The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-07-22

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the unstable air and went over, bring
ing up In sitting position In the gut
ter with solid shock that Jared his
very teeth.
For moment dazed. he sat there
blinking BY the time he got to his
feet the girl stood beside him. ques.
tioning him with keen solicitude.
No" he gasped. mot hurt-only
surprised. Wait"
Their cab had come to complete
standstill Calendars was no more
than twenty yards behind. and as
kirkwood caught sight of him the fat
adventurer was In the act of lifting
himself ponderously out Of the seat.
lncontinently the young man turned
to the girl and forced the travelling bag
into her hands.
run for it," he begged her. Don't
stop to argue. You promised-run.
I'll come.
Phillip" she pleaded.
Dorothy he cried In torment.
Perhaps 1t was his unquestionable
distress that weakened her. Suddenly
she yielded, with whatever reason. He
was only hazily aware of the swish
Of her skirts behind him. He had no
time to look round and see that she
got away safely. He had only eyes
and thoughts for Calendar and Stryker.
They We're both afoot now and run
ming toward him, the one as awkward
as the other. but neither yielding jot
of their malignant purpose. He held
the picture Of II oddly graphic In his
memory for many day thereafter.
To this mental photograph another
succeeds Of the same scene an instant
later. all as it had been before. their
relative positions unchanged save that
Stryker and Calendar had come to
dead stop and that Kirkwood's right
arm was lifted and extended. pointing
at the captain.
So forgetful Of self was he that II
required moments thought to con-
vince him that he was really response
bic for the abrupt transformation. In
credulously he realized that he had
drawn Calendars revolver and pulled
Stryker up short In midstride by the
mute menace OF II as much as by his
hoarse cry OF warning:
''Stryker. not another FOOT
With this there chImed in Dorothy's
voice. ringing bell clear from a little
distance:
Phillip
Like fash he wheeled TO add yet
another picture TO bis mental gallery.
Perhaps twoscore feet up the side
walk gate stood open. Just outside
II a man Of tall and slender figure. rig
ged out In a bizarre costume consist
ing mainly OF lowered dressing
gown and slippers, was whiting In an
attitude Of singular impassivity. With
In IL. pausing with foot lifted 10 the
doorstep. bag In hand. her head turned
as she looked back. was Dorothy.
As he comprehended these essential
details OF the composition the man IN
the Powered dressing gown raised
hand. reckoning to him in a manner
as Imperative as his accompanying
words
Kirkwood choked on a laugh that
was half sob. "Brentwlck-' he cried.
restoring the weapon TO his pocket and
running toward his friend. "Of all
happy lncidents.'
You may call II that" retorted the
elder man. with heetIng smile. as
Kirkwood slipped inside the dooryard
Come" he said: lets get into the
house"
But you said thought you went
20 Munich stammered Kirkwood. and
so thoroughly impregnated was his
mind with this understanding that II
was hard for him to adjust his pr
ceptfons TO the truth
II was detaimi-by business" re-
sponded Brentwi.k briefly. Ills gaze.
weary and wistfli behind his glasses.
rested on the face Of the girl ON the
threshold II his home. and the faint.
sensitive flush Of her face decpened.
lie stopped and honored her with
bow that. for all his fantastical attire.
would have graced beau of an earlier
decade. .Will you he pleased TO en-.
teri he suggested puncilliously. my
house. such as IL Ii. Is quite az your
disposal. And" be added. with
glance over his shoulder. II fancy that
a word or two may presently be
passed which you would hardly care
10 hear"
Klrkwood fingered with his friend
upon the door stoop. Calendar. re-
covered from his temporary consterna.
tl0n. was already ~ the gate, bending
over II. fat fingers fumbIIng with the
latch. his round red face lifted 10 the
house. darby working with chagrin.
From his threshold. watching him
with slight contraction u the eyes.
Brentwlck hailed him IN tones OF cloy.
Ing courtesy:
EDO you wish ~ see me. sirr'
The fat adventurcr faliered Just
within the gateway. Then. with trn.
culent swagger. Il want my daugh.
teri he declared yociferously.
Brcntwick peered mildly over his
glasses. first NJ Calendar. then at Kirk.
wood. Ills glance fingered n moment
on the young mans honest eyes aud
swung back TO Calendar,
MY good man." he said. with sub.
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