The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-05-13


tive figure in the livery or tue PIess
pages.
"Mr. Kirkwood?'
Kirkwood nodded.
"Gentlemnn to see you. SIR
Kirkwood nodded again, smiling. II
somewhat.perplexed- Encouraged. the
child advanced. proffering silver
card tray at the end Of AN unnaturally
rigid forearm. Kirkwood took the
card dubiously between thumb and
forefinger and inspected It without
prejudice.
George B. Calendar" he read.
George B. Calendar But I know
no such person Sure there's no mis-
take. young man?"
The close cropped. bullet shaped
British head was agitated in vigorous
negation. and "Card for Mr.. Kirk.
wood!' was mumbled in dispassionate
accents appropriate to a recitation by
rote
Every well. But before you show
him up ask this Mr.. Calendar II he
is quite sure he wants to see Philip
Kirkwood."
"Yessir."
The child marched out. punctiliously
closing the door Kirkwood tamped
down the tobacco in his pipe and
puffed energeticalIy. dismissing the In
corruption to his reverie as a matter
Of no consequence-ano obvious mistake
to be recfified by two words with this
Mr.. Calendar whom he did not know
At the knock he had almost hoped
II might be Brentwick. returning with
changed mind about the bid to din
ner.
He regretted Brentwick sincerely.
Theirs was curious sort Of friend
ship. extraordinarily close In view Of
the meagerness Of either's information
about the other. to say nothing Of the
disparity between their ages. Con-
eerning the elder man Kirkwood knew
little mors than that they had met on
shipboard, coming over::" that Brent
wick had spent some years In Amer
lea: that he was an Englishman by
birth. cosmopolitan by habit, by pro
fession gentleman employing thur
term In fits most uncompromisingl
British signifcance) and by inclina-
ton collector Of ARTICLES Of virtu
and bigotry." I'm pursuit Of which he
made frequent excursions to the CONT
nent from his residence In quaint.
quiet street Of Old Brompton. II had
been during his not infrequent. but or
dinarily abbreviated. sojourns in Paris
that their steamer acquaintance had
ripened into an affection almost filial
on the one hand, almost paternal on
the other.
There came a rapning at the door.
The knob was turned; the door open
ed Kirkwood. swinging on one heel.
beheld hesitant upon the threshold. a
rather rotund figure Of medium height.
clad In an expressionless gray lounge
e-'lt. with a brown bowler" hat held
tentatively in one hand. an umbrella
weeping In the other. A voice. which
was unctuous and insinuative. emanat.
ed from the figure.
"Mr KirkwoodT'
xirkwood nodded, with some effort
recalling the name. so detached had
been his thoughts since the disappear
ance OF the page.
"Yes, Mr.. Calendar
"Are you-ah-busy. Mr.. Kirkwood?"
"Are you. Mr. Calendar Kirk
woods smile robbed the retort Of any
flavor OF incivility.
Encouraged. the man entered. pre-
missing that he would detain his host but
moment and readily surrendering hat
and umbrella. Kirkwood. putting the
latter aside. invited his caller TO the
easy chair which Brentwick had occu-
pied by the fireplace.
'Tt takes the edge OF the dampness."
Kirkwood explained In Difference to
the others look OF pleased surprise at
the cheerful bed of Goals. I'm afraid
| could never get acclimated to life In
a cold. damp room-or damp, cold
room-snch as you Britishers prefer"
at Is grateful" Mr.. Calendar agreed.
spreading plump and well cared for
hands to the warmth. But you are
mistaken. am as much an American
as yourself"
"yesy kirkwood looked the man
over with more interest. less matter Of
course courtesy.
He proved not unprcpossessing. this
unclassiiiable Mt. Calendar. He was
dressed with some care. his complexion
was good. and the fullness OF bis girth.
emphasized as It was by notable
lack Of inches. bespoke nature genial.
easy going and sybaritic. His dark
eyes. heavy lidded. were active. Gu
riously at times with a subducd gilt
ter. In a face large. round. pink. Of
which the other most remarkable fea.
lures were n mustacbc. close trimmed
and showing streaks OF gray; chubby
nose and duplicate chins. Mr.. Calen.
dar was. furthermore. possessed Of q
polished bald spot. girdled with tom
sure OF silvercd hair-circumstance
which lent some factitious distinction
to personality otherwise common.
place.
His manner might be best described
as uneasy. with assurance. as though
he frequently found II necessary to