Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-09-16
CHAPTER XXI.

pCu ~ Ol ~ ~ 49,
Il a the same time he swept into
ais pocket the money he had extorted
of Calendar. Then he paused an in
slant, listening. From the captains
room came a sound of murmurs and
scuf1iing. He crossed to the port locker
forward.
He had it's lid up in a twinkling
and in another had lifted out the we'll
remembered black gladstone bag.
This seems to have been his first
compound larceny.
AS if stimulated by some such re-
Election, he sprang for the companion
way, dropping the lid of the locker
with a bang which must have been
excruciatingly edifying to the men in
the captains room. Whatever their
emotions, the bang was Knocked by a
mighty kick, shaking the door, which,
Kirkwood reflected, opened outward,
was held only by the frailest kind of a
lock and would not hold long.
Spurred onward by a storm of curses,
STRIKERS voice chanting Infatuated ca
cophony with Calendars. Kirkwood
leaped up the companionway even as
the second tremendous kick threatened
to shatter the panels. Heart in mouth,
Il chill shiver of guilt running up and
down his spine, he gained the deck,
cast loose the painter, drew in his row
boat and dropped over the side, then,
the gladstone bag nesting between his
feet, sat down and bent to the oars.
And doubts assaulted him. pressing
close upon the ebb of his excitement
doubts and fears innulnerable.
There was 30 longer Il distinction to
be drawn between himself and Calen-
dar; no more could he esteem himself
Il better and more honest man than
that accomplished swindlcr. He was
not advised as TO the Belgian code. but
English law, he understood. made no
allowance for the good intent of those
caught in possession of stolen prop
erty. Though he was acting With the
most honorable motives in the world,
the law, if he came within its cogDi-
zance, would undoubtedly place him on
Calendars plane and judge him by the
same standard. To all intents and pur-
poses he was a thief, and thief he
would remain until the gladstone bag
with it's contents should be restored to
it's rightful owner
Voluntarily. then, he had stepped
from the ranks of the hunters to those
of the hunted. He now feared police
interference as abjectly as did Calen'
dar and his set of rogues. and Kirk
wood felt wholly warranted in assum
ing that the ad%venturer, with his keer
intelligence, would not handicap him
self by ignoring this point. Indeed, ii
he were to be judged by what Kirk
wood had inferred of his character
Calendar would let nothing whatever
hinder him, neither fear of bodily hur
hands of the police, from making a de
termined and savage play to regain
possession of his booty.
Well! (Kirkwood set his mouth saw
agely.) Calendar should have a ru1
for his money!
For the present he could compliment
himself with the knowledge that H.
had outwitted the rogues, had liftet
the jewels and probably two-thirds o
lllGlE Stllildlllcll. l1C uttl ulSO lIu
start, the knowledge of their crimina
guilt and intent and his own plans t.
comfort him. AS for the latter, h.
did not believe that Calendar would
Immediately fathom them. so he tool
heart Of grace and tugged at the oar
with a will, pulling directly for th,
sity and permitting the current to drift
him downstream mt its pleasure. Their
could be no more ineXcusable folly thai
to return to the Quay Steen landin:
and possibly the arms of the despoile,
boat wner
At first he could hear crash afte
splintering crash sounding duly muf
fled from the cabin of the Alethca,
veritable devils tattoo beaten out b,
the feet of the prisoners. Evidentl,
the fastening was serving him bette
than he had dared hope. But as tn
Black rushing waters widened between
boat ard brigantine the clamor aboar'
the latter subsidized. indicating tina
: Calendar and Stryker had broken GU
Or been released by the crew. In ig
norance as to whether he were seel
or being pursued, Kirkwood pulled on
winning in under the shadow Of tn,
quays and permitting the boat to drift
down to a lonely landing on the edg'
Of the dockyard quarter of Antwerp.
Here alighting. he made the boa
last and, soothing his conscience will
a surmise that its owner would find 1
there In the morning. strobe swift.
over to the tram line that runs alon.
the embankment, swung aboard an ad
ventitious car and broke his first tel
franc piece in order to pay his fare.
The car made a leisurely progress
up past the old Steen castle and thu
quay landing, Kirkwood sitting quiet
ly, the gladstone bag under his hand
a searching gaze sweeping the waite
side. Nc sign of the Adventures re
warded him, but 1T was now al
chance, all hazard. He had no NOR
heart for confidence.
VNho, n,cCn1 tho IJntoI III, Con ,nvOo