Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-09-02

iii'> "t ~ AlSNISSl NlStIlIlSS III lllC
rear Of the cab. but prepared to break
into a run whenever it should prove
necessary.
Such eNertion, however. was not re-
quired of him. Evidently Mrs. Hallam
was in no great haste to reach her
destination. The speed of the fiacre
remained extremely moderate. and
Kirkwood found a long. brisk stride
fast enough to keep it we'll In sight.
Round the green square, under the
beautiful! walls of Notre Dame dan
vers, through Grande place and past
the Hotel de Willie the cab proceeded,
logged by what might plausibly be as
serted the most persistent and infatu-
ated soul that ever crossed the water,
n so on into the Van Dyck quay,
turning to the left at the old Steen
dungeon and, slowing to a walk. NOV
ing soberly up the drive.
Beyond the lip of the embankment
the Scheldt flowed, it's broad. shining
surface oily, smooth and dark, a mir
ror for the incandescent glory Of the
skies. The life ct the river was gone,
SlliNi .I liz lllool lliSS llIt Ships DIV ullS
In great q%uietness, riding lights glim-
mering like low. wan stars.
In the company of the latter the
young man marked down the Alethea,
a sight which made him unconsciously
clfnch both fists and teeth, reminding
him OF thai rare wag, Stryker.
70 his way of thinking the behavior
re t6n {,na,~ ,.,r, o,xtt Y
Hardly had the horse paced OFF the
length of two blocks on the quay ere
1t Was guided to the edge of the prom
enade and brought to a stop. And the
driver twisted the reins round his
whip. thrust the latter In It's socket.
turned sidewise on the box and began
to smoke and swing his heels. survey
ing the panorama of river anG sunset
with complaccncy-a cabby. one would
venture. without a care i'm the world
and serene iii the assurance of Il gen
erous tip when he lost his fare. But.
as for the latter, she made no move.
The door of the cab remained closed
like its occupants mind. a mystery to
the watcher.
Twilight shadows heightened. dark
ling, over the land. Street lights
flashed up in long. radtaMt ranks. And
still the fiacre Fingered in inaction;
still the driver lor0ea it aloft in care
free abandon.
In tl" course Of time this inertia
whore he had looked Tor action, this
dull suspense when lie had forecast
interesting developments, Wore upon
the Watchers nerves and made him
at once impatient and suspicious. Now
that he had begun to doubt he CON
coivcd it as quite possible that Mrs.
Hallanl. who was capable OF anything,
Should have stolen out Of Tie cab by
the other and to him invisible door.
70 resolve the matter finally he took
advantage of the darkness, turned up
his coat collar. hunched up his shout
ders, hid his hands in pockets, pulled
The visor of his cap we'll forward e
his yes and slouched past the tiacre.
Mrs. Hallam sat within. He could
see her profile clearly silhouetted
against the light. She was bending
forward and staring fiXedly out of the
window across the driveway. Mental
ly he calculated the direction of her
gaze, then moved away and followed
1t with his own eyes and found him
self staring at the facade of a third
rate hotel. Above it's roof the gilded
letters Of a sign, catching the illumina-
ton from below, spelled out the title
of "Uotel du Commerce."
Mrs. Hallam was interested in the
Hotel du Commerce?
T~houghtfully Kirkwood fell back to
his former point of observation, now
the richer by another object of sus-
picion. the hostelry. Mrs. Hallam was
waiting and watching for some one
to enter or to leave that establishment.
1t seemed a reasonable inference to
draw. Well, then. SO vas Kirkwood
no less than the lady. He deemed it
quite conceivable that their objects
were identical.
He started to beguile the time by
wondering what she would do If
OF a sudden he abandoned this line
of speculation and, catching his breath.
held it. almost afraid to credit the
truth that for once his anticipationS
were being realized under his very
eyes.
Against the lighted doorway OF the
Hotel du Commerce the figures of two
men We're m~omentarily sketched as
they came hurriedly forth, and of the
two II vas short and stout and even
at II distance seemed to Dear himself
with an accent Of assertiveness, while
the other vas tall and heavy OF shout
der.
Side by side they marched in step
across the e~mbankment to the head of
the quay gangway, descending without
pause to the landing stage. Kirkwood,
hanging breathlessly over the guard
rail, could hear their footballs ringing
in hollow rhythm on the planks Of the
inclined way, could even discern Cal
endar's unlovely profile in dim relief
beneath n of the waterside lights.
and he recognized Enthusiastically Null
ready's deep voice. grumbling inartic-