Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-07-09
easy chair which Brentwick had occ,

easy chair which Brentwick hnd occu
pied by the fireplace
ut takes the edge off the dampness.'
Kirkwood explained in Difference to
the others look of pleased surprise at
the cheerful bed of conls. I'm afraid
l could never get acclimated to life in
cold, damp room-or damp. cold
room-such as you Britishcr. prefer
at is grateful" Mr. Calendar agreed.
spreading plump and well cared for
hands to the warmth. But you are
mistaken. am ms much an American
us yourself"
over with more interest. less matter of
course courtesy.
He proved not unprepossessine. this
undesirable Mr.. Calendar. He was
dressed with some care, his complexion
was good, and the fullness of his girth.
emphasized as it was by notable
lack OF inches. bespoke nature genial.
easy going and sybaritic. His dark
eyes, heavy lidded, We're active. Gu
riously Mt times with subdued gilt
ter, in a face large. round. pink, Of
which the other most remarkable fea-
lures were q mustache. close trimmed
and showing streaks of gray; chubby
nose and duplicate chins. Mr.. Calen-
dar was, Furthermore, possessed Of n
polished bald spot, girdled with ton
sure of silvered hair-circumstances
which lent some Fictitious distinction
to personality otherwise common
place.
His manner might be best described
as uneasy, with assurance, as though
he frequently found it necessary to
make up for his unimpressive stature
by assuming an unnatural habit of au
thority.
$50 you knew l was an American
Mr.. Calendar?" suggested Kirkwood.
saw your name on the register. WI
both hail from the same neck of the
woods, you know"
81 didn't know 1t, and
Eyes; I'm from Frisco too"
"And Pm sorry
Mr. Calendar passed five fat finger
nervously over his mustache. glanced
alertly up at Kirkwood. as If momen
tarily inclined to question his tone
then again stared glumly into tn
fire, for Kirkwood had maintained a
attitude purposefully colorless. Not t
put too fine point upon It, he believe
that his caller was lying. The man
appearance, his mannerisms. his voic
and enunciation, while they migl
have been American, seemed all III
Californian. To one born and bred
that state, as Kirkwood had been, he
sons are Enthusiastically hall marked.
Now. no man lies without motiv
This one chose to reaffirm, with sho'
2 of deep feeling: Eyes. I'm from Frise
l too We're companions in misfortune
! 81 hope not altogether" said Kir
:. wood politely.
: Mr.. Calendar drew his own infe
q ences from the response and mustere
q up show Of cheerfulness. '"Tht
j you're not completely wiped out?"
:. ITO the contrary. I was hoping "
o were less unhappy"
"Oh, then you are?"
Kirkwood lifted the cable messa
l. from the mantel. II have just hea
IS from my partner at home," he sal
with faint smile. and quoted: "'E
erything gone. No Insurance.
Mr.. Calendar pursed his plump Iii
whistling inaudibly. 100 bad,
If bad!" he murmured sympathetical
lie "We're all hard hit, more or less"
er lapsed into detected apathy. fri
~ which Kirkwood, growing at lene
10 impatient, found 1t necessary to rot
III him.
ut "You wished to see me about sor
thing else, I'm sure"
d. Mr.. Calendar started from his r
W erie. "Eh? 1 was dreaming. |
s. pardon. 1t seems hard to realize,
Ilirkwood, that this awful catastror
ed has overtaken our beloved metropoli
us The canting phrases wearied Xxi
X wood Abruptly he cut in: "Wo'
tie a sovereign help you out. Mr.. Cal
by dar? 1 don't mind telling you tina
about the limit Of my present
Nv sources"