The San Francisco call., 1909-02-14

that had colored her cheeks lit
twin beacons in her eyes, which she res
olutely fought down until they faded to
mere CLEANS OF resentment and deter
mination. But she forgot to control her
lips; and they are the truest indices to
q woman's character and temperament;
and Kirkwood did not overlook the
circumstance that their specious sweet
ness had vanished, leaving them
straight. set and hard, quite the re-
verse Of attractive.
so" she said slowly. after a silent
time, you are not for Queensboroughl
The cOrollary Of that admission, Mr..
Kirkwood, is that you are for Sheer
ness"
SI believe" he replied weariIy, that
there are no other stations on this
line, after NewingtOn.'
1T follows, then, that-that / fol-
low." And in answer to his perturbed
glance. she added: "Oh, I'll grant that
intuition is sometimes a poor guide.
But if you meet George Calendar so
shall l. Nothing can prevent that. YOU
can't hinder me-"
Considerably amused, he chuckIed.
Let Us talk Of other things, Mrs. Hal
iam,' he suggested pleasantly. How
IS your SOM
At this jUncture the brakes began
10 shrek and grind upon the wheels
The train slowed; it stopped; and the
voice Of guard could be heard admon-
ishing passengers for Queensborough
Pier TO aight and take the branch
line. In the noise the wOman's response
was drowned, and Kirkwood was hardly
enough concerned for poor Freddie to
repeat his question.
When, after a little, the train pulled
out Of the junction. neither found
reason to resume the conversation.
During the brief balance of the jour
ney Mrs. Hallam presumably had food
for thought; she frOwned, pursed her
lips, and with one daintily gloved fore
finger followed a seam Of her tailored
skirt, while KirkwOOd sat watching
and wondering how to rid himeseIf of
her, If she proved really troublesome
as she threatened to be-
Also, he wondered continually what
it was all about. Why did Mrs. Hallam
suspect him Of designing TO meet CAL
endar at QueensbOrOugh? Had she any
tangible ground for believing that
Calendar could be found in Queens
borough? Presumably she had, since
she was aVOwedly in pursuit of that
gentleman. and, KirkwOod inferred, had
booked for Queensborough Was he,
then, running away from Calendar and
his daughter to chase a will-o'-the-
wisp Of his credulous fancy, off Sheer
ness shore2
Disturbing reflection. He scowled
over it, then considered the other side
Of the face. Presuming Mrs. Hallam to
have had reasonably dependable assur-
ance that Calendar would stop in
Queens borough, would she so readily
have abandoned her design to catch
him there. on the mere supposition that
KirkwOOd might be looking for him in
Sbeerness2 That did not seem likely
to one who esteemed Mrs. Hallam's
acumen as highly as Kirkwood did