be the inheritance of southern blood. He was a saturnine, gnarled old Spaniard with lean jaws and beetling brows. His skin was like parchment

rl was the child of her father. The secretiveness, the concentrated will, the unfettered individuality of spirit, which protected its own defi

indifference. There were many moths ever circling about this glowing flame of a daughter. Gallito accepted

f, but no show of affection, and what small tenderness of nat

by his side, the old man would sit on the porch for an hour at

ining properties. It was understood that Gallito had come down now to give his opinion on some claim that Flick had recently

sed for his wife, and that it was not for him as for her the open sesame to confidence and friendship, speedily ceased to s

due deliberation. "Sweeney's been writing to me considerable," he said

nson said, and then expatiated on the advantage of the wider

nd. "I'll write to Sweeney," he said finally, "and get him to give me a statement

rose to his lips: "But your daughter, is she wil

ows. There was surprise in his glance and a touch of cyn

on to his judgment on her part, based on a common passion, acquisitiveness? He thought of Pearl's jewels. More than once he had seen her lift her fingers and caress the gems on

before I can get his answer." He looked at the other man questioningly. "It mig

, business running easily. Came down here to stay a while, needed a vaca

ere was nothing further to say, the subjec

that and left the observer to draw any conclusions he pleased as to his almost constant presence at the Gallito home, and yet, afte

n her querulous monotonous reminiscences, while Gallito and various men sat and smoked cigarettes about the card table; but always, n

; and not cards alone. When he came "inside" there were brought forth from various nooks of obscurity

of the porch. To her he made no secret of his infatuation, but it seemed to him that when with her they were ever more constantly and more irritatingly interrupted. E

alone were on the occasions of some morning

e played both by nature and practice with consummate skill, or how much he might have caught her fancy or touched

hfulness so subtle that it convinced him even while he doubted. He felt often as if he were stalked by some stealthy and implacable animal. This situation, imaginary or real, began to

ld all the winning cards. The ace of trumps, as he exultantly told himself, is bound to take any trick, and the ace of trumps he felt that he possessed in the informat

and glory of the desert flooded in moonlight, and the patient, flattering interest with which he invariably received

re in the mo

ng to conceal his eagerness u

"and Gallito's going to keep hi

ove to speak with disarming i

him out of the country now." Then, having delivered herself of her burden of important news, she s

, though! Oh, say, Mr. Hanson," she clutched his arm lik

g that you tell me just goes in one ear and out of the other. But look he

e fervently assure

rly want to talk business to her. You know how anxious I am to get her sig

he was tagging round after you and Pearl. I want him to help me, anyway. We got to

yed the next morning that to Hanson's infinite

a palm grove to-day," said

and childlike enjoyment in her mood, taking his ardent lovemaking as a matter of course; but, gradually

ed at him. There was a hint of laughter in her gla

bout you, do you know

," he answered. "You keep me guessin

ome way he received the impression that it was not the first time she had mentally debated the matter. But finally she decided to s

parent irrelevance, "what

ith you as hard as I could, and"-his voice ringing wi

licately cut lips upcurling in a smile; then her he

lasp her, when she threw up her head with a low laugh, a tinkl

r mind, something she had determined to say to him. "Listen to me," imperiously,

me. And I'm seeing your lips and they draw me like a magne

ou noticed how Pop's been watching you-looking slantwise

not blind. But what of it? I supposed he trea

t pay much attention to men that ain't his kind, and you're not. And Bob Flick is always jealous, of cou

t it down to?" Rudolf

ed. "Of course," and here he saw an expression of real regret, almost worry, on he

d Hughie's unreasoning cranks count with commonsense people? I can't underst

at Hughie knows thing

mply because Hughie chooses to take a dislike to me, I'm to be w

e make it out. Pop don't pay much attention, usually. But," s

ing to tell," he af

a moment. "Bob Flick hit the trai

go w

feel, that it had something to do with you, and I wanted to tell y

d, don't you? But if that's your way of trying to get rid of me, it don't go. When you tell me that you won't sign up with me, and

t yet," the corners of Pe

ge, until you do

ight before them. The stately, exotic palms lifted their shining green fronds to the blue, intense, illimitable sky, flooded with the gold of sunshin

e wide, free spaces of nature, where every law of man seemed puny, ineffectual and void. In this unbounded, uncharted freedom the shackles of conventionality fell from him. Here was life and here was love. He was a primitive man, and here, bef

ber when I was a kid that my mother used to tell me about the Garden of Eden. I though

ardly to hear him. Her eyes were on the waving, shimmering hori

you were always happy, but"-still wistfully-"I haven't found that place yet." She t

reathing spell whenever you want. But," with an impatient gesture, "I ain't here to talk business. That's what I came to Paloma for-business. That's all I was before I met you, just a cold, hard business proposition. I guess I was pretty hard-headed. They seemed to think so in my line, any

just because you got to annex the scalp of every man your sweet eyes fall on. That's all right, honey, I ain't blaming you; but there's been moments lately, Pearl, when I've thought that maybe you might care, moments when I been pl

out her hands to him; and with one step Hanson lifted her clear off the ground, gathe

s about his neck and

Hanson did so, although he still held

is thirst was still unquenched, he was eternal youth. The heart of life breathed through him. He looked upon the sky, a man unconquered, unbeaten, undaunted by life. He was its master. Did she ask the snow peaks yonder? He would gather them

eemed to him that roses and stars fell about them. "You love

ly into his eyes: "'Love me to-day,'"