Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-06-19
By Louis Joseph Vance
Copyright. 1908. by the Bobbs-r1errin Co.

The driver affirmed the fact with un- necessary heat and profanity and an amendment to the effect that he would have spoiled his fares sanguinary .conk had the outcome been less satis- factory.
 The Information proved 80 amusing that kirkwood. chuckling. forbore to resent the manner of Its delivery and, abandoning unril more favorab ble time the chase of the coy sovereign purse, extracted from one trousers pocket half n handful of large English small change.
 "Three shillings and sixpence" He counted the coins into the cabby's grimy and bloated paw and added quietly: "The exact distance Is rather less than four miles. my man--your fare. precisely shi,lings. You may keep the extra IS pence for be- ing such conscientious blackguard- or talk It over with the officer here. Please yourself"
 He nodded to the bobby. who. favor ably impressed by Kirkwood, smiled at the cabby cold. hard smile, whereupon the latter. smirking in un- abashed triumph. spat on the pave ment at Kirkwood's feet. gathered up the reins and wheeled out.
 Restoring shlllings and a few fat copper pennies to his pocket. he entered the vast and echoing train shed In the act his attention was attracted and immediately riveted by the spectacle Of a burly luggage navvy in blue jumper in the act of making of with large folding signboard. of which the surface was lettered ex- papsively with the advice. in red against white background. Boat Train Leaves on Track g."
 Excitedly Kirkwocd touched the mans arm with n detaining hand. Boat trainT" he gasped. pointing at the board
 Left ten minutes ago. thank you, sir"
 Well. but Of course 1 can get another train at Tilbury?'
 For yer boatf No. sir. thank you. sir. Won't be another tryne till morn In. sir"
 "Oh-hr
 Aimlessly Kirkwood drifted away his mind a blank.
 Some time later he found himself on the steps outside the station. trying to stare out of countenance a glarlng electric mineral water advertisement on the farther side of the Huston road
 He was stranded.
 Distracted, he searched pocket after pocket. locating his watch cigar case and cigarette case. matchbox. pen. knife, all the minutiae of pocket hard ware affected by civilized man. with old letters. Il cardcase. q square en yelope containing his steamer ticket but no sovereign purse. His small change pocket held less than ! shillings-two and eight. to be exact and brass key. which he failed to recognize as one of his belongings.
 And that was all. At some time dur ing the night he had lost (or been cun- ningly bereft of0 that little purse oi chamois skin containing the three gold on sovereigus which he had been bus banding to pay his steamer expenses and which. If only he had them now would stand between him and starva ton and night In the streets. Ii Brcntwlck were only in town! But he wasn't and wouldn't be within the week.
 No good waiting here" he conciud' ed. Composing his face, he re-entered the station. There were his trunks. Of course. He couldn't leave them stand ing on the station platform forever.
 He found the luggage room and in teryiewed mechanically courteous at tendant. who. as the result of profound deliberation. advised him to try bis luck at the lost luggage room across the station. He accepted the advice 1t was a foregone conclusion that his effects had not been conveyed to ths Tilbury dock. They could not have been loaded into the luggage van with out his personal supervision. Still. any thing was liable to happen when bis unlucky star was in the ascendant. He found them In the lost luggage room.
 (To be continued)