Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-11-09

Finally ,s.sult!;lg his watch, "Al
most TO-" he announced.
Were In timer
"Can't say II that Internal boa
wculd only show up''-
| He was lifting the whistle to SOUND
a second summons when a rowboa
rounded projecting angle formed b!
the next warehouse downstream ani
with clanking oarlorks swung in to
ward the landing On her thwart.
two figures. dipping and rising. laboret
with the sweeps. AS they drew in ths
man forward shipped his blades and
rising. scrambled to the bows In ordel
to grasp an iron mooring ring set II
| the wall.
Calendar waddled to the brink Of th,
stage. gruntlng with relief.
''rhe other mln." he asked brusqne
ly-"has he gone aboard. or Is this
the first trip tonight?"
One Of the watermen nodded assem-
to the latter question. adding grufiiy
"Seen nawthin' of i'm, SIR"
Every good" said Calendar, as If ht
doubted whether 1t were very good Of
bad. We'll wait a bit"
"Right-o" agreed the waterman civ
lily.
Calendar turned back, bis small eye.
gliE mering With satisfaction. 81 sup
pose" he said to Kirkwood abruptly
''you haven't changed your miHd?"
Changed my mind"
"About coming In with me-"
"My dear sir. can have no mind tc
change until plain proposition is laid
before me-"
"H-mr' Calendar puffed vigorous
ly until 1t occurred to him to change
the subject. you won't mind telling me
what happened to you and Dorothy"
Certainly not"
Calendar drew nearer. and Kirk
wood, lowering his voice, narrated
briefly the events since he had left the
Pless in Dorothy's company.
Her father followed him intently. in
terrupting now and again with an ex
clamation or pertinent question-as
had kirkwood been able to see the
face Of the man In No. 9 Frognall
street? The negative answer seemed
to disconcert him.
"Youngster, you say7 Blam' II car
lay my mind to him! Now. II that
Mulready"-
ut would have been impossible fol
Mulready-whoever he is-to recover
and get to Craven street before we
did," Kirkwood pointed out.
"Well. go on" But when the tale
was told ITS that scoundrel Null
readyw the man affirmed with heat
Its his hand. know him. | might
have had sense enough to see he'd take
the first chance to hand me the double
cross. Well, this does for him, all
rightw Calendar lowered viciously at
.he river. you've been blamed use
iul," he told Kirkwood assertively. If
It hadn't been for you don't know
where I'd be now-nor Dorothy. either
an obvious afterthought. There's
no particular way can show my ap-
probation, suppose? Money
1--WE got enough to last me till
reach New York. thank you"
"Well. II the time ever comes just
shout for George B. l won't be want
Ing. | only wish you were with us.
but that's out of the question"
Doubtless"
mo two ways about 1t. bet any
thing you've got a conscience conceal
ed about your person. What! You're
an honest man, ehT'
81 don't wNnt to sound immodest.'
returned Kirkwood, amused.
"You don't need to worry about that.
But IN honest mans got no business
in my line" He glanced again at bis
watch. ID that Mulready! won
der II he was cute enough to take all
other wayf Or did he think-the
fool"
he cut of abruptly. seeming depress-
ed by the thought that he might have
been outwitted, and. clasping hands
behind his back, chewed savaSely on
his cigar, watching the river. Kirk
wood found himself somewhat wea
ried. The uselessness Of bis presence
there struck him with added force.
He bethought him Of his midnight
boat train, scheduled to leave station
miles distant In an hour and half.
II he missed 1t he would be stranded
In a foreign land, penniless and prac-
tically without friends, Brentwtck be
Ing away and all the rest of his circle
Of acquaintances on the other side OF
the channel. Yet he fingered In poor
company, daring fate that he might
see the end Of the affair. Why?
There was only one honest answer
to that question. He stayed on be-
cause Of his interest In girl whom
he had known for a matter Of three
hours at most. 1t was insensate folly
on his part, ridiculous from any point
Of view, but be made no move to go.