| Show fr nelisco BY ALUE LOWE M copyright 1927 1227 warner firon bro picture ric ture tures ino inc 1 dolorsi COi costelle telle in OLD SAN FRANCISCO Is a warnor oros t of ebli novel 1 I CHAPTER II 11 continued alone in the great open patio by the fountain she danced for her strangely assorted audience of three men her grandfather a young spanish suitor and an aged servant yet no dance of the stage could have been filled with more allure and unconscious charm than dolores nor could any actress have made a more appe appealing alini or definite impression on her audience it vividly recalled tha grandfathers youth it aroused don luis smoldering passions and it made the old peon very proud to serve so lovely a mistress snapping off a rose as she danced past a bush of great crimson beauties dolores brought her dance to an end and tossed the blossom to lier her grandfather rand with a smile and kiss wafted wafred from her finger tips don luis sprang gracefully to his feet and catching the rose in mid air took possession of it that was not for you objected dolores sweet senorita he be pleaded ardently 1 a a little kind I 1 must start back home now tell me when I 1 may come again his eyes did not leave her fare face and the rose was held in his slender hand give me the flower or you may never come again she waited imperiously perilously sly your will is mine and bowing low he returned the red rose to her with such a good grace that she flashed him her most winning smile of f friendly forgiveness come when you please you know grandfather likes to have you and you are you perhaps a little glad when I 1 come A little yes then when she saw how hurt lie he appeared she added quickly come often as you always have we both like to have hare you don luis could not determine her interest in him was mere politeness or something warmer wanner controlled by her rigid ideas of girlish modesty but to him it did not matter lie wanted her because 1 I shall say adios dear senorita he said bowing low over hand I 1 and hurry away so there will be n no 0 delay delav in returning to you again after bidding farewell to old vasquez don luis went to the stable yard for his horse and took a route to the city CHAPTER ill III love at first fint sight after watching batchin vat chin g don luis depart for san francisco dolores turned toward the archway and noticed that two men were observing her from the private driveway in front of the hacienda she shrank back in embarrass ment and concealed herself behind a bower of roses but it was too late they had been watching the little scene since she danced for her supposed audience of three one man was michael brandon a heavy set we well 11 groomed pugnacious individual resembled a v velt ell cared for bulldog that was full of fight and ready to attack on the slightest provocation by profession he was a lawyer and represented a powerful faction in san francisco his is 11 p purpose u r in in life was to make money regardless gard less of individual rights or the law he knew so well how to get around it is not quite just to credit brandon with all bad qualities yet he deserved the c classification assifi ati n as 6 took in to tt zan ca a tile the good od traits that were a childhood i inheritance the other uninvited caller was bi his nephew terrance only fine things could be said about terry the untimely accidental death of his father left him alone and when affairs were being settled he came across a written request to the effect that in the event of any kind of trouble he was to appeal to his mothers wealthy lawyer brother in in san francisco thus it developed that brandon settled the estate and took terry into the law office terry was only twenty three and and still believed there were man many einings worth while in the world besides money and graft his admiration for the vivid spanish girl dancing in the patio was a case in point I 1 won wonderful darful der ful lie he exclaimed as much to himself as to his uncle 1 I I 1 never saw anything more beautiful f ua brandon shot him a swift glance the matter with these foreigners ho he shifted bi his long cigar to the other side of his mouth always dreaming and play acting and never tending to business bran dons eyes roved speculatively over te neglected rancho why worry about business when whan you can watch a girl like that terry was more alert at detecting femi feminine n ine charm than in recognizing a good business proposition humph ejaculated brandon in disgust women can always spend money but they dont help you make 1 it leave em cm alone boy when vasquez returned fron from n the stable yard after seeing don luis off on his horse he w was as surprised to find dolores trying to signal him bioni her place of concealment besida the rose bush Fol following lovIng her excited hand bavi waving ing he looked through tha archway and saw the cause of her alvisi alarm arm visitors tois were most infrequent at the rancho but ala so instinctively a ly felt that the nc neu comers were gentle j immediately he