The weekly true Democrat., 1909-10-29

thal corrupt and malignant little cock
ney. himself a. Keen Es any needle.
adept lp az the artlui resources of the
underworld whence ho had sprung.
and further pgimed for action by that
master rogue, Calendar.
The train was pulling slowly into
the station when he .reluctantly abaD-
doned his latest unfeasIble scheme Cor
shaking OF the little Engllshman and
concluded that their salvation was
only 10 be worked out through ever
lasting vigilance, incessant movement
and the favor Of the blind goddess
Fortune.
he saw nothing Of Hobbs ~ they
allghted and haStened from the sta
tion and hardly had time % waste
booking for him since their train bad
failed to make up the precious ten
minutes. Consequently he dismissed
the fellow from his thoughts until
with Brll8sels lingering "a their mem
Orlss q garish vision Of brilliant
streets and glowing cafes. slimpsed
fnftively from their cab windows our
ing lts Wild dash OVer the broad MID.
city 30aleVards--a midnight thGS set.
tlod themselves "a q carriage of the
Bruges express. They were speeding
aloag through the open country with
q noisy ciatter; then q minutes ihgts.
tigati0h gulced to discover tna mate
0f the Alsthea Berenely 0nsconeed IN
the coach behind
The little man seemed rarely com
DlRcent and impudently greeted Kirk.
WSod'B eeoWlIng Visage as the latter
peefod through the window 90 the
coach dOOF, with a smirk and e wag-
Sish wave of his hand. The American
by main strength Of win power has
tered On impulse 20 enter and wiring
his neck and returned 20 the girl more
disturbed than be cared 70 let her
know.
There resulted from bis review OF
the case but one plan Tor 0utWitting
~. Hobbs ana that iay IA trusting 70
his confidence that KirkwoOd and DoE.
othy Calendar would proceed as faF
toward Ostend as the train would take
thsp-nsmsly. 20 the limit o. the run.
mus insbifsd. kirkROod took eOun-
eel with the girl. and when the train
paused at Client they made an unOs-
tentatious exit from their coach, hnd-
ing themselves, Whap the express had
rQlisd on into he vert upon 4 lstIOn
platform IN q foreish city ct nine min.
ptes past 4 e'clpek o. TIE mOruing. but
at length without their ahadqW. Mr,
HObbg had gone on to Brugea
ESiekS3ood bpsd hia toaEnt yi1ts with
en- pntpObsa sdletlCu aad collected
himself % cope Yltb ., gituatic which
Wa 90 ptov6 hardly more happy for
3kSii tkah che esb they had Just
eluded. The primal Hush Of triumph
which had saturated the Americans
humOP on this signal succeas proved
but Getivo and transitoFy when In
quify 6f tbs station aftehdantB edueed
the information that the two earliest
trains 10 BE- obtained we're the 600 for
DehEef4ue and the 6:37 for Ostend. A
minimum delay Of four hours was 20
be endured IN the face Of many con-
tingent features singulariy unpleasant
to contemplate. The station waiting
room was on the point Of closing for
the night. and KlrkWOod, alarmed BY
the rapid cob of the money be had
taken frOm Calendar. dared not subject
bls finances TO the strain OF a nights
lodging at one Of Clients hotels He
found himself forced 10 be cruel to he
Kind 10 the girl. and DOrothy's cheer.
ful acQuiescence 60 their sole alterna.
tive OF tFamplng the street until day
break did nothIng 10 alleviate Kirk
woods evaporation.
II was permitted them 20 occupy a
bench outside the station. There the
girl her head plIlOwed on the treas
urs bag, mapped uDeasIly. while Kirk
wood pIodded restiessly 20 and fro.
up and down the platform. adding his
poor. weary wits With the problem Of
the future-nOt' 80 much bis own a.
the future Of the unhappy child for
whose welfare he had assumed re
spOnsIbillty. Dark for both Of them.
In bis understanding tomorrow doomed
darkest fOf her.
Not until the gray. fOFmless light Of
the dawn dusk was watering over th'
land did be cease his perambuiatiouS
Then q gradual stir Of lie IN the Guy
streets. together with the appearance
Of a station porter OF two. opening the