Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-08-13

He regretted Brentwick sincerely.
Theirs was a curious sort of friend
ship. extraordinarily close I'm view OF
the meagerness OF others information
about the other. 10 say nothing of the
disparity between their ages Con-
Cerniug the elder man Kirkwood knew
little more than that they had met oa
shipboard. Corning over" that Brent
wick had Spent some years I'm Amer
lea: that he was an EngliShman 10y
birth. a cosmopolitan 10y habit. 10y pro-
fession a gentleman employing that
term I'm it's most unComprumlSingly
British Significance and by iuclma-
ton u collector OF articles OF Virtu
and bigotry," in pursuit OF which he
made frequent excursions 10 the CONT
neut from his residence iu quaint.
quiet street Of Old Brompton. II had
been during his not infrcQuent. but or
dinarUy abbreviated. soiourns in Paris
that their steamer acquaintance had
ripened into an affection almost hllal
ON the one hand. almost pa"rnal on
the other
There came Il rapping az tAe door.
The knob was turned: the door open
ed. Kirkwood. swinging on one heel,
hehcld. hesiiaut upon the threshold a
rather rotund figure of medium height,
clad in an eNpre9sionlesS gray lounge
suit. with a brown bowler" hat held
! ntatlvely I'm one hand. an umbrella
weeping IN the other 4 voice. which
WIS UuctuOus ana msinuativc, emanat.
ed from he figure.
mfr kirl,NyoOdf"
Ilirkwood nodded, with Some effort
recalling the name. SO detached had
been his thoughts since the disappear
ance of the page.
yes. Mr. Calendar"
Are you ah- busy. Mr. Kirkwood ?"
"Arc YOU Mir Calendar Kirk
woods smile robbed the retort or any
flavor Of incivillty.
Encouraged the man entered pre-
missing that lie would dctaln his host hut
a moment ana readily surreudcrlug hat
and umbrella Kirkwood. putting the
latter aside invited his caller TO the
easy chair which Brentwick had Occu
pied by the fireplace
1T takes the edge off the dampness."
Kirkwood explained I'm Difference to
the others look OF pleased surprise at
the cheerful bed OF Goals. "Vm afraid
I could never get accAmatod To- life IN
"A cold. damp room cor damp. cold
room such ms YOU Britishcr prefer"
cit IS grateful" Mr.. Calendar agreed
spreading plump and well cared for
hands TO the warmth. "Eut YOU are
mistaken. am as much an American
as yourself"
"Ncsf' Nirliwood looked the man
over with moro interest less matter OF
course courtesy
lie proved not unprcposscssing. this
mrlossiG1llc MIR Calender. lie was
dressed with some care. his complexion
was good, and the fullncss OF his girth
emphasized ms It was by a notable
lack OF inches, bespoke n nature genial
easy going md sybaritic His dar-
eyes. heavy liddod. wore active. GU
rlously at times with subducd gilt
ter, in n face mrgc, round pink. OF
which the other most remarkable fcn
lures were II mustachc. close trimmed
md showing streaks of gray: chubby
nose and duplicate chlns Mr. Caleu
dar was furthermore. possessed Of
polished lGI1 spot r'rdlod with n ton
sure Of sllvrrcd hair circumstances
which lent some Fictitious distinction
~ q personality otherwise common
place.
His manner might be best described
a3 uneasy with assurance. as though
he frequently found 70 necessary 10
make mp for his unnprc.sirc stature
by umine an unnatural habit ~ an
fh,rf'.-