The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-07-08
By Louis Joseph Vance

the captain. ''Stryker, you bold. bad
butterfly. have you got gun conceal
ed about your unclean person.
The captain shook yisibly with con-
triton. NO. Mr.. Kirkwood." he man.
aged to reply in voice singularly lack
ing In bis wontcd buster.
Say .sirl" suggested Kirkwood.
mo. Mr. Kirkwood. SIR" amended
Stryker eagerly.
Now, come round here and let's
have look at you. Please stay where
you are, Calendar. Why. captain, you
are shiyering from head to foot! Not
III 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 tn
BILE and. In HIS anxiety to give no cause
for unpleasantness. beginning to emp
~ MS pDckeIs ON the way.
"Don't forget the sir Stryker. And,
Stryker. II you happen to think Of any
thing In the line Of one Of your merry
quips or jesfs. don't strain yourself
holding in. Get II right or your chest
and you'll feel better"
KIrkwood chuckled. In high conceit
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 predaceous hands were trem-
bling violently rs one By one they
brought TO light the articles Of which
he had despoIled his erstwhile victim.
Come. come. Stryker! Surely yuu
can think OF something witty. Surely
Du haven't exhausted the possibilities
Of that almanac Joke. Couldn't yon
ring another variation on the iunatic
wheeze? Don't hesitate out OF consid-
Grafton for me. captain. i'm joke proof
Perhaps you've noticed
Strykcr turned upon him an expires
sion at once ludicrous. pfteous and
hateful That's all. SIR he snaried.
displaying his empty palms In token
OF his absolute tractability.
Good enough. Now right about face
quick. Your backs prettier rhsn
your face, and. besides. I want 10 know
whether your hip pockets are empty.
I've heard It's the habit Of you gentry
to pack gnns in your clothes. None7
That's al right. then. Now rcost on
the transom over there In the corner.
Stryker. and don't move. Don't let
me hear word from you. Under
stnndg''
Suhmissiveiy the captain retired to
the Indicated spot Kirkwood turned
10 Calendar. Of whose attitude. how
ever. he had not been for an instant
unmindfui
won't you SIT down. Sfr. Cnlendar?"
he suggested pleasantly. .Forgiye me
for keeping ron waiting
For his OWE part. as the adsenturer
dropped passiveiy into his chair Kirk.
wood stepped over Mulready and ad.
vanced 20 the middle OF the cabin. at
the same time thrusting Calendars re.
voiver into his own coat pocket The
other. Mulready's. he nursed dgnifi-
cantiy with both hands. while he stood
temporarily quiet. surveying the 5cshy
fnce Of the prime factor in the intrigue
A quaint. grim smile played about
tie Americans lips. q smile n little
contempfuous. more than a little I'm.
scrutsble. In its light Calendar grew
restive and lost something Of his as.
surnnce. His feet shifted uneaslly be.
meath the table. and his dark eyes wa.
vered. evading Kirkwood's. At length
he seemed TO find the suspense unen-
durable.
"wcll.- he demanded testify. what
d'you want of meY'
Il was just wondering at you. Cal
cndar. In the last few days you've
given me enough cause TO wonder. as
you'll admit"
The advcnturcr plucked up aplrit. dc.
luded by KirkwoOd's pacific tone. Il
wonder at you. Mr.. Kirkwood." he re-
tortcd. ''lt was good OF you 10 save
my life. and.
I'm not so sure Of thatl Perhaps
II had been more humane
Calendar owned the touch with a
wry erimace. "But TIN hanged II
understand this high handed attitude
Of yoursi' he concluded hcatediy.
"Don't your" Kirkwood's humor be.
came less apparent. the smile SOLDERING.
"You will" he told the man. adding
abruptly. calendar. where's your
daughterg"
The restless eyes sought the com.
panionway.
Dorothy" the man He'd spontane-
ously. without tremor. "is with
friends IN England. why7 Did you
want 10 see herr"
Il rather expected TO-"
"weil. I thought II best to leave her
home. after ALL"
I'm glad 10 hear she's In safe
hands," commented klrkwood.
The ndventurers glance analysed bis
fnce. "Ah." he said slowly. Il see.