The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-06-17
ole
BLACK
BAG
By Louis Joseph Vance
Copyright. 1908. by the Bobb..heriII Co

gentleman. IT appears that II you
ever were the latter you've fallen so
how that you willingly cast your lot
with thieves"
Having exhausted his repertory OF
rudeness, kirkwood took TO twiddling
his thumbs
Il want TO ask you II you think it
fair TO me or my son to leave US In
ignorance of the place where you are
TO meet the thieves who stole our-my
sons jewels?"
Mrs. Hallam," he said soberly. .if
i am going TO meet Mr.. Calendar or
Mr. Mulready. have no assurance OF
that fact"
There was only the briefest OF
pauses. during which she analysed
this, then quickly. But you hope tor"
she snapped.
He felt that the only adequate retort
to this would be a shrug of his Shout
ders, doubted his ability 10 carry one
OF and again took refuge in silence.
The woman abandoned second plan
Of siege with readiness that did cred
II to her knowledge Of mankind. she
thought out the next very carefully
before opening with masked battery.
Mr.. Kirkwood. can't We be friends?'
Nothing could please me more, Mrs.
Hallam.'
I'm sorry II I've annoyed you
And l. too. have been rude
LAST night. when you cut away so
suddenly. you prevented my making
you a proposal, sort Of business prop.
osition"-
-YesY
To come over TO our side
Il thought so. That was why !
went"
YES; l understood. But this morn.
fng. when you've had time to think II
over
4 have no choice in the matter. Mrs
HaIlam"
The green eyes darkened ominously
You mean-I am 10 understand. then
that you're against US. that you prefer
to side with swindlers and scoundrels
all because OF a.
She discovered him eying her with /
smile Of such inscrutable and sardoni,
Intelligence that the words died on hel
lips, and she crimsoned reasonably (,
herself, for he saw II. and the belle
he had conceived while attending {,
her tissue Of fabrication earlier tha
morning was strengthened TO the poin
Of conviction that II anything had bee
stolen by anycody Mrs. Hallam an,
her son owned II as little as Calendar.
As for the woman. she felt she ha,
steadily lost r,, rthan gained ground
So she sal slowly after a silen
zine. -yon are lot for Queensborough
The eorollar. Of that admission. Nj
Kirkwood. Z that you are for Sheer
ness"
Il believe" he replied YEARLY. "tha
there are 10 other stations on this lin
after NewiDgton'
-It follows. then, that-that ! FOL
low" And IN answer 70 his perturbel
glance sls added: ''Oh. Ill grant tina
intuition Is sometimes poor guide
Eut II you meet George Calendar $
shall !. Nothing can prevent thai
You can't hinder me"
During the brief balance Of the jour
ney Mrs. Hallam presumably had foo
for thought. She irowned. pursed be
rips and with one daintily gloyed fore
finger followed a seam Of her tailore
skIri. while Kirkwood sat watchin
and wondering how 10 rid himself 9
Ger II she proved really as troublesorn
- size threatened TO be: also he wof
scred continually what Il was a
stcut Why did Mrs. Hallam suspec
him OF designing 70 meet Calendar q
Qusensboroughi Had she any tangibl
ground for believing that Calenca
eould be found IN QueensborOugh
Presumably she had. since she wa
syowedly IN pursuit Of that gentlema
and. KIrkwood inferred. had booke
for oueensborough Was be. thei
running away from Calendar and b