Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-07-30
CHAPTER VII.
~ YELL, Mr.-Kirkwood?"
"a Mrs. Hallam." he STAN
wv mered, I''-

and with quick move
old, where she paused. rounded arm
barring the entrance. one hand grasp
ing the doorknob, rs IL to shut him
out at any moment.
I'm awaiting your explanation" she
said coldly.
He grinned with nervousness, Striv-
ing to penetrate the mental processes
of this handsome Mrs. Hallam. She
seemed to regard him with suspicion
which he thought inexcusable. Did
she suppose he had spirited Dorothy
Calendar away and then called to ap-
prise her Of the fact. or that he was
some sort of adventurer who had
manufactured plausible yarn to gain
him access to her home, or-harking
back to her original theory-that he
was an emissary from Scotland Yard?
Probably she distrusted him on the
latter hypothesis. The reflection left
him more at ease.
81 am quite as mystified as you. Mrs.
Hallam," he began. miss Calendar
was here Mt this door in four wheel
err not ten minutes ago. and"-
"Then where is she now?'
'Tell me where Calendar u.s." he re-
torted. inspired. "and I'll try to an
swer your
But her eyes were blank. "You
mean
THAT Calendar was in this house
when l came: that he left. found his
daughter in the cab and drove off with
her It's clear enough"
You are quite mistaken" she said
thoughtfully. George Calendar has
not been here this night"
He wondered that she did not seem
to resent his imputation II think
not
Listen" she cried. raising warn
Ing hand. and. relaxing her vigilant
attitude, moved forward once more to
A cab had cut in from that direction
and was bearing down upon them with
a brisk rumble of hoofs. AS it ap.
preached. Kirkwood's heart, that had
lightened. was weighed upon again by
disappointment. !. was no four wheel
err, but hansonN.nd the open wings
Of the apron. disclosing a white TRAN
gle of linen surmounted by glowing
spot of fire, betrayed the sex of the
fare too plainly to allow of further
hope that it might be the girl return
ing.
At the door the cab pulled up sharp
ly and a man tumbled hastily out upor
the sidewalk.
"Herew he cried throatily, TOSSING
the cabby his fare, and turned toward
the pair upon the doorstep. evidentl.
surmising that something was amiss
for he was Calendar in proper person
and sight to upset in twinklin.
Kirkwoods ingeniously builded castl
Of suspicion.
"Mrs. Hallam!" he cried, out o
breath. as my daughter here?' An,
then. catching sight of Kirkwood'
countenance: why, hello. Kirkwood!
He saluted him with dubious air.
The woman interrupted hastily
please come in. Mr.. Calendar. Thi
gentleman has been inquiring for yor
with an astonishing tale about you
daughter"
dorothy" Calendars moonlike vi:
age was momentarily Invested Of an
trace of color. what of herr"
you had better come in," advise
Mrs. Hallam brusquely.
The fat adventurer hoped hurriedl
across the threshold, Kirkwood follow
Ing. The woman shut the door an
turned with back to it, nodding sit
nifcantly Mt Kirkwood as her eyes mt
Calendars.
"Well, well?" snapped the latter In
patiently, turning to the young man.
But Kirkwood was thinking quicl
ly. For the present he contented hin
self with q deliberate statement
fact, Miss Calendar has disappea
ed 1t gave him an instant's tim
There's something fshy!' he tol
himself. 'These two are playing ,
cross purposes. Calendars no foe
He's evidently crook to boot. AS fl
the woman, she's had her eyes ope
for number Of years. The ma
things Dorothy. She didn't vanish
her own initiative. And Mrs. Halla
; knows or suspects more than she
going to tell. don't think she wan
Dorothy found. Calendar does {
do 1. Ergo, I'm for Calendar"
Disappeared" Calendar was bar
ing Mt him. "How? When? Where
within ten minutes" said Kir
wood. Here; let's get 1t straight
And he told what had happened. me
tioning that he had not paid the CT
driver.
Thanks" said Calendar dryly. I
bent his head in thought for an
STINT. then looked up and fixed MI
Hallam with an unprecedented ey
81 say!" he demanded explosivel
'There wasn't any one here tn
knew-eh?"
Her fine eyes wavered and fell /
fore his, and Kirkwood remarked TIL
her underlip was curiously drawn in
Il heard man leave as Mrs. Halla
joined me-" he volunteered helpful
and with suspicion Of malice. "a
after that paid no attention at
time-it seems to me l did hear c
in the street.
"Ow?" interjected Calendar. cyl
the woman steadfastly and employi
IN exclamation of combined illumil
ton and inquiry more typically Britt
than anything Kirkwood had !
] heard from the man.
For her part. the look she gave XII
wood was sharD with fury. It "