Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-10-14

a chiefly in %innocuous idleness. Az
cordingly l have telephoned him and
Communicated the use of this ma
chine-mechanician too. Though not u
betting man, l am willing to risk reck-
lessly q few pence in support Of my
contention that Of the two, Captain
Stryker's car and ours. the latter will
prove considerably the more speedy.
"In short. l suggest" he concluded,
sthoughtfully lacing his long white fin
gers, 'that, avoiding the hazards Of
cab and railway carriage, we motor to
Chiltern, the night being fine and the
road, l am told, exceptionally good.
Miss Dorothy, what do you think?"
Instinctively the girl looked to Kirk
wood, then shifted her glance to their
host. II think you are wonderfully
thoughtful and kind" she said simply.
"And you, Philip"
cts an inspiration" the younger
nan declared. 81 can't think of any
thing better calculated to throw them
of than to distance them by motor
ear. 1t would be always possible to
trace II journey by rail-"
"Then," announced Brentwick, max
ing as If to rise, 1--WE had best go. If
neither my hearing nor Captain Stry-
ker's car deceives me, u fiery chariot
is painting at the door,"
A little sobered from the confident
spirit of quiet gayety in which they
had dined, they left the table. Not
that in their hearts either greatly
questioned their ultimate triumph, but
they were allowing for the element Of
error so apt to set at naught human
calculations. Calendar himself had al
ready been proved fallible. Within the
bounds Of possibility their turn to
stumble might now be imminent.
When he let himself dwell upon it
their utter helplessness to give Calen-
dar pause by commonplace methods
maddened Kirkwood. With another
scoundrel it had been so simple a mat
ter to put a period to his activities by
a word to the police. But he vas her
father. For that reason he must con-
tinually be spared. Even though, in
desperate extremity, she should give
consent to the arrest of the adventur-
ers. retaliation would follow swift and
sure, for they might not overlook or
gloze the fact that hers had been the
hands responsible for the theft of the
jewels. Innocent though she had been
in committing that larceny, a cats
paw guided by an intelligence un-
scrupulous and malign, the law would
not hold her guiltless were she once
brought within it's cogniZance, nor pos,
sibly would the Italians, mother and
son.
Before the door a motor a waited,
engines hunming impatiently, mocha
nician ready in his seat. an uncoutL
shape in goggles and leather garments
that shone like oilskins under the
street lights.
At one corner another and a smaller
car stood in waiting, it's lamps like
baleful eyes glaring through the night
In the shadows across the way g
lengthy shadow lurked-Stryker, be
yond reasonable question. Otherwise
the street was deserted. Not even thai
adventurous bobby Of the early even
ing was now in evidence.
Dorothy presently joining them
Brentwick led the way to the door.
Kirkwood to the right, Brentwick to
the left Of Dorothy, the former carry.
ing the treasure bag, they fastened
down the walk and through the gate
to the car.
The watcher across the way was
moved to whistle shrilly. The other
a lunged forward %nervously.
Brentwick, taking the front seat be
side the mechanician, left the tonneau
to Kirkwood and Dorothy. AS the
American slammed the door the cal
swept smoothly out into the middle Of
the way, while the pursuing cal
swerved in to the other curb, slowing
down to let Stryker jump aboard.
Kirkwood put himself in the seat by
the girls side and for a few moments
was occupied with the arrangement Of
the robes. Then, sitting back, he found
her eyes fixed upon him, pools of in.
scrutable night in the shadow Of hel
hat.
You aren't afraid, D%orothy?"
She answered quietly, II am witt
you, Philip"
fro BE Continued