Show A M ca 0 BY ALUE LOWE ma ic a Copy copyright richt 1927 wrner warner bros broa pictures picture ino i dolores dolorea costello in OLD SAN FRANCISCO le ie a warnor warner bro of Ws novel j CHAPTER VIII continued dolores nodded in relief altho although ua she ud did not like the implication of the word party I 1 im waiting on his ta table ble explained the tha waiter just go right on oil up tip these stairs and open the first door to your left thank you vou and relieved relieved of all misgivings she follo followed cd his directions reaching room 10 dolores started to open thedoor door then released the knob and knocked instead she knocked until Lher lier hand hurt but could not su summon millon sufficient courage to open a strange door unbidden the wall the poodle dog were rande made to keep in all sounds so she lid not hear the music music singing ringing and general boisterousness within but one of the men guests who was less les intoxicated than anyone present happened to be leaving and opened the door as if in response response to her knock 1 I am looking f for or terry she explained pla ined not conscious of having used his given iven name llau you belong to this party and are just getting here exal excl exclaimed a aimed the auth youth in open open admiration 1 I thought something omet bing was lacking and now I 1 know what it was you come on in to dolores amazement lie he put ill liis arm around her waist and tried to draw tier her into the loom breathless with lury she pushed him aside the baity was exposed to tier her view view she recoiled coiled ic ie and stood in breathless horror looking into the room how different aiom wh what at she had anticipated dinner was over although some of the men anil and kills gills were still lounging around the table in familiar intoxication the lancing dancing was fast and furious or so slow that the dreamy couples got at in everyone alses way dolores felt that slie she was peering into another a place peopled by creatures with whom honi she lid did not care to mingle in the midst of the hideous a it s revelation she saw terry hei handsome clear eyed terry lie had a girl in his arms arm and was dancing tile the grizzly mear dear with stumbling feet As each couple ca caught light sight 0 of f dolores they stopped whatever they were doing and looked at tier her through eyes and whirling brains she resembled a picture of some beautiful frightened girl in a story book and they what hat h she was doing there terry biad ad stopped lancing dancing and was holdin holding his silk hat high above liis his head fr for a girl to kick at when lie he too caught sight of dolores in the doorway tossing the hat aside lie staggered forward scarcely crediting his vision the discarded partner drunkenly jealous of a new flame tried to pull him back but huiching lui ching forward aeiry unsteadily approached dolores anti and made a pitiful attempt to smile huit sur surprise changed to contempt when she realized his condition what choo doin aei terry managed to get out dolores did it not turn away but she closed her eyes to blot out tim repulsive sight before her his hair wm was mussed and moist his eyes bloodshot his face looked swollen and whits white and his collar was as crumpled over in a soiled wilt 1 I thought I 1 could depend upon you dollies drew herself up to her full height and anal spoke with a bitterness be belond oaid tier her beals but grand rard fataei wat right blood will tell terry N was as too dazed to take in what she said but bur lie had enough to be w ashamed ha ined im sony 1 I 1 I apolo apologize ki ze came forth brokenly as if that was sufficient dolores shook her lead head and stared aiom teny to the girls anti and men who had gathered around the doorway then she guined and proudly swept out of the room anti and down the stabs without saying another word ord no gill ever evee had a more disillusion ing hig fist trip to a city slie she had dreamed about for deais from an all concealing nook in tile the hallway chris buckwell had been an all interested and accidental spectator aiom tile the time lie came out of an ad joining private loom when nhen dolores Dolor elz tile the door he had no idea who she was but tier lier exceptional beauty and youthful innocence warned that she N was vas worth watching hile bile in the poodle dog alono her handling of the ithe situation brought forth Buck wells admiration his eyes glite glistened tied and he smiled shrewdly it at terrys err ys predicament A As soon as dolores dolore started town down stairs buckwell sauntered from his shadow I ialo and nonchalantly followed he iv wanted at to know who slie she was and here ahe he was going but would no condescend to ask teny buckwell bucka ell reached the ilie antra entrance ce door just as dolores stepped into tier her cai ariage nage and the glaring lights of the cafe afforded a splendid chance chance for him to again enia her attar loveliness as T ell as to a see tile the vre chesl t wid arid name imme a 0 oh n the lai carriaga door with wit a ion low whistle le of surprise surmise surp iise lie he turned back into the hall a frown froni on oil his usually inscrutable blow hearing a coil commotion at the head bead of th the e stairs he ha looked up and saw sav terry struggling to break away from ali the e frantic rasp grasp of a girl dont dolit be a fool ll 11 he heard her shout cant you see pee she appreciate you stay with us its terry did not pay any attention to tc tier her lie he wanted to a talk with dolores dolore again beffie she got ma aay pulling his arm loose lie he lost his balance lurched forward anti and fell headlong downstairs rolli ncr and slipping over ove and over until lie he hirthe hit the floor below buca buckwell vell jumped aside in time to h help him recover a footing fortun abely terry was wa only badly bruised and very much sobered up well if that is old granddaughter 11 consoled buckwell with a mocking smile 1 I dont blame you all for your bour haste go to the devil will you flared terry and staggering to the open door wound that dolores hai ila disappeared utterly despondent and disgusted lie he tottered into the bar room and g gulped u aped town down a drink of straight whiskey k e y he could not think what had brought dolores to pie poodle dog engaged to one man flirted with pie me and visiting this place alone at night and she said she had never been to frisco what kind of a girl Is slie site terry gave it t up but he could not drive tier her from his thoughts even with an excess of liquor out in the hall buckell watched with the same leering satisfied smile although his eyes were on terry liis his thoughts like terrys were on dolores good white women had never hild had any appeal for buckwell he preferred well vell the others athen after seeing his desires were changed lie wanted her and to use a well known expression of the time when chris buckwell lick v I 1 wanted anything he got it not five in minutes i nute any later buckwell had instructed liis his man to drop the vasquez V equez ranch matter lie he was going to give it his personal attention dolores rode on back to the rancho and wits was thankful there wa was no one to witness tier her tears she had never imagined it possible for anyone to be so miserable had she only known inov il what the future held tier her would have paled to insil insignificance ance beside the apal linz tragedies that destined to befall her luring during the next few days CHAPTER IX buckwell buck Buc well kivell sets his trap the momentary glimpse of dolores that buckwell enjoyed en jo luring during tier her ill advised visit to the poodle DOS dog in search of teri teny 3 had aroused tile the czar of the tenderloin as nothing else had lone done in in years women were not new to him neither did it the they offer any in pleasure to his jaded appetite but with dolores it was different her fresh beauty tier lier youth tier her innocence appealed aphea led to tt him as sparkling ling water to a desert traveler and as satisfying and so on the next net afternoon affet noon it was two objects the thought of a grafting profit through attainment of the property bu purchasing pui chasing assing or otherwise othen vise and a keen desire to meet deloies Do loies the lovely and belle of tile the hacienda that brought him immaculately intel dressed a as usual to the gates of the old vasquez estate As lie he sauntered towards to board ard the ruins of the old mission his eyes lighted with satisfaction as they beheld th the e rollin rolling hills ani and broad acres act es on either side this valuable property would soon be his other spec speculators speculator ulato rs wanted it but lie he would be the lucky one over tile the chapel door moss mass covered C overe i and half obliterated his iovin loving eye eve caught the vasquez crest and Ill motto otEo 1 A avenges a vasquez anti and lih hi lips lip curled coll contemptuously tell atu OU sly at this symbol of useless sentiment and emotion turning to go toward tile the house he stopped abruptly in the distance lie he noticed dolores and in her grandfather coming toward the mission vasque V azquez wole a shawl and leaned heavily on oil his cane as dolores helped him along Buck wells nily ily bhain was seized with in an idea hastily munching beneath the heel of lu his s boot b oot the cigar lie he had been puffing so contently lie he slipped into the mission all and wai waited ted for them to approach appi the the at old man walked slowly the grief and trouble of the last two days ian s had aged him considerably the sight of his broad acie seemed to torture him by their association with the pat past he shook his lead head sadly as ah lie he walked dolores was silent and giave giace too tile the disillusionment and hoi honable lible memories ies of the pre previous night lay lav heavily 1 on oil her mind she sighed in remembrance mem brance and thanked heaven that her giand grandfather father had no inkling of abele she had been As buckwell sensed them thein passing the mission door he hastily advanced advance to the altar and all falling fal I 1 ing to t 0 his ineer assumed an all attitude of d devout devout worship keenly alert to each lound of their footsteps lie he was fully amaie that tip lie had been discovered silently he waited with blied head as the they y drew near and topped stopped just behind him then rising apparently front from prayer as if in ignorance of their presence lie he started as lie he saw them watching him curiously 1 1 I trust you will pardon this intrusion lie he said apologetically bowing low but I 1 could not resist a prayer in thit ancient sanctuary it seems seem so like a breath from the salted past vasquez nodded warmly at this appreciation of his beloved mission smiling nt first at him and then at deloies deloie Do loies loie uc kell continued 1 I hope with your permission I 1 m may ay come coma again and often lie he paused waiting for the effect of I 1 his is words the old man mans smile faded and was replaced with a look of deep sadness he glanced J fondly about beffie replying 1 I am afraid this may be your last visit isit grafting politicians front from tile the city threaten to seize our estate and these old walls will be crushed under the thi merciless mei ciless wheels of progress buckwell stated from one to the other in amazement his indignation was superb do you mean to say that ill at they the N threaten to demolish this glorious gl ozious monument to the very traditions that made our countr country hat it is he paused and looked at dolores as asif jf to get her confirmation to her grand lathers statement she nodded in agreement tier her eyes shining in to his words they threaten to declare invalid the old spanish grant under which our ancestors held this land for more than one hundred years she supplied with indignation buckwell looked at tier her earnestly and lynip sympathetically atheni call v then placing his hand gently on arm he said 1 I iny myself belf am not without some influence in the city if I 1 can find out who is behind this outrage I 1 promise for the sake of what this old mission represents that I 1 will i ave your jour estate the str strangers anger s manner and words gave them new courage and dolores ventured to say you seem to have come in answer to a wish I 1 threw a rose into the wishing well this morning and wished that someone true and fine would be sent to help us no to hesire desire of yours aboud ever go ungratified lie he complimented with just tile the right amount of mature and distant dignity 1 I trust I 1 may have the privilege of serving you often dolores looked looke I 1 at lier grandfather and her eyes signalled signal led he nice his H is anaw ered yes my child lie he is kind how cruel it was that they should have been so a deluded and their faith so played with by the very man who was causing all tile the heartache anti and worry worry we should appreciate anything you yo u can do I 1 am ain at a loss as a to what our next step should be volunteered vasquez pitifully in order to understand the sit situa ua tian said tuc buckwell kivell assuming a more bus businesslike ines air 1 I would like to examine amine your grant rant merely to see sec if it was property filed after the american occupation Certai certainly senor sanor acquiesced c vas va s quez eager to do all in in 0 his power to assist come into the house and we can go into the matter thoroughly with a sweeping gesture lie he indicated the way avay but the strain of worry all and excitement had drained his strength tottering uncertainly he almost fell oli oil grandfather cried dolores steadying him with one arm around his waist 1 I am all right now he gasped but one hand fluttered at his heart and dolores knew lie was jut just being brave lets sit town down slie she suggested cheerfully no no tile the old man insisted 1 I want to set get this tin s matter settled as soon as possible and lie continued a along ion the path with dragging feet dolores exchanged a look with buckwell behind tier her grandfathers s back and they moved cautiously I 1 along on oil either side ivady to catch jilin him if lie he needed assistance when they finally leached beached the living in 11 loom vasquez sank wearily into a gleat armed chair arid ad closed his eyes deloies Do loies lie he called unaware that she was kneeling by his side until she coveler hia ili nervous hands with heis bers ali ah yes my child bring the strong boz bo z in you know it ft is yes grandfather dear and she lose quickly to to do his bidding in a moment she le ie turned to the r room 00 m carrying a handsome calved box oi at spanish design pausing beffie old vasquez for instructions she found that he was a sleep asleep to be continued |