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later gossiping about it； he felt it would be inconsistent with his
pride and his assumption of present business。 More than that； he
was uneasily conscious that in Mrs。 Tucker's simple and unaffected
manner there was a greater superiority than he had ever noticed
during their previous acquaintance。 He would have felt kinder to
her had she shown any 〃airs and graces；〃 which he could have
commented upon and forgiven。 He stammered some vague excuse of
preoccupation； yet lingered in the hope of saying something which；
if not aggressively unpleasant； might at least transfer to her
indolent serenity some of his own irritation。 〃I reckon；〃 he said；
as he moved hesitatingly towards the door； 〃that Spencer has made
himself easy and secure in them business risks he's taking。 That
'ere Alameda ditch affair they're talking so much about is a mighty
big thing； rather TOO big if it ever got to falling back on him。
But I suppose he's accustomed to take risks？〃
〃Of course he is；〃 said Mrs。 Tucker gayly。 〃He married ME。〃
The visitor smiled feebly； but was not equal to the opportunity
offered for gallant repudiation。 〃But suppose you ain't accustomed
to risks？〃
〃Why not？ I married HIM；〃 said Mrs。 Tucker。
Mr。 Calhoun Weaver was human； and succumbed to this last charming
audacity。 He broke into a noisy but genuine laugh； shook Mrs。
Tucker's hand with effusion； said； 〃Now that's regular Blue Grass
and no mistake！〃 and retreated under cover of his hilarity。 In the
hall he made a rallying stand to repeat confidentially to the
servant who had overheard them： 〃Blue Grass； all over； you bet your
life；〃 and； opening the door； was apparently swallowed up in the
tempest。
Mrs。 Tucker's smile kept her lips until she had returned to her
room； and even then languidly shone in her eyes for some minutes
after； as she gazed abstractedly from her window on the storm…
tossed bay in the distance。 Perhaps some girlish vision of the
peaceful Blue Glass plain momentarily usurped the prospect； but it
is to be doubted if there was much romance in that retrospect； or
that it was more interesting to her than the positive and sharply
cut outlines of the practical life she now held。 Howbeit she soon
forgot this fancy in lazily watching a boat that； in the teeth of
the gale； was beating round Alcatraz Island。 Although at times a
mere blank speck on the gray waste of foam； a closer scrutiny
showed it to be one of those lateen…rigged Italian fishing boats
that so often flecked the distant bay。 Lost in the sudden
darkening of rain； or reappearing beneath the lifted curtain of the
squall； she watched it weather the island； and then turn its
laboring but persistent course towards the open channel。 A rent in
the Indian…inky sky； that showed the narrowing portals of the
Golden Gate beyond； revealed； as unexpectedly； the destination of
the little craft； a tall ship that hitherto lay hidden in the mist
of the Saucelito shore。 As the distance lessened between boat and
ship； they were again lost in the downward swoop of another squall。
When it lifted； the ship was creeping under the headland towards
the open sea； but the boat was gone。 Mrs。 Tucker in vain rubbed
the pane with her handkerchief； it had vanished。 Meanwhile the
ship； as she neared the Gate； drew out from the protecting
headland； stood outlined for a moment with spars and canvas hearsed
in black against the lurid rent in the horizon； and then seemed to
sink slowly into the heaving obscurity beyond。 A sudden onset of
rain against the windows obliterated the remaining prospect； the
entrance of a servant completed the diversion。
〃Captain Poindexter； ma'am！〃
Mrs。 Tucker lifted her pretty eyebrows interrogatively。 Captain
Poindexter was a legal friend of her husband； and had dined there
frequently； nevertheless she asked： 〃Did you tell him Mr。 Tucker
was not at home？〃
〃Yes； 'm。〃
〃Did he ask for ME？〃
〃Yes； 'm。〃
〃Tell him I'll be down directly。〃
Mrs。 Tucker's quiet face did not betray the fact that this second
visitor was even less interesting than the first。 In her heart she
did not like Captain Poindexter。 With a clever woman's instinct
she had early detected the fact that he had a superior； stronger
nature than her husband； as a loyal wife； she secretly resented the
occasional unconscious exhibition of this fact on the part of his
intimate friend in their familiar intercourse。 Added to this
slight jealousy； there was a certain moral antagonism between
herself and the captain which none but themselves knew。 They were
both philosophers； but Mrs。 Tucker's serene and languid optimism
would not tolerate the compassionate and kind…hearted pessimisms of
the lawyer。 〃Knowing what Jack Poindexter does of human nature；〃
her husband had once said； 〃it's mighty fine in him to be so kind
and forgiving。 You ought to like him better； Belle。〃 〃And qualify
myself to be forgiven；〃 said the lady pertly。 〃I don't see what
you're driving at； Belle； I give it up；〃 had responded the puzzled
husband。 Mrs。 Tucker kissed his high but foolish forehead
tenderly； and said： 〃I'm glad you don't； dear。〃
Meanwhile her second visitor had； like the first； employed the
interval in a critical survey of the glories of the new furniture；
but with apparently more compassion than resentment in his manner。
Once only had his expression changed。 Over the fireplace hung a
large photograph of Mr。 Spencer Tucker。 It was retouched； refined；
and idealized in the highest style of that polite and diplomatic
art。 As Captain Poindexter looked upon the fringed hazel eyes； the
drooping raven moustache； the clustering ringlets； and the Byronic
full throat and turned…down collar of his friend； a smile of
exhausted humorous tolerance and affectionate impatience curved his
lips。 〃Well； you ARE a fool； aren't you？〃 he apostrophized it
half…audibly。
He was standing before the picture as she entered。 Even in the
trying contiguity of that peerless work he would have been called a
fine…looking man。 As he advanced to greet her； it was evident that
his military title was not one of the mere fanciful sobriquets of
the locality。 In his erect figure and the disciplined composure of
limb and attitude there were still traces of the refined academic
rigors of West Point。 The pliant adaptability of Western
civilization which enabled him； three years before； to leave the
army and transfer his executive ability to the more profitable
profession of the law； had loosed sash and shoulder…strap； but had
not entirely removed the restraint of the one； or the bearing of
the other。
〃Spencer is in Sacramento；〃 began Mrs。 Tucker in languid
explanation； after the first greetings were over。
〃I knew he was not here；〃 replied Captain Poindexter gently； as he
drew the proffered chair towards her； 〃but this is business that
concerns you both。〃 He stopped and glanced upwards at the pictu