became the 11 I 1 men courte courteous ou dignia dignified led old grande grandee e weli wel cl i awn i gesti J senois Sp nois wont you I 1 come in in lie he called cordially As dolores briw tup th met iner zhe she was seized with v ith a sudden pall pani they h ind hid id spind wh le she danced and she had a timidity about meeting th tarm ni like a frightened bened deor locking lockin about lier for a m meliv ear of e et CL t p darted up tile the steps to the overhanging balcony where unseen by the men me below she proceeded to do 10 tile alie very thing she lad had just criticized in in the stran strangers zeri welcome senors greeted vasquez bowing low brandon acknowledged the salutation by len ic moving loving his cigar 1 I have come on a matter of important business which I 1 am sure will the be greatly to your advantage lie he announced importantly presenting his card vasquez examined it meaninglessly A card meant nothing to him he much preferred the warm clasp of a friendly land hand this is my nephew mr introduced brandon vasquez again bowed politely terry wanted to offer his hand but a little awed by the old mans grand manner could only nod besides he was wa wondering what became of the beautiful dancer she had disappeared as quickly and mysteriously as the lovely worshipped wor shipped fairies of his own native ireland we will be more comfortable inside suggested vasquez waiving his guests into the spacious living room As they digap disappeared feared beneath the balcony dolores came down the steps stealthily and watched them enter the hacienda without knowing why or what she was singing a song burst bunt from her heart she lad had discovered that the young stranger was interesting and exceedingly good to loox upon the dimmed elegance of the fine fate old living room was illuminated by candles that gleamed brighter t than all their heavy silver candelabra in the mid afternoon light the flickering glow cast beautiful and fantastic shadows on the heavy draperies massive furniture and large portraits of noble Vasque zes of old spain splendid trophies of the chase and an extensive collection of arms with the famous vasquez sword in a place of honor above tile the wide fireplace maje made no impression whatever hat ever on oil brancon Bra nuon slumped carelessly in a big chair lie he looked across at the stiff formality foi mality of his host and announced abruptly well lets get down own to brass tacks im going to buy your ranch he twisted his cigar bet between Neen firm teeth and watched vasquez narrowly tile the report of a cannon in the peaceful quite of the room could not have been more startling vasquez stiffened and bi his vein ribbed hands clutched the aim of his chair such a proposition was inevitable his extensive acres too valuable to be oer overlooked looked by pro promoters prom oteis motels in san francisco casc 0 but lie he hated to sell the rancho boundaries were the only ones lie he had ever known they were ivere the ancestral stronghold of the vasquez family and lie he loved all their past glories and present deteriorating magnificence the rancho was like himself old but that was no reason it should be dis disposed p ased of I 1 let us not cuiry senor vasquez managed to say he even smiled as if brandona Bran dons crude manner of putting I 1 the matter must be overlooked to a vasquez luei business is never so important as hospitality to his guests the same peon who had accompanied deloies on the guitar entered at this moment with a cobweb covered bottle from naich he be filled three exquisite wine glasses he handed tile bottle atle with a reverence almost amounting to veneration the ceremony iver he be withdrew to nur mr health senors toasted vasquez he sipped his wine in keen enjoyment terry followed liis his example with a deep respect for the old grandees grandeas gran dees courtly manner and traditional background but brandon drained his glass glas at a gulp ap rested his arms on the table and said well lets go I 1 have some papers here i terry had bad been searching for an excuse to return to the patio and find i the dancer his uncles statement offered a pretense anti and he seized it your papers are in the brief case in the carriage ill get them he be interrupted and rising hastily backed toward the patio door never mind said brandon im 1 patiently it is not necessary I 1 have billave all I 1 need for the present but terry was determined to see more of the girl if he could find her it is no trouble at all he insisted and grabb grabbing ipg his hat bat rushed out into the patio immediately dismissing all thought of the brief case he paused and looked around for the spanish dancing girl she was nowhere to be seen in annoyed disappointment he sauntered over to the fountain and from the wide tiled edge idly picked up dolores guly gaily decorated guitar that the peon peo n left when he finished accompanying her in the dance while bending over the clear fountain pool he saw a vision mirrored in its depth that held li eld him spellbound with