Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-12-21

be had apparently drawn in self de
fense ut the crisis Of Mulready's
frenzy. Its muzzle was DETECTED. He
looked Kirkwood over with cool
gray eye, the color gradually return.
ing to his fat, clean shaven cheeks. re.
placing the pardonable pallor which
had momentarily rested thereon.
AS for Kirkwood, he had covered
the fat adventurer before he knew It.
Stryker. who had been standing imme.
diately In the rear Of Calendar. imme.
diately covered and cringed to find
himself in the line Of fire.
OF the three conscious men In the
brigantine's cabin Calendar was prob,
ably the least confused or excited
Stryker was palpably unnamed
Kirkwood was tinging with sense
Of mastery. but collected and rapidly
revolving the combinations for the re.
versed conditions which had been
brought about by Mulready's drunken
folly. His elation was apparent in his
shining boyish eyes as well as In the
bright color that glowed In his cheeks
When he decided to speak. it was with
rapid enunciation. but clearly and con.
cisely.
Calendar" he began, III single
shot is fired about this vessel the river
police will be buzzing round your ears
in brace Of shakes"
The fat adventurer nodded assent.
his eyes contracting.
"Very WELL" continued Kirkwood
brusquely. "You must know that ]
have personally nothing to fear from
the police. If arrested wouldn't be
detained a day. On the other hand,
you Hand me that pistol. Calendar,
butt first, please. Look sharp. my
man! If you DON'T
He left the ellipsis to be filed In by
the corpulent blackguard's intelligence.
The latter. gray eyes still intent on the
younger mans face. wavered. plainly
Impressed, but still wondering.
"Quick! I'm not patient tonight
No longer was Calendar Of two
minds. In the face of Kirkwood's at
titude there was but one course to be
followed-that Of obedience. Calendar
surrendered an untenable position as
gracefully as could be wished.
II guess you know what you mean
by this" he said, rendering the weapon
rs per instructions. I'm doggoned II
I do. You'll allow q certain latitude
in consideration Of my relief. I can't
say we were anticipating this-ah-
heaven sent visitation"
Accepting the revolver with his left
hand and settling his fore finger on
the trigger. Kirkwood beamed with
pure enjoyment. He found the defer.
ence of the older man. tempered
though 1t was by his indomitable
swagger, refreshing in the extreme.
"a little appreciation isn't exactly
out Of place, come to think Of IT," he
commented, adding, with an eye for
the captain, "Stryker, you bold, bad
butterfly, have you got gun conceal
ed about your unclean person"
The captain shook visibly with con-
triton. mo, Mr.. Kirkwood." he man
aged to reply in voice singularly lack
Ing In bis wonted bluster.
"Say 'sir!'" suggested Kirkwood.
mo. Mr.. Kirkwood. SIR" amended
stryker eagerly.
"Now, come round here and let's
have a look at you. Please stay where
you are, Calendar. Why, captain. you
are shiyering from head to foot! Not
Ill are you, you wag? Step over to
the table there. Stryker, and turn out
your pockets; turn 'em inside out and
let's see what you carry In the way
of offensive artillery. And, Stryker,
don't be rash; don't do anything you'd
be sorry for afterward."
mo fear of that" mumbled the cap
tain, meekly shambling toward the ta.
BILE and, In his anxiety to give no cause
for unpleasantness, beginning to emp
ty his pockets on the way.
Don't forget the SIT, StryRer. Anu'
Stryker, II you happen to think Of any
thing In the line Of one Of your merry
quips or jests. don't strain yourself
holding in. Get 1t right of your chest
and you'll feel better"
Kirkwood chuckled. In high concei
with himself. watching Calendar out
of the corner Of his eye. but with his
attention centered on the infinitely di-
verting spectacle afforded by Stryker.
whose prcdaceous hands were trem.
bling violently as one by one they
brought to light the articles OF which
he had despoiled his erstwhile victim.
"Come, come, Stryker! Surely you
can think of something witty. Surely
you haven't exhausted the possibilities
Of that almanac Joke! Couldn't you
ring another variation on the lunatic
wheeze? Don't hesitate out Of consid-
Grafton for me. captain. I'm joke proof
Perhaps you've noticed"
Stryker turned upon him an express
sion at once ludicrous. piteous and
hateful. "That's all. SIR" he snarled.
displaying his empty palms In token
Of his absolute tractability.
"Good enough Now right about face
quick! Your backs prettier than
your face, and, besides, l want to know