The San Francisco call., 1908-12-27
C0lz94yH

then again stared glumly into the fire;
for Kirkwood had maintained an at
titude purposefully colOrless Not to
put too fine a point upon it. ne believed
that his caller was lying; the mans
appearance, his mannerisms. his voice
and enunciation, while they mi ght have
been American, seemed all un-CalifOr-
man. To one born and bred in that
state. as Kiriwood had. been, her sons
are Enthusiastically hall marked.
Now no man lies without motive
This one chose to reaffirn. with a
show of deep feeling: f'Yes; I'm from
Frisco, too We're companions in mis-
fortune"
Il hope not altogether" said Kirk
wood politely
Mr.. Calendar drew his own infer
ences from the response and mustered
dp show of eheerfulness "The1
you're not completely wiped out%'
TO the contrary. l was hoping you
were less unhappy"
on Then you are-9'
kirkwood lifted the cable message
from the manteI Il have Just heard
frem my partner at home" he said
Win faint smile; and quoted:
everything gone; no insurance "
Ar. Calendar pursed his plump lips.
whistling inaudibly TOO badi too
bad he murmured sympatheticalIy
lapsed into detected apathy, from
which Kirkwood. growing at length
impatient, found it necessary to rouse
him.
You wished to see me about some
thing else, I'm sure?"
Mr. Calendar started from his reverie.
'Eh? was drearniner hs.,
pardoh- IL seems hard to realize. Mr.. +,
hirkwood, that this awful catastrophe
has overtaken our beloved metropo-
lis"
me eanting phrases wearied Kirk
wood; abruptly he cut in. Would a
sovereign help you out. Mr.. Calendar?
l don't mind telling you that's about
the limit of my present resources"
Pardon me-" Mr.. Calendars moon
ike countenance darkened: he as
sumed a transparent dignity. you
misconstrue my motive, sir"
Then I'm sorry"
L am NOT here to borrow On the
other hand. quite by accident L dis
covered your name upon the register
downstairs; good old Frisco name. il
you will permit me to say so.
thought to myself that here was a
chance to help fellow countryman."
Calendar paused. interrogative; Kirk
wood remained interested but silent
If passage across would help you.
II think it might be arranged stam-
mered Calendar, i'll at ease.
1t might" admitted Kirkwood spec
ulatively.
II could fix it so that you could go
over-frst class. of eourse-and pay
your way, SO to speak, by rendering us.
me and my partner, trifiing service"
"Ah?"
I'm fact" continued Calendar, warm
Ing up to his theme, there might be
something more in it for you than the
passage. Tiff you're the right man,
the man I'm looking for"
That. of course. is the question"
''Eh?" Calendar pulled up suddenly
in full winged flight of enthusiasm.
Kirkwood eyed him steadily. Il said
that it is a question, Mr. Calendar.
whether or not I am the man you're
looking for Between you and me and
the fire dogs don't believe I am. Now
If you wish to name your quid pro quo
this trifling service I'm to render in
recognition OF your benevolence. you
may"
''Ye-es." slowly But the speaker de-
layed his reply until he had surveyed
his host from head to foot. with
glance both critical and appreciative.
He saw man in height rather less
than the stock size six feet so much in
demand by the manufacturers of mod
ern heroes of fiction; man a bit round
shouldered. too. but otherwise sturdily
built. self-contained. well groomed-
Kirkwood wears boys honest face;
no one has ever called him handsome.
A few prejudiced persons have decided
that he has an interesting countenance;
the propounders of this verdict have
been, for the most part, feminine.
Kirkwood has been heard to declare
that his features do not ht; In its es-
sence the statement is true. but there
is very real. If undeinable, engaging
quality in their very irregularity. His
eyes are brown. pleasant. set wide
apart, straightforward of expression.
Now IT appeared that whatever his
motive, Mr.. Calendar had acted
upon impulse in sending his card up
to Kfrkwood- Possibly he had anticf-
pated a very different sort of reception
from a very different sort of man. Even
in the light of subsequent events it
remains difficult to fathOm the mystery
of his choice. Perhaps Fate directed
It; stranger things have happened at
the dictates of a mans destiny.
At all events, this Calendar proved
not lacking in penetration; men OF his
stamp are commonly endowed with
that quality to an eminent degree Not
slow to reckon the caliber OF the man
before him. the leaven Of intuition be-
gan to work in his adipose intelli-
gence. He owned himself baffied-
Thanks" he concluded pensively. II
reckon you're right. You won't do,
after ALL I've wasted your time. Nine,
too"
Don't mention It."
Calendar got heavily out OF his
chair. reaching for his hat and UNI
brella- Permit me to apologize for
an unwarrantable intrusion. Mr.. Kirk
wood" He faItered; a worried and cal
culating look shadowed his small eyes
II was looking for some one to serve
me In certain capacity
Certain or questionabIe7 pro-
pounded Kirkwood blandly, opening
the door.
Pointedly Mr.. Calendar ignored the
imputation. Sorry I disturbed you.
G'dafternoon. Mr.. Kirkwood."
"Goodby. Mr.. Calendar" A smile
twitched the corners OF Kirkwoods too
wide mouth.
Calendar stepped hastily out into the
hall As he strode-or rather. rolled
away, Kirkwood maliciously feathered
a Parthian arrow.
by the way, Mr.. Calendar
The sound of retreating footsteps
was stilled and Yes" came from the