Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-08-17
CHAPTER VIII.

u nond or warning. Here they come ,
Steady! he said tensely.
Calendar turned TO the boat.
Sheer on he ordered. Drop out
OF sight. III whistle when | want
you"
AYE. aye, sir"
The boat slipped noiselessly away
with the cuwent and I'm an instant was
lost TO sight Calendar plucked at
Kirkwood's sleeve, drawing him into
the shadow Of the steps. "E-easy," he
whispered. And, 1 say. lend me
hand, will you, II Mulready turns
ugly?'
"Oh, yes" assentcd Kirkwood. with
nonchalance not entirely unassumed
The racket drew nearer and ceased.
The hush that fell thereafter seemed
only accentuated by the purllng OF the
river. 1t was ended by footsteps echo
ing In the covered passagew0y. Calen-
dar craned his thick neck round the
shoulder OF stone, accommodating the
landing and stairway.
Thank God" he said under his
breath. 81 was right, after an"'
4 mans deep tones broke out above
This way. Mind the steps They're
bit slippery, Miss Dorothy"
But my father2' came the girls
voice, attuned TO doubt
"Oh, he'll be along-if he isn't wait
ing now I'm the boat"
They descended, the man leading
At the foot, without a glance 10 right
or left, he advanced to the edge Of the
stage, leaning ont over the rail- rs ~
,N,
But. Mr. Mulready"-
The girls words were drowned by
prolonged blast on the boatswains
whistle at her companions lips The
shorter one followed I'm due course.
But what shall wo do II my father
isn't herewith
'No; best not to-best 10 get on the
Alethea az soon as possible. Miss Cal
endar. We can send the boat back"
"Once aboard the luggeF the girl is
mine eh. Mulready, to say nothing OF
the loot"
If Calendars words were jocular his
tone conveyed different impression
entirely. Both man and girl wheeled
right about TO face him. the one with
n strangled oath, the other with n low
cry.
The devil" exclaimed this Mr.. Null
ready ~ F
"Oh. my fntherw the girl voiced her
recognition Of him.
Not precisely one and the same per
son." commented Calendar suavely,
"but-er-thanks, Just as much. You
see. Mulread8, when I make an mp
pointment | keep it."
Wed begun TO get bit anxious
about YOU Mulready began defen-
sively.
$50 surmised from what Mrs. Hal
lam and Mr.. Kirkwood told me.
We1l?"
The man found no ready answer He
fell back a pace to the railing, his fes-
lures working with his deep chagrin.
The murky fare OF the gas lamp over
hcnd fell across n face handsome be
yond the ordinary. but married by n
sullcn humor and scanned with indul-
gence-a face that seemed hauntingly
familiar until Kirlswoed I'm fash OF
visual memory reconstructed the por-
trait Of n man who fingered over n
dining table with two empty chairs
for company. This. then. was hp
whom Mrs. ITALIAN had left at the
Plcss-a tall, strong man, very heavy
about the chest and shoulders
why, my denr friend" Calendar
was haunting him. you don't seem
Overioyed 10 see me for oil your wild
anxiety! pom my word. you act as N
you hadn't expected me-nnd our On.
Ragement so clearly understood at
AnN
mask OF irony was cast-"did You
think for moment ia let myself he
nabbed by that zap from Scotland
Yard? Were you banking on that2
give you my fnith I ambled out under
his very nose! Dorothy, my DEAR
turning impntienuy from Mulready,
where's that baRW
The girl withdrew a puzzled gaze
from Mulroady's face az was apparent.
20 KirkwOOd that this phase Of the ar
fair was no more enigmatie 20 him
than TO herr and drew aside a corner
Of her cloak. disclosing the gladstone
bag secuHly grasped in one gloved
hand
"1 have g. thanks to Mr. Kirkwcod,"
she said quietly
Klrkwood chose that moment 20 ad.
vpnce from the shadow Mulready
started and fixed him with troubled
End unfriendly stare. The girl greeted
him with note OF sincere pleasure IN
her surprise
why, Mr. Kirkwood But left you
at Mrs Uailam's"
Kirkwood bowed smiling openly st
hulrcndy's discontinue.
by your fpthcr's grace 7 came with
him, " he said You ran away without
saying good night you know, and I'm
n Jealous creditor"
Sle laughed excitcdly turning 60
Calendar But you were to meet me
~ Mrs Uollam'sf'