The San Francisco call., 1909-03-21


rather slowly, as If in a daze, without
comprehension Of the cause Of his mis-
fortune. And for a moment he stood
pulling his wits together and swaying
as though on the point Of resuming his
rudely interrupted chase when the
noise OF Kfrl6wOOd's heels brought him
about fla a twinkling.
oh. it's you. ehl" he snarled in
temper as vicious as his countenance;
and both Of these were much the worse
fOr wear and tear
Myself" admitted Kirkwood fairly:
and then. in a CLEAN OF humor: Were
YOU looking for me?"
His rage seemed to take the little
Cockney and shake him by the throat.
He trembled from head to foot. his face
shOckingly congested, and spat out dust
and fragments OF lurid blasphemy like
an iufCriated cat
OF q sudden. we ere's the gel?" he
sputtered thickly as his quick shifting
eyes for the first time noted Dorothy's
absence.
Miss Calendar has other business
none with you. I've taken the liberty
of stopping you because I have a word
or two
.'Ow. you ave. ave you? Gaud
strike me blind. but I've q word for
YOU. too And over that bag
and look nippy, or III make you pye
for wat you've done TO me-
III myke you pye." he iterated, edg-
ing closer. And 1t over or"
You've got another guess Kirk
wood began, but saved his breath in
Difference TO an imperative demand on
him for instant defensive action.
TO some extent he had underesti-
mated the brute courage OF the fell
low. the violent, desperate courage that
is distilled Of anger in men Of his
kind Despising him, deeming him In
capable OF any overt act Of villainy.
Kirkwood had been a little less wary
than he would have been with Calen-
dar OF Mulready. Hobbs had seemed
more OF the craven type which Stry-
ker had graced so cOnspicuously. But
now the American was TO be taught
discrimination, to learn that il Stry-
iler's nature was like a snakes for low
cunning and deviOusness, Hobbs soul
was the soul OF a viper.
Almost imperceptibly he had ad-
vanced upon Kirkwood; almost insen-
sibly his right hand moved toward his
chest; now, with a movement marvel
ously deft, il had slipped in and out
OF his breast pocket And a six-inch
blade Of tarnished steel was swinging
toward Kirkwood's throat with the
speed of light.
stiuctively he guarded with his right
forearm, lifting the hand that held the
satchel. The knife, catching in his
sleeve, scratched the arm beneath
painfully. and simultaneously was
twisted from the mates grasp, while IN
has surprise KirkwOod's grip on the
bag handle relaxed. It was torn forci-
bly, from his fingers just as he received
q heavy blow on his chest from the
mates fst- He staggered back
BY the time he had recovered from
the shock Hobbs was a score OF feet
away, the satchel tucked under his
arm, his body bent almost double, run
ming Ike a iacl1rabbit. Ere Kirkwood
could set under way. in pursuit the
mate had lodged out Of sight round
the corner. When the American caught
sight cf him again, he was far down
the block, and lettering his pace with
every jump.
He was approaching. also, some six
Or eight good citizens OF Calais, men
Of the laboring class, at a guess. Their
attention attracted by his frantic flight,
they stopped 10 wonder One or two
moved as though to intercept him. and
ne doubled out into the middle OF the
street with the Quickness OF thought:
an instant later he shot round another
corner and disappeared. the natives
streaming after in hot chase, electri-
ned by the inspiring strains OF Stop,
tLief. or .its French equivalent
Kirkwood cheering them on with the
same Wild cry, followed to the
farther street; and there paused,
so winGed and weak with laughter
that he was fain TO catch at
fence picket for support Standing
thus he saw other denizens OF Calais
spring as II from the ground miracu-
lously 20 swell the hue and cry; and
Frrrr rr-r rr-~~
from nowhere at all, TO fall in behind
the rab5lc, waving his sword above his
head. and screaming Ct the top Of his
lungs, the while his fat legs twinkled
for all the world like thick sausage
links marvelOusly animated.
The mob struggled round yet an
other corner and was gone; its cIamor
diminished on the still spring air; and
kirkwOOd. recovering, abandoned Mr..
Hobbs 10 the justice Of the high gods
and the French system OF jurispru-
dence Cat least, he hoped the latter
would take an interest in the case
= haply Hobbs were laid by the heels),
and went his way rejoicing.
AS for the scratch on his arm, II was
nothing, as he presently demonstrated
20 his complete satisfaction in the se-
clusiOn Of chance-sent f1acre. Kirk
wood, commissioning It to drive him
% the American consulate, made his
diagnosis en- route; wound a handker-
chief round the negligible wound, rolled
down his sleeve, and forgot Il alto
Eether in the joys OF picturing to him
self Hobbs In the act OF opening the
satcheI IA expectation OF finding there
IN the gladstone bag.
At the consulate door he paid on the
driver and dismissed him; the hacre
had served his purpose, and he could
find his way TO the Terminus hotel at
Infinitely less expense. He had a con-
siderably harder task before him as
he ascended the steps to the consular
doorway, knocked and made known
the nature OF his errand
40 malicious destiny could have
timed the hour OF his call more ap-
positely: the consul was at home and
at the disposal OF his fellow citizens
within bounds.
In the course OF thirty minutes or
80 Kirkwood emerged with dignity
from the consulate. his face crimson TO
tie hair, his soul smarting with shame
AID humiliation; and left an amused
Official representative OF his country's
government with the impression of
having been entertained to the point
% euuui by an exceptionally clumsy