Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-09

ton a collector Of ARTICLES of virtue
and bigotry,'' in pursuit Of which he
made frequent excursions to the con-
tinent from his residence in quaint
quiet street of old Brompton. 1t had
been during his not infreuuent, but
ordinarily abbreviated. sojourns in
Paris that their steam acquaintance
had ripencd into an affection almost
filial on the one hand, almost paternal
on the other.
There came a rapping at the door
Kirkwood removed the pipe from be.
tween his teeth long enough to say,
Come in!' pleasantly,
The knob was turned, the door open
ed. Kirkwood, swinging on one heel,
beheld hesitant upon the threshold 4
rather rotund figure of medium height
clad in an expressionless gray lounge
suit, with brown bowler" hat held
tentatively in one hand. an umbrella
weeping in the other. A voice, which
was unctuous and insinuative, eman-
ated from the figure.
"Mr. Kirkwood?"
Kirkwood 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.. Kirk.
wood?"
Are you, Mr.. Calendar" Kirk
woods smile robbed the retoft Of any
flavor of incivility
Encouraged, the man entered, pre-
missing that he would detain his host
but moment, and readily surrender
ing hat and umbrella. Kirkwood, put
ting the latter aside. invited his caller
to the easy chair which Brentwick had
occupied by the fireplace.
1T takes the edge off the dampness,'
Kirkwood explained in Difference to
the others look Of pleasant surprise at
the cheerful bed Of Goals. I'm afraid
| could never get acclimated to life in
cold, damp room-or a damp cold
room--such as you Britishers pre-
fer
'It is grateful Mr.. Calendar
agreed, spreading plump and well
cared for hands to the warmth But
you are mistaken; am as much an
American as yourself.
''Yes?' Kirkwood looked the man
of-course courtesy.
He proved not unprepossessing this
undesirable Mr.. Calendar; he was
dressed with some care, his complex
ion was good, and the fullness of his
girth, emphasized as it was by a not
able lack of inches, bespoke a nature
genial, easy-going and sybaritic. His
dark eyes, heavy-lidded, were active =
curiously at time, with a subdued gilt
term face large, round. pink, of
which the other most remarkable fea,
lures were mustache, close-trimmed
and showing streaks OF gray. a chubby
nose, and duplicate chins. Mr.. Calen-
dar was furthermore possessed of a
polished bald spot, girdled with ton
sure of silvered observation-disclosures
which lent some fictitious distinction
to personality otherwise common
place.
His manner might be best described
as uneasy with assurance; as though
he frequently found it necessary TO
make up for his unimpressive stature
by assuming an unnatural habit Of All.
thority. And there you have him; be,
You'd these points, Kirkwood was con.
scious of no impressions: the man was
apparently neutral-tinted of mind as
well as OF body.
$50 you knew | was an American,
MI Calendar" suggested Kirkwood.
Saw your name on the register:
we both hail from the same neck Of
the woods, you know
L didn't know it. and
Yes; I'm from Frisco, too
And I'm sorry.
Mr.. Calendar passed five fat finger:
nervousiy over his mustache. glanced
alertly up at Kirkwood, as If momen
tarily inclined to question his tone
then again stared glumly into the fire;
for kirkwood had maintained an att
tude purposefully colorless. Not tc
put too fine a point upon it. he be
Slieved that his caller was lying; the
man S appearance, his mannerisms. his
voice and enunciation, while they
might have been American. seemed all
un-CaliforDian. To one born and bred
in that state. as Kirkwood had been
hor sons are Enthusiastically hall
marked
Now no one lies without motive
I This one chose to reaffirm, with a show
of deep feeling: yes; I'm from
Frisco too We're companions Il,
misfortune
Il hope not altogether" said Kirk
wood politely.
! MI Calendar drew his own infer
ences from the response and mustered
lup a show Of cheerfulness "Thel
! you're not completely wiped out?''
ITO the contrary, | was hoping 20,
We're less unhappy
! "Oh, Then you are
kirkwood lifted the cable messagt
| from the mantel. Il have just heart
/ from my partner at home" he saic
With a faint smile: and quoted: "'Ey
/ erything gone; no insurance
! Mr.. Calendar purseG his plump lips
/ whistling inaudihly. Too bad. to-
/ bad!" he murmured sympathetically
Were all hard hit, more or less" HI
/ lapsed into detected apathy, fron
which Kirkwood, growing at lengt!
impatient, found it necessary TO rons
him.
/ You wished to see m@ about SOM