Oxford Democrat., 1909-10-26

business. I'm from the Yard'-
"My name is not Calendar"
The detective smiled wearily. Don
be Il fool. Calendar" he began. Blu
the porter's hand fell upon bis shoul
der. and the giant bent low to brinl
his mouth close to the others ear
Kirkwood heard indistinctly his owI
name. followed by Calendars. and tn
words: "Neyer fear. I'll point hin
out"
".But the womanT argued the de
tective. unconvinced. staring into tn
cab.
"Am ] not at liberty to have a lad.
/ dine with me in public restaurant
interposed Kirkwood without raising
his voice
The hard eyes looked him up ant
down without favor. Then: "Beg par
don, SIR. | see my mistake" said th'
detective brusquely.
81 am glad you do" returned Kirk
wood grimly. 81 fancy 1t will beal
investigation"
He mounted the step. Imperial the
ater." he told the driver, giving the
first address that occurred to him. II
could be changed. For the moment
the main issue was to get the girl ou,
Of the range Of the detectives interest
He slipped into his place as the han
som wheeled into the turgid tide OF
westbound traffic.
So Calendar had escaped. after all
Moreover. he had told the truth to
Kirkwood.
By his side the girl moved uneasily
who was that man?" she inquired.
Kirkwood sought her eyes and found
them wholly ingenious. 1t seemed
that Calendar had not taken her into
his confidence. after all. She was
therefore in no way implicated in her
fathers affairs. IneXplicably the
young mans heart felt lighter "a
mistake. The fellow took me for
some one he knew" he told her care
lessly.
| The assurance satisfied her. She
rested quietly. wrapped up in personal
concerns. Suddenly Kirkwood was re.
called to n sense of duty by glimpse
of Hyde Park Corner. He turned to
the girl. "I didn't know where you
wished to CO."
She seemed to realize his meaning
with surprise, as one whose thoughts
have strayed afar recalled to an I'M
perative world.
"Oh, did forget7 Tell him, please.
to drive to No. 8 Frognall street
Bloomsbury"
Constraint hung like curtain be-
tween the two, silence which the
young man forbore to moderate. find
ing more delight than he had cared Tor
dared) confess to in contemplation OF
the pure girlish profile so close to him.
She seemed quite unaware OF him,
lost in thought, large eyes sober, lips
serious that were fashioned for laugh
ter, round little chin drm with some
occult resolution. 1t was not hard to
fancy her nerves keyed to high pitch
Of courage and determination nor easy
to guess for what reason. Watching
always, keenly sensitive to the beauty
of each salient line betrayed by the
flying lights, Kirkwood's own con-
sciousness lost itself In profitless,
even perilous. labyrinth Of conjecture.
The cab stopped. Both occupants
came to their senses with little start.
The girl leaned out over the apron,
recognized the house she sought in one
swift glance, testified to the recogni-.
ton with a hushed exclamation and
began to arrange her skirts. Kirk
wood, unheeding her faint hearted pro-
tests, jumped out, interposing his cane
between her skirts and the wheel. ST.
multaneously he received vivid men,
tai photograph Of the locality.
Frogna,l street proved to be one Of
those byways a short block In length
which, hemmed In on all sides by
meaner purlieu, have (even In Blooms
bury escaped the sordid commercial
eye Of the keeper Of furnished lodg.
ings, retaining Jealously something Of
the old time dignity and reserve that
were their pride in the days before 30
ciety swarmed upon Mayfair and Bel
gravia.
Its houses loomed tall, with many
windows, mostly lightless, materially
aggravating that air Of isolate. cold
dignity which distinguishes the Eng.
lishman's castle. Here and there stood
one less bedraggled than its neighbors.
though all, without exception, spoke
assertlvely of responsibility down at
the heel. but fighting tenaciously for
existence. Some, vanguards Of that
imminent day when the boarding
house should reign supreme. wore
with shamefaced air placards Of estate
agents advertising their susceptibility
to sale or lease. In the company Of the
latter was No. 8.
The American noted the circum
stance subconsciously at a moment
when Miss Calendars hand. small as Il
child's. warm and compact in Its white
glove. lay in his own. And then she
was on the sidewalk. her face, u2-
turned to bis. vivacious with excite
ment.
"You have been so kind" she told
him warmly. 'that one hardly knows
how to thank you. Mr.. Kirkwood."
II have done nothing-nothing al
ALL" he mumbled. disturbed by sud
den unreasoning alarm for her.
She passed quickly to the shelter OF
the pillared portico. He followed
clumsily. On the doorstep she turned
Offering her hand. he took and re-
tanned It.
Good night" she said.
I'm to understand that I'm dis
missed, then?" he stammered ruefully
She evaded his eyes. "T-thank you
have no further need
"You are quite sure? Won't you be-
lIeve me at your serviceT
She laughed uneasily. "rm all right
now"
Il can no nothing more-sugsT