and in the singular sadness that was oppressing him； he should try
to interest her。 And thus looking at him； and wondering； an idea
came to her。
She went into her bedroom and took down her husband's heavy pilot
overcoat and sou'wester； and handed them to her guest。
〃You'd better put them on if you're going to stand there；〃 she
said。
〃But I am not cold；〃 he said wonderingly。
〃But you might be SEEN；〃 she said simply。 It was the first
suggestion that had passed between them that his presence there was
a secret。 He looked at her intently； then he smiled and said； 〃I
think you're right； for many reasons；〃 put the pilot coat over his
frock coat； removed his hat with the gesture of a bow； handed it to
her； and placed the sou'wester in its stead。 Then for an instant
he hesitated as if about to speak； but Mrs。 Bunker； with a delicacy
that she could not herself comprehend at the moment； hurried back
to the cabin without giving him an opportunity。
Nor did she again intrude upon his meditations。 Hidden in his
disguise； which to her eyes did not； however； seem to conceal his
characteristic figure； he wandered for nearly an hour under the
bluff and along the shore； returning at last almost mechanically to
the cabin； where； oblivious of his surroundings； he reseated
himself in silence by the table with his cheek resting on his hand。
Presently； her quick； experienced ear detected the sound of oars in
their row…locks； she could plainly see from her kitchen window a
small boat with two strangers seated at the stern being pulled to
the shore。 With the same strange instinct of delicacy； she
determined not to go out lest her presence might embarrass her
guest's reception of his friends。 But as she turned towards the
living room she found he had already risen and was removing his hat
and pilot coat。 She was struck； however； by the circumstance that
not only did he exhibit no feeling of relief at his deliverance；
but that a half…cynical； half…savage expression had taken the place
of his former melancholy。 As he went to the door； the two gentlemen
hastily clambered up the rocks to greet him。
〃Jim reckoned it was you hangin' round the rocks； but I couldn't
tell at that distance。 Seemed you borrowed a hat and coat。 Well
it's all fixed； and we've no time to lose。 There's a coasting
steamer just dropping down below the Heads； and it will take you
aboard。 But I can tell you you've kicked up a h…ll of a row over
there。〃 He stopped； evidently at some sign from her guest。 The
rest of the man's speech followed in a hurried whisper； which was
stopped again by the voice she knew。 〃No。 Certainly not。〃 The
next moment his tall figure was darkening the door of the kitchen；
his hand was outstretched。 〃Good…by； Mrs。 Bunker； and many thanks
for your hospitality。 My friends here；〃 he turned grimly to the
men behind him； 〃think I ought to ask you to keep this a secret
even from your husband。 I DON'T！ They also think that I ought to
offer you money for your kindness。 I DON'T！ But if you will honor
me by keeping this ring in remembrance of it〃he took a heavy seal
ring from his finger〃it's the only bit of jewelry I have about
meI'll be very glad。 Good…by！〃 She felt for a moment the firm；
soft pressure of his long； thin fingers around her own； and then
he was gone。 The sound of retreating oars grew fainter and fainter
and was lost。 The same reserve of delicacy which now appeared to
her as a duty kept her from going to the window to watch the
destination of the boat。 No； he should go as he came； without her
supervision or knowledge。
Nor did she feel lonely afterwards。 On the contrary； the silence
and solitude of the isolated domain had a new charm。 They kept the
memory of her experience intact； and enabled her to refill it with
his presence。 She could see his tall figure again pausing before
her cabin； without the incongruous association of another
personality； she could hear his voice again； unmingled with one
more familiar。 For the first time； the regular absence of her
husband seemed an essential good fortune instead of an accident of
their life。 For the experience belonged to HER； and not to him and
her together。 He could not understand it； he would have acted
differently and spoiled it。 She should not tell him anything of
it； in spite of the stranger's suggestion； which； of course； he had
only made because he didn't know Zephas as well as she did。 For
Mrs。 Bunker was getting on rapidly； it was her first admission of
the conjugal knowledge that one's husband is inferior to the
outside estimate of him。 The next stepthe belief that he was
deceiving HER as he was THEMwould be comparatively easy。
Nor should she show him the ring。 The stranger had certainly never
said anything about that！ It was a heavy ring； with a helmeted
head carved on its red carnelian stone； and what looked like
strange letters around it。 It fitted her third finger perfectly；
but HIS fingers were small； and he had taken it from his little
finger。 She should keep it herself。 Of course； if it had been
money； she would have given it to Zephas； but the stranger knew
that she wouldn't take money。 How firmly he had said that 〃I
don't！〃 She felt the warm blood fly to her fresh young face at the
thought of it。 He had understood her。 She might be living in a
poor cabin； doing all the housework herself； and her husband only a
fisherman； but he had treated her like a lady。
And so the afternoon passed。 The outlying fog began to roll in at
the Golden Gate； obliterating the headland and stretching a fleecy
bar across the channel as if shutting out from vulgar eyes the way
that he had gone。 Night fell； but Zephas had not yet come。 This
was unusual； for he was generally as regular as the afternoon
〃trades〃 which blew him there。 There was nothing to detain him in
this weather and at this season。 She began to be vaguely uneasy；
then a little angry at this new development of his incompatibility。
Then it occurred to her； for the first time in her wifehood； to
think what she would do if he were lost。 Yet； in spite of some
pain； terror； and perplexity at the possibility； her dominant
thought was that she would be a free woman to order her life as she
liked。
It was after ten before his lateen sail flapped in the little cove。
She was waiting to receive him on the shore。 His good…humored
hirsute face was slightly apologetic in expression； but flushed and
disturbed with some new excitement to which an extra glass or two
of spirits had apparently added intensity。 The contrast between
his evident indulgence and the previous abstemiousness of her late
guest struck her unpleasantly。 〃WellI declare；〃 she said
indignantly； 〃so THAT'S what kept you！〃
〃No；〃 he said quickly； 〃there's been awful times over in 'Frisco！
Everybody just wild； and the Vigilance Committee in session。 Jo
Henderson's killed！ Shot by Wynyard Marion in a duel！ He'll be
lynched； sure as a gun； if they ketch him。〃
〃But I thought men who fought duels always went free。〃
〃Yes； but this ain't no common duel； they say the whole thing was
planned beforehand by them Southern fire…eaters to get rid o'
Henderson because he's a Northern man and anti…slavery； and that
they picked out Colonel Marion to do it because he was a dead shot。
They got him to insult Henderson； so he was bound to challenge
Marion； and that giv' Marion the chyce of weppings。 It was a
reg'lar put up job to kill him。〃
〃And what's all this to do with you？〃 she asked； with irritation。
〃Hold on； won't you！ and I'll tell you。 I was pickin' up nets off
Saucelito about noon； when I was hailed by one of them Vigilance
tugs； and they set me to stand off and on the shore and watch that
Marion didn't get away； while they were scoutin' inland。 Ye see
THE DUEL TOOK PLACE JUST OVER THE BLUFF THEREBEHIND YEand they
allowed that Marion had struck away north for Mendocino to take
ship there。 For after overhaulin' his second's boat； they found
out that they had come away from Saucelito ALONE。 But they sent a
tug around by sea to Mendocino to head him off there； while they're
closin' in around him inland。 They're bound to catch him sooner or
later。 But you ain't listenin'； Mollie？〃
She wasin every fibrebut with her head turned towards the
window； and the invisible Golden Gate through which the fugitive
had escaped。 For she saw it all nowthat glorious visionher
high…bred； handsome guest and Wynyard Marion were one and the same
person。 And this rough； commonplace man before herher own
husbandhad been basely set to capture him！
PART II。
During that evening and the next Mrs。 Bunker； without betraying her
secret； or exciting the least suspicion on the part of her husband；
managed to extract from him not only a rough description of Marion
which tallied with her own impressions； but a short history of his
career。 He was a famous politician who had held high office in the
South； he was an accomplished lawyer； he had served in the army； he
was a fiery speaker； he had a singular command of men。 He was
unmarried； but there were queer stories of his relations with some
of the wives of prominent