Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-09-17
By Louis Joseph Vance

BILE. You've cost me pretty penny.
first and last, with your nasty little
conspiracy. whatever it's all about.
Now. needing the money. purpose
getting some of it back shan't pre-
cisely rob you. but this is holdup. all
right. Stryker." reproachfully. II don't
see my pearl pin"
II got it 'ere,' responded the sailor
hastily. fumbling with his tie
Give 1t me. then" Kirkwood held
out his hand and received the trinket.
Then. moving over to the table, the
young man. while abatins nothing of
his watchfulness. sorted out his be-
longings from the mass of odds and
ends Stryker had disgorged. The tale
of them was complete. The captain
had obeyed him faithfully. Kirkwood
looked up. pleased.
Now, see here, Calendar. this col
lection of truck that l was robbed of
by this resurrected Joe Miller here
cost me upward of $3.50. I'm going to
sell it to you at bargain-say $50,
$50 francs"
"The deuce you are!' Calendars
eyes opened wide. partly in admiration.
"D'you realize that this is next door
to highway robbery, my young friend"
High seas piracy. If you prefer" as
sented Kirkwood with entire equanim-
ity. Pm going to have the money,
and you're going to give it up. The
transaction by any name would smell
no sweeter, Calendar. Come : fork
overv'
"And if l refuse?'
II wouldn't refuse If were YOU"
"Why not?"
"The consequences would be too
painful"
you mean you'd puncture me with
that gum"
Not unless you attack or attempt to
follow me. mean to say that the
Belgian police are VIGOROUSLY a most
efficient body and that I'll make it my
duty and pleasure to introduce 'em to
you If you refuse. But you won't"
Kirkwood added soothingly, will you,
Calendar?"
NO" The adventurer had become
suddenly thoughtful mo. l won't
Clad to obllge YOU"
He tilted his chair still farther back,
Strengthening out his elephantine legs,
inserted one fat hand into his trousers
/ pocket and with some difficulty ex-
tracted combined bill fold and coin
purse, at once heavy with gold and
bulky with notes. Moistening thumb
and foretinger, How'll you have it?'
he inquired. with lift of his cunning
eyes, and, when Kirkwood had advised
him, slowly counted out four tifty-franc
notes, placed them near the edge Of
the table and weighted them with FIVE
I ten-franc pieces. And THAT all?" he
asked, replacing the pocketbook.
] THAT will be about all. | leave you
presently to your unholy devices, you
and that gay dog over there" The
! captain squirmed. reddening. Just by
way of precaution. however. Ill ask
you to wait in here till I'm off" Kirk
wood stepped backward to the door
Of the captains room. opened it and
removed the key from the inside.
please take Muready In with you,"
he continued. by the time you get
Il
don't think of refusing me- really
mean it."
The latter clause came sharply as
Calendar seemed to hesitate, his
weary. wary eyes glimmering with
doubt. Kirkwood, watching him as
a cat her prey. intercepted lightning
swift sidelong glance that shifted from
IS 70 ND
But the fat adventurer was evidently
to considerable degree deluded by
the very childlike simplicity of Kirk
woods attitude. If the possibility that
his alteration with Mulready had
been overheard crossed his mind. Cal
cndar had little choice other than to
accept the chance. Either way he
moved the risk was great. If he re-
fused to be locked in the captains
room, there was the danger of the
police to which lirk,vood had con-
vincingly drawn attention. If lie ac-
ceptcd the temporary imprisonment
he took risk with the gladstone bag.
On the other hand. he had estimated
Kirkwood's honesty rs thoroughgoing
from their first Interview. He had APP
praised him us n gentleman and a
nan Of honor. And he did not be-
ievc the young man knew, after all.
oerpleXed, at length he chose the
moother way and, with an indulgent
fitting Of eyebrows and fat shoulders,
ose and waddled over to Mulready.
"Oh, all right" he conceded. with
in
diosyncrasies of youth; "it's all the
same to me, beau" He laughed
Rrvous laugh. Come along and lend
Is Il hand, Stryker."
The latter glanced timidly ut Kirk
vood, his eyes pleading for leave to
move, which Kirkwood accorded with
N imperative nod and fine flourish
# the revolver Promptly the captain
prang to Calendars assistance. and.
between the two of them. the one tax
ng Mulready's head, the other his
eet. they lugged him quickly into the
fluffy little stateroom. Kirkwood,
Watching and following to the thresh-
I'D, inserted the key.
zone word more" he counseled,
land OH the knob. Don't forget I've
warned you what'll happen if you try
break even with me-"
Never fear, little one" Calendars
augh was nervously cheerful "The
Lord knows you're welcome"
THANK you most to DEATH" re-
iponded Kirkwood politely. "Goodby
md goodby to you. Stryker. Glad to