Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-12-28

Hection. he sprang for the companion
way. dropping the lid Of the locker
with bang which must have been
excruciatingly edifying to the men in
the captains room. Whatever their
emotions. the bang was Knocked by q
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 storm Of curses.
Stryker's voice chanting infuriated ca
cophony with Calendars. Kirkwood
leaped up the companionway even as
the second tremendous kick threatened
to shatter the panels. Heart In mouth,
a 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 assailed him. pressing
close upon the ebb Of his excitement
doubts and fears innumerable.
There was no longer distinction to
be drawn between himself and Calen.
dar; no more could he esteem himself
better and more honest man than
that accomplished swindler. 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. II he came within its cogni-
zance. would undoubtedly place him on
Calendars plane and Judge him by the
same standard. TO all intents and pur.
noses he was thief. and thief he
would remain until the gladstone bag
with its contents should be restored to
its rishtful 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 rogucs. and Kirk
wood felt wholly warranted In assum-
ing that the adventurer. with his keen
Intelligence, would not handicap him
self by ignoring this point Indeed, If
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 hurt
nor danger Of apprehension at the
hands Of the police. from making de-
termined and savage play to regain
possession Of his booty.
Well! Q\irkwood set his mouth saw
agely) Calendar should have a run
for his money!
For the present he could compliment
himself with the knowledge that he
had outwitted the rogues. had lifted
the jewels and probably two-thirds of
their armament. He had also the
start, the knowledge Of their criminal
guilt and intent and his own plans to
comfort him. AS for the latter, he
did not believe that Calendar would
Immediately fathom them. so he took
heart Of grace and tugged at the oars
with a will. pulling directly for the
city and permitting the current to dQft
him downstream at Its pleasure. There
could be no more inexcusable folly than
TO return to the Quay Steen landing
and possibly the arms Of the despoiled
boat owner
At first he could hear crash aftel
splintering crash sounding DULY muf.
fled from the cabin Of the Alethea, a
veritable devils tattoo beaten out by
the feet Of the prisoners. Evidently
the fastening was serving him better
than he had dared hope. But as the
black rushing waters widened between
boat and brigantine the clamor aboard
the latter subsided. indicating that
Calendar and Stryker had broken out
or been released by the crew. In ig-
norance rs to whether he were seen
or being pursued, Kirkwood pulled on.
winning In under the shadow Of the
Quays and permitting the boat to drift
down to a lonely landing on the edge
of the dockyard quarter Of Antwerp.
Here alighting. he made the boat
fast and soothing his conscience with