Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-11-09
Gbe
BLACK
BAG
By Louis Joseph Vance
CHAPTER VII.
By Louis Joseph Vance
Copyright. 1908. BY the Bebbs. Merrill Co.


~ YELL, Mr.-Kirkwood"
| N Mrs. Hallam," he STAN
w mered' .l".
She lifted her shoulders
impatiently and with a quick move
ment stepped back across the thresh
old. where she paused. rounded arm
barring the entrance. one hand grasp
Ing the doorknob, as II to shut him
out at any moment.
"I'm awaiting your explanation" she
said coldly.
He grinned with nervousness, striv.
ing to penetrate the mental processes
Of this handsome Mrs. Hallam. She
seemed to regard him with a suspicion
which he thought inexcusable. Did
she suppose he had spirited Dorothy
Calendar away and then called to ap.
prise her of the fact. or that he was
some sort of adventurer who had
manufactured plausible yarn to gain
| him access to her home, or-harkine
back to her original theory-that he
was an emissary from Scotland Yard
Probably she distrusted him on the
latter hypothesis. The reflection left
him more at ease
II am quite as mystified as you, Mrs
Hallam." he began. Miss Calendar
was here at this door in a four wheel.
er not ten minutes ago. and
Then where Is she now?
Tell me where Calendar Is" he re
torted. inspired. land I'll try to an
swer your
But her eyes were blank. "You
mean
THAT Calendar was in this house
when came: that he left. found his
daughter in the cab and drove of with
her. It's clear enough"
you are quite mistaken" she said
thoughtfully. George Calendar has
not been here this night"
He wondered that she did not seem
| to resent his imputation. II think
| not
Listen she cried. raising warn
ing hand. and. relaxing her vigilani
attitude. moved forward once more tO
peer down toward the embankment.
A cab had cut in from that direction
and was bearing down upon them with
brisk rumble Of hoofs. AS 1t ap
preached. Kirkwood's heart. that had
lightened. was weighed upon again by
disappointment. It was no four wheel
er, but hanson. and the open wings
| Of the apron. disclosing white trian
gle Of linen surmounted by glowing
spot Of fire. betrayed the sex Of the
fare too plainly to allow Of further
hope that 1t might be the girl return
Ing.
At the door the cab pulled up sharp
ly and man tumbled hastily out upon
the sidewalk.
"HereT he cried throatily. tossing
the cabby his fare. and turned toward
the pair upon the doorstep. evidently
surmising that something was amiss
for he was Calendar in proper person
| and q sight to upset in a twinklins
Kirkwood's ingeniously builded castle
Of suspicion.
Mrs Hailamv be cried. out OF
breath. "Is my daughter here" And
then. catching sight Of kirkwood's
countenance: why. hello. Kirkwoodr
He saluted him with dubious air
| The woman interrupted hastily
please come in, Mr. Calendar This
gentleman has been inquiring for you
with an astonishing tale about your
daughter"
Dorothy" Calendars moonlike Wis
age was momentarily divested Of any
trace Of color. What Of herY'
"You had better come in." advised
Mrs. Hallam brusquely.
The fat adventurer hoped hurriedly
across the threshold, Kirkwood follow
Ing The woman shut the door and
turned with back to 1t, nodding sig
nifcantly at Kirkwood as her eyes met
Calendars.
"well. wellT snapped the latter I'M
patiently, turning to the young man.
But Kirk wood was thinking quick
ly. For the present he 6ontented him
self with a deliberate statement Of
fact, Miss Calendar has disappear
ed" 1t gave him an instant's time
There's something fshy" he told
himself. "These two are playing al
cross purposes. Calendars no fool
He's evidently a crook to boot. As fol
the woman, she's had her eyes open
for number Of years. The main
things Dorothy. She didn't vanish OF
her own Initiative. And Mrs. Hallann
knows or suspects more than she's
going to tell. kdon't think she wants
Dorothy found. Calendar does. Sc
do l. Ergo, I'm for calendar"
'Disappeared?" Calendar was bark
ing at him. "How? When? Where?
"Within ten minutes" said Kirk
wood. "Here: let's get It straight y
And he told what had happened, men.
tioning that he had not paid the cal
| driver.
Thanks" said Calendar dryly. He
bent his head In thought for an In.
stant. then looked up and fixed Mrs
Hallam with an unprejudiced eye
II say! he demanded e1plosively
There wasn't any one here that
knew-eh?"
Her fine eyes wavered and fell be.
fore his. and Kirkwood remarked that
her underlip was curiously drawn In.
81 heard a man leave as Mrs. Hallam
Joined me-" he volunteered helpfully
and with a suspicion Of malice. "And
after that paid no attention at ths
time-it seems to me l did hear cab
in the street.
"Ow" interjected Calendar, eyinG
the woman steadfastly and employing
nm exclamation Of combined illumina'
tion and Inquiry more typically British
than anything Kirkwood had YET
heard from the man.
For her part, the look she gave KIRK
wood was sharp with fury. 1t waf
more; 1t was a mistake. flaw In hei
diplomacy, for Calendar intercepted It
Unceremoniously he grasped her bart
arm with his fat hand.
"Tell me who 1t wasp' he demanded
In an ugly tone.
She freed herself with twist and
stepped back, a higher color In bel
cheeks, a fash Of anger in her eyes.
"Mr. Mulready." she retorted defiant
| ly. what of thatY
al wish / was sure" declared the IA
adyenturer. exasperated. "As It is,