Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-12-21
Ghe
BLACK
BAG
By Louis Joseph Vance
fcUNTINUED.J
By Louis Joseph Vance
Copyright 1905. by Ii. Bobb..k.riII cs.

"wcll. then" Stryker resumed. ap-
parently concurring In Calendars att.
tude. WY don't one Of you tyke the
stuff, go Off quiet an dispose Of 1t tc
proper fence an come back to d.
vide. don't see wy that
NATURALLY you wouldn't" chuckled
Calendar. "Tew people besides the
two Of us understand the depth Of at.
fection existing between Dick, here,
and me. We just can't bear to get out
Of sight of each other. We're sure in
separable-since night before last.
Odd. isn't it?"
"You drop ltw snarled Mulready in
accents 80 ugly that the listener was
startled. "Enough's enough. and"-
There. there. Dick! All right. I'll
behave" Calendar sootbed him. "We'll
forget and say no more about it."
"Well, see you don't"
"But as either of you plan" per.
sisted Stryker.
81 have" replied Mulready. land It's
the simplest and best. II you could
only make this long lost parent here
see It,"
"Wot is it?'
Mulready seemed to ignore Calendar
and address himself to the captain.
He articulated with some difficulty,
slurring his words to the point Of In
distinctness at times.
Simple enough" he propounded SOL
emnly. We've got the gladstone bag
here. Miss Dolly's at the hotel. That's
her papa's bright notion. He thinks
she's to be trusted. Now, then, what's
the matter with weighing anchor and
slipping quietly out to seaT
"Leavin' the dootiful darter?"
"Cert'n'y. She's only drag any,
way. Better off without her. Then
we can walt. our time and get highest
market prices"-
"You forget, Dick" Calendar put 1t,
"that there's thousand in 1t for each
of US If she's kept out Of England for
six weeks. A thousands five thou
sand In the land l hail from. l can
use FIVE thousand In my business"
"Why can't you be content with
what you've got" demanded Mulready
wrathfully.
Because I'm seventh son Of a sew.
enth son. can see an inch or two be-
yond my nose. II Dorothy ever finds
her way back to England she'll spoil
one Of the finest fields Of Legitimate
graft ever licked my lips to look at.
The trouble with you, Mul, is you're
too high toned. You want to play the
swell mobsman from post to finish. A
quick touch and clean getaway for
yours. Now. that's all right-that has
Its good points-but you don't want to
underestimate the advantages Of a
good blackmailing connection. II l
can keep Dorothy quiet long enough
look to the Hallam and precious Fred
die to be a great comfort to me in my
old age"
"Then. for heavens sake," cried Null
ready, "go to the hotel, get your brat
by the scruff OF her pretty neck and
drag her aboard! Let's get out Of
thisv'
II won't" returned Calendar inflex
IDLY.
The dispute continued. but the listen.
er had heard enough. Stealthily he
crept away to the rail. to stand grasp
ing 1t and staring across the water
with unseeing eyes at the gay old city
twinkling back with her thousand
eyes Of light.
Over there. across the water. In the
dingy and disreputable Hotel du Com.
merce, Dorothy waited in her room,
doubtless the prey Of unnumbered
nameless terrors. while aboard the
brigantine her fate was being decided
by council Of three unspeakabe
scoundrels. one of whom. processing
himself her father. openly declared his
intention of using her to further bis
selfish and criminal ends.
His first and natural thought-to steal
away to her and induce her to accom-.
pany him back to England-Kirkwood
perforce discarded. He could have
wept over the realization Of his un-
qualified impotency. He had no money.
not even cab fare from the hotel to
the railway station. Something sub
tier, more crafty. had to be contrived
to meet the emergency. And there
was one way. one only. He could see
none other. Temporarily he must
make himself one of the company Of
her enemies, force himself upon them,
lngratiate himself into their good
graces. gain their confidence, then
when opportunity offered betray them.
And the power to make them tolerate
him. II not receive him rs fellow, the
knowledge Of them and their plans
that they had unwittingly given him,
was his.
And Dorothy was waiting
He swung round and without at
tempting to muffie his footballs strode
toward the companionway. He must
pretend he had just come aboard.
Subconscious,y he had been aware
during his time Of pondering that the
voices In the cabin had been steadily
gaining In volume, rising louder and
yet more loud, Mulready's ominous,
drink blurred accents dominating the
others. There was a quarrel afoot.
As soon as he gave 1t heed Kirkwood
understood that Mulready In the mad
ness Of. his inflamed brain was fore
Ing the issue. while Calendar sought
eainly to calm and soothe him.
The American arrived at the head Of
the companionway at critical Juno.
ture AS he moved to descend some
low, cool toned retort Of Calendars
seemed to enrage his confederate te-
yond reason. He yelped aloud with
wrath. sprang to his feet, knocking
over a chair. and, leaping back toward
the foot Of the steps. flashed an adroit
hand behind him and found his re-
volver.
"I've stood enough from your he
screamed. his voice oddly clear in that
moment Of insanity. You've played
with me as long as you win, you hulk.
ing American hogl And now I'm go
ing to show
As he held his fire to permit his de-
nunciation to bite home Kirkwood, ap
paIied to find himself standing on the
threshold Of tragedy. gathered him
self together and launched through the
air, straight for the madman's shoul.