admiration the girl lie he sought was stealthily watching from the balcony above as she listened and admired with sparkling eyes terry knew that the fairest colleen of all ireland could not compare with lier her in beauty and sweet allurement he diew back and smiled at the memory of her lovely reflection in the water then straightening up with the guitar in his hands he began strum strumming min and as lie he played lie he turned casually toward the balcony pretending lie he had no idea anyone was there like the pied piper of mamlin his music lured dolores from the vine covered retreat and with eager interest she listened with sparl sparkling ding eyes terry moved closer and closer to the balcony as he be played and then when he was directly beneath her he suddenly looked up smiled mockingly and caught her by surprise oh she exclaimed starting nervously there was no time to retreat she was conscious of blushing but not of her smile senorita come down please coaxed terry dolores said no very faintly but shook lier her head vigorously come down and play for me lie he pleaded holding out the guitar invitingly 1 I can only strum play spanish moonlight I 1 have always wanted to hear it by someone who knew how I 1 am sure you do lie he flattered irresistibly by good irish luck he had mentioned her favorite air she hesitated only a moment and then with a mischievous laugh because she knew she was doing wrong dolores ran lightly down the steps step and held out both hands for the instrument terry gave it to her automatically I ter iter beauty was like the vivid fresh fragrance of a gorgeous flower Hs he wanted to draw and touch her to make inake sure cure she was real yet was afraid his very presence would blemish her exquisiteness for a moment tile hie world stood still his temples throbbed and her loveliness filed every convolution of ins his brain hi heart beat wildly as if rejoicing that its mate had been found terry knew something lad had happened to mill him but at the moment lie he was not sane enough to call it by bv its right name LOVE and to think I 1 have never seen you before he sighed in regret dolores glanced at him quickly from the comers of her eyes 1 I came to play for you not talk she reminded all unconscious of the coquettish qu clu ettish look in her eyes and sitting beside the fountain she dutifully b began the opening chords of spanish moonlight for a long tinie time neither spoke F finally i nally terrys admiring g gaze a e made dolores raise lier her head un until t il their eyes met and held what is your name he asked softly in time with tile the music dolores I 1 am named aar after the dolores mission that used to be called old francisco de asis terry nodded in approval he felt that no name he be had ever heard could have suited her better call me ille terry will you he asked earnestly ill try and for the first time dolores looked away from his eyes it made her feel just a little lonely she wondered what would happen if her grandfather came out and found her talking with a strange young man who had bad not been properly presented Ho however uever she dismissed all thought of sending him hill away nothing quite so exciting as their meeting had ever happened d at the rancho before dolores knew she should not fel that way about an unconventional thing but she did 1 I have never seen you in town dolores terrys voice broke into her thoughts where do you go when you come in 1 I have never been to san francisco senor replied dolores a bit regretfully then she paused to recall how his voice sounded when he said her name she liked it we vasquez are spanish you know she continued our women remain at home that seems deems unreasonable terry frowned his indignation at the secluded custom the town is glorious you even seen its th theaters eaten its wonderful cafes its famous cocktail route no none of them she had often thought she would like to go and had spent many a solitary twilight hour dreaming die aming about what town life was like it is unbelievable and terry launched foith in a description of the old san feancisco Fian cisco that was so near her home and which tradition prevented her e enjoying As lie he chatted on with increasing animation dolores stole several furtive glances her admiration was obvious she quickly turned away to tj avoid his direct scrutiny he suddenly forgot 1 what lie he was saying sa ving and 1 just looked at her dumbly ay she glanced back and their eyes met once more both laughed a little sed qed dolors dolores herself first 1 I live in a world anait from a 11 1 that she said shaking her dainty head 1 I am afraid this paradise vou speak of would never accept me you are mistaken it would worship you do dolores I 1 ores liked terrys flattery but it was embarrassing benting bending ben ting over her guitar to hide crims brinis m n she elie finished the song in record ti trie tiie ie anti and P put ut the instrument aide a ide to pick a red rose bud may alay I 1 have it teny terry held out his hand to be cantin contini Kd ted |
