The weekly true Democrat., 1909-09-24

sYou are going to meet her, aren't
your
He gracefully concealed q yaWn-
The WOman's plan Of attack took an
other form. "LAst night. when you
told me your story. believed you"
He devoted himself 20 suppressiug
the temptingiy obvious retOrt and sue
ceeded; bat. though be left II unspokcn,
the humOr of Il twitched the corners Of
his mouth, and Mrs Hallam was OBJ
servant. 70 that her next attempt TO
draw him QUE was edged With temper.
II believed yOu an American, but q
gentleman. Il appears that u you
ever were the latter you've fallen 80
low that you willingly cast your lot.
with thieves"
Having exhausted his repertOry Of
rudeness, KirkwOod took to twiddling
his thumbs.
II want 70 ask you II you think Il
fair 20 me or my son to leave as In
Ignorance Of the place where you are
20 meet the thieves who stole Our-my
sons Jeweisi"
"Mrs. Hallam," he said soberly, If
/ am going to meet Ar. Calendar or
Mr.. Mulready, have no assurance Of
that fact"
There was only the briefest OF
pauses. during which she analyzed
this, then quickly, But you hope tor
she snapped.
HeTelt that the only adequate retOrt
70 mis- would be a shrug Of his shOui-
ders, doubted his ability TO carry one
or and again took refuge IN silence.
The woman abandoned a second plan
OF siege with a readiness that did cred
it 10 her knowledge Of mankind. She
thought out the next very carefully
before opening with a masked battery.
"Mr. KirkWood. can't we be frIendsT
Nothing could please me more. Mrs
HaIlamF
"Pm sorry Il I've annoyed you
"And !. too. have been rude"
"Last night. when you cut away 30
suddenly. you prevented my making
you a proposal. sort Of business prop
osltiOn"-
"YeBf"
''To come over 70 our side'-
u thought so That was why !
"Yes; I understood. But this morn
ing, when you've had time to think Il
over
II have no choice IN the matter, Mrs.
Hallam."
The green eyes darkened Ominously.
"You mean-l am 20 understand. then,
that you're against as. that you prefer
to side with swlndlers and scOundrels,
all because Of a.
She discovered him eying her with a
smile Of such inscrutable and sardonic
intelligence that the words died on her
lips, and she crims0nod reasonably TO
herself. for he saw Il, and the belief
be had conceived while attending 10
her tissue OF fabrication earlier that
morning was strengthened 10 the point
Of conviction that II anything had been
stolen by anybody Mrs. Hallam and
her son owned Il as little as Calendar.
As for the woman, she felt she had
steadily lost rather than gained ground.
$50" she said slowly after a silent
time, "you are not for Queensborough!
The corollary OF that admission, Mr..
Klrkwood, is that you are for Sheer
ness"
II believe" he replied wearily. "that
there are no other stations on this line
after Newington."
1T follows then. that-that ! fol
low" And IN answer 10 bis petsurbed
glance she added; "Oh. TIl grant that
Intuition IA sometimes poor guide.
But n you meet George Calendar 90
Bhdll ]. Nothing can prevent that
You can't hinder me-"
During the brief balance Of the Jour
ney Mrs. HaIam presumably bad food
for thought. She frowned. purued her
llps and with one dalntily gloved fore
anger followed q seam of her tailored
skirt, while Kifkwood sat watching
and wondering how 10 I'D himself OF
her u she proved really % trou0lesome
90 sha threatened % b.; also he won
dored continualiy what 4 was en-
about why dld MFh Hallam suspect
him Of designing % meet Calendar at
oueonaborought Had she any tangible
ground for beiieFing that Calendar
ecuid b found n oueensboroughi :
Presumably enc had. since she vas
av0wedly IN pursuit Cf that gentleman
and. KiFkwOod Inferred, bad booked