Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-09-30
CHAPTER NNyu.


n UMFOUNDED with dismay,
seeing in a flash how all his
3 plans might be set ut nallght
A by Dorothy's unforeseen in
subordination, Kirkwood took IL step or
two after her, but she was fleet OF foot,
and, remembering Hobbs, he halted.
BY this time the mate. too, was rum
ming. kirkwood could hear the heavy
pounding of his clumsy feet. Already
Dorothy had almost gained the farther
corner. AS she whisked round ii with
a fluttcr of skirts Mirkwood lodged
hastily behind a g%atepost. y thought
later Hobbs appeared, head down.
chest out, eyes straining for sight of
his quarry, pclting along for dear life.
AS, rounding the corner, he stretch
ed out in swifter stride Kirkwood was
inspired to put Il spoke in his wheel.
behind The gatepost accomplished his
purpose With more success than lie
had dared anticipate. Stumbling. the
mate plunged headlong, arms and legs
a-sprawl. and the momentum of his
pace. though checked, carried him
along the sidewalk, face downward, a
full yard ere he could stay himself.
Kirkwood stepped u of the gate
way and sheered off as Hobbs picked
himself up, something which he did
rather slowly, as if in a daze, without
comprehension Of the cause of his
misfortune. And for a moment he
stood pulling his wits together and
swaying as though on the point Of re-
suming his rudely interrupted chase,
when the noise Of Kirkwood's heels
brought him about face.
COW, it's you, eh!" he snarled in a
temper as vicious as his c~ountenance.
Myself" admitted Kirkwood fairly,
and then, in a CLEAN of humor,
weren't you looking for me?"
His rage seemed to take the little
cockney and shake him by the throat.
He trembled from head to foot, his
face shockingly c~ongested, and spat
out dust and fragments of lurid bias
phemy like an Infatuated cat.
OF Il sudden "W'ere's the gel?" he
sputtered thickly as his quick shifting
eyes for the first time noted Dorothy's
absence.
Miss Calendar has other business
none with you. I've taken the liberty
of stopping you because 1 have a word
or two
COW. you ave, ave you?. I've a
word for you too! And over that bag
and look nippy or I'll myke YOU pye
for Wat you've done to me. III myke
you pye!.' he iterated hoarsely, edging
closer. "'.And it e Or
you've got another guess Kirk
wood began, but saved his breath in
Difference to al imperative demand on
him for instant defensive action. for 4
Blk inch blade of furnished steel was
winging toward Kirkwood's throat with
the speed of light.
lnstinctiyely he stepped back, as in
stinctively he guarded with his right
forearm, lifting the hand that held the
satchel. The knife, catching in his
sleeve, scratched the arm beneath
painfully and simultaneously was
twisted from the mates grasp, while
in his surprise KirkWood's grip ON the
bag handle relaxed. 1t was torn forci-
bly, from his fingers just as he re-
ceived a heavy blow Oh his chest from
the mates fist. He staggered back.
BY the time he had recovered from
the shock Hobbs was a score of feet
away, the satchel tucked under his
arm, his body bent almost double, run
ming like a jack rabbit. Ere Kirkwood
could get under way in pursuit the
mate had lodged out of sight round
the corner When the American caught
sight of him again he was far down
the block and lettering his pace with
every jump.
He was approaching, also, some six
or eight good citizens of Calais, men
of the laboring class, at 4 guess. Their
attention attracted by his frantic flight,
they stopped to wonder. One or two
moved as though to intercept him, and
he doubled out into the middle Of the
street with the quickness of thought.
An instant later he shot around an
other corner and disappeared, the ma
tives streaming after in hot chase,
electrified by the inspiring strains Of
stop thief!' or it's French equivalent.
The mob struggled round yet another
corner and was gone. Its clamor d.
mlnished on the still spring air, and
Kirkwood, recovering, abandoned Mr..
Hobbs to the justice Of the high gods