Pendleton too."

The men glanced interrogatively at each other, but Colonel
Pendleton, abruptly anticipating the Mayor's functions, said, "Have
her in," and settled himself back in his chair.

A moment later the door opened, and the stranger appeared. As she
closed the door behind her she removed her heavy veil, and
displayed the face of a very handsome woman of past thirty. It is
only necessary to add that it was a face known to the two men, and
all San Francisco.

"Well, Kate," said the Mayor, motioning to a chair, but without
rising or changing his attitude. "Here I am, and here is Colonel
Pendleton, and these are office hours. What can we do for you?"

If he had received her with magisterial formality, or even
politely, she would have been embarrassed, in spite of a certain
boldness of her dark eyes and an ever present consciousness of her
power. It is possible that his own ease and that of his companion
was part of their instinctive good nature and perception. She
accepted it as such, took the chair familiarly, and seated herself
sideways upon it, her right arm half encircling its back and
hanging over it; altogether an easy and not ungraceful pose.

"Thank you, Jack--I mean, Mr. Mayor--and you, too, Harry. I came
on business. I want you two men to act as guardians for my little
daughter."

"Your what?" asked the two men simultaneously.