Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-08-17

then muncneu the SANDWICHES.
1t was kindly thought of, this early
morning repust. Mrs. Hallam seemed
more and more a remarkable woman
with each phase Of her character that
she chose to disclose. AT odds with
him, she yet took time to think of his
creature needs. Women. he PROFOUND
ed gravely. ure queer. There's no tell
ing anything about them.
One Of the most unreliable speci.
mems Of the sex on which he pro.
nounced this highly original dictum
entered the room just then. and he
and his dream, bowling.
Mrs. IIallam."
The woman nodded and smiled gra
ciously. "Eccles has attended to your
needs. hope? Please don't stop smok,
ing" She sank into an armchair on
the other side of the hearth and. prob.
ably by accident, out Of the radius OF
illumination from the lamp, sitting
sidewise, one knee above the other, her
white arms immaculate against the
somber background of crimson.
She was very handsome. indeed, just
then. though keener light might have
proved less tlattering.
Now, Mr.. Kirkwood" she opened
briskly. with second intimate and
friendly nod, and paused, her pose re.
ceptivc.
Kirkwood sat down again, smiling
good natured appreciation Of her I'm.
prejudiced attitude.
"Your son, Mrs. Hallam'-
ooh, Freddle's doing well enough
Freddie" she explained, "has deli
cate constitution and has seen little of
the world. Such melodrama as to-
nights is apt to shock him severely
We must make allowances. Mr.. Kirk
wood. I think" she said deliberately
"that it is time we came to an under
standing"
Kirkwood agreed-"Yes," affably.
81 purpose being perfectly straight
forward. To begin with. don't place
you, Mr.. Kirkwood You are an un
known quantity, new factor. Won'I
you please tell me what you are and
are you friend Of Mr.. Calendar's?'
81 think l may lay claim to that
honor, though'-to Kirkwood's way Of
seeing things some little frankness OF
were to get ONT hardly know him
Mrs. Hallam. had the pleasure o
meeting him only this afternoon"
She knitted her brows over thi
statement.
'That, assure you, is the TRUTH" h,
laughed.
"But really don't understand"
Nor 1, Mrs. Hallam. Calenda
aside, am Philip Kirl1wood, Ameri
can, resident abroad for some years
a native Of San Francisco. Of Ger
tain age, unmarried, by profession
poor painter"
"And?"
Beyond that? / presume l mus
tell you, though confess I'm il
dor in the balance with discretion.
But who are you for? Are you i
George Calendars payT
Heaven forfend!' piously. M
sole interest at the present moment
to unravel most enhancing mys
terry"
Entitled Dorothy Calendar 9
courses You've known her long?"
Eight hours, believe" he admit
ted gravely-'less than that, in fact"
Miss Calendars interests will nc
suffer through anything you may tie
me-"
Whether they will or no. l see
must swing looser tongue or you'll b
showing me the door"
The woman shook her head, amuse,
Not UNTIL" she told him significant.
VERY well, then" And lie launche
into an abridged narrative Of IL
nights events us he understood ther
touching lightly on his own circun
stances. the real poverty which la
way of Frognall. And there yo
have it all, Mrs. Halam."
ut is 50 like Calendar" she eXclain
ed, 80 like him that one sees ho'
foolish it was to trust-no, not
trust, but to believe-that he coul
ever be thrown off the scent once h
got nose to ground. So if we suffe
my son and l. shall have only III,
self to thank"
Kirkwood waited In patient after
ton till she chose to continue. Whe
she did. Now for my side Of tt
easel" cried Mrs. uallam and risiI
began to pace the room, her slend,
and rounded figure swaying grac
fully the while she talked.
George Calendar is scoundrel
she said. "a swindler. gambler-wh;
l believe you Americans call a CON
dence man. He is also my late hu
bands first cousin Some years sint
he found 1t convenient to leave EN-
land, likewise his wife and daughte
Mrs. Calender-a countrywoman
yours. by the bye-died shortly ufte
ward. Dorothy by the merest acc
dent. obtained situation as priva
secretary in the household Of the Ia
Colonel Burgoyne of The Cliffs. Cor
wall. You follow meT'
Yes. perfectly"
Colonel Burgoyne died. leaving b
estates to my son, some time az
Shortly afterward Dorothy Calend
disappeared. We know now that h
father took her away, but then t
disappearance seemed ineXplicab
especially since with her vanished
great deal of valuable informatio
She alone knew of the location Of &C
tain Of the old colonel's personal
fects.
"He was an eccentric. One Of /