St Ignatius College - Ignatian Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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74 IGNATIAN might also mention that our next engagement will be at Los Angeles, the week following Christmas. The call-boy knocked on the door, as the curtain rose for the third act, and the three of us walked towards the stage door. As I was leaving them, M. Le Hallier asked me to call at his hotel, which I heartily promised to do. That night I sent off a cablegram to Paris, detailing briefly the success of the quest, and urging them to cable to Achille St. Maurice-Petrovsky the news of his mother's illness. The next afternoon I drove up in my runabout to the hotel, where by good fortune I found Achille alone. The cur- tains of the room were drawng and as the little fellow arose to greet me, his eyes filled with tears, which he strove in vain to dash away. A yellow paper lay crumpled on the table beside him, and without a word he handed it to me. I smoothed it out, and read the cablegram: M, Achille St. Maurice-Petrovsky, - Palace Hotel, San Francisco, Calif. Your mother, Madame Mahe, lies seriously ill in Paris. Come at once. CSignedj H. E. Colin de Cocheval, M. D. My heart, always softened by suffering, went out to the boy. Yes, a detective is supposed to be entirely free from sentiment, but I longed at that moment to mother the child in the hour of his bitterest trial, and I yielded to the tugging at my heartstrings, and poured into his sensitive soul all the con- solation, all the tenderest expressions of sincere sympathy with which my good angel inspired me. Once more the vivid picture of my sweet mother, prostrate on the bed of death, came up before me, and I spoke words of comfort, and as mother would have wished me to do, bade him pray God to spare his dear mother until once more she would clasp her darling son to her sorrowing heart. When I saw him somewhat comforted, I branched off onto some antique anecdotes, and soon had him smiling in the midst of his tears. I then proposed an auto ride, to which he consented after much reluctance.

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LOVEKS' CONQUEST 73 haps you like 'O'Connor' better! What's un'cle's name, Archille? M. Gustave Le I-Iallier, he answered quietly. i Aha, thought I, so uncle is also traveling incognito. The letter gave the name of Jean Louis Shampol! Just then the door opened, and a man, dressed in an eve- ning suit, stepped into the room. He was a small, wiry man, his eyes shifted unceasingly, a retreating chin left the irn- pression of irresolution, which, with the cunning that lurked in his beady eyes, gave him a very unprepossessing appear- ance. The villain had entered the scene. I instinctively dis- liked the fellow, yet I saw he was a foeman worthy of my steel. f What does this mean, boy P he growled. I thought I forbade you to receive anyone here. But, uncle, this is Mr. O'Connor, gasped the lad, whose delicate spirit recoiled at the rough, threatening aspect of the angered man. I-Ie is from the newspapers, and wished to know all about my music. The man eyed me cunningly, and then quite taken aback by my innocent appearance, apologized for his hasty conduct. f'Glad to meet you, indeed, very glad, Mr. O'Connor. Pardon my intrusion, but I have to take care of the boy, as he is continually beset by your good people, who are load- ing him with presents, and I am afraid utterly spoiling him. How smoothly the words rolled out. In tones as soft and in- sinuating I answered him: Yes, how often we dramatic writers see that. These child-wonders come to this city, and immediately they are placed high on a pedestal surrounded by the costliest votive offerings. -No wonder their heads are turned. I had talked myself agreeably into his good graces. By the way, M. Le Hallier, is there anything special you would like featured in this interview with your nephew ? No, I think not, he answered musing, but you might express our thanks to your fellow-citizens for the many acts of kindness they have continually lavished upon us. You

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LOVERS' CONQUEST 75 I headed the car out Market street, my little companion sat quietly, gazing at the throngs of early Christmas shoppers. Now and then I saw the tears start, and the brave determina- tion in the fine little face to keep them back. We were soon out of the business district, speeding up the Haight-street hills in the direction of Golden Gate Park. He brightened up as we entered the Main Drive, and called my attention to the pretty beds of flowers, the marvels of landscape-garden- ing, the many plots of grass where carefree children were playing .,.. just then I remembered that I had left the cablegram on the table at the hotel. By -love! What's the matter, Monsieur Ralph ? Why-er, nothing. See that rabbit nibbling away at the bush-there he's gone like a shot! Say, Achille, you didn't happen to bring the cablegram along, did you P No, he replied, I gave it to you. And I, I rejoined, left it smoothed out on the table. VVhat time did you say Uncle Gustave would return P Uncle, the little fellow answered innocently, said he would be back by six o'clock. I studied my watch for a moment-it was now three o'clockg we could take a turn through the Park, along the Ocean Boulevard, with a stopover at the Cliff House, and leisurely return to the Palace by five o'clock. Good! I answered laughing. And now for a spin ! We sped by the Conservatory, and on, circling Stow Lake, past the great Stadium, the smaller lakes, drinking in long draughts of the cool, salty breeze with which old Ocean greeted us. Gradually I drew him to speak of his mother. It was a subject he loved, and once upon it, he told me all with child- ish candor and truthfulness. You seef' he began, after papa's death, I was living in Paris with mother. I used to sell violets on the streets, and sometimes I would play the violin or sing. Mother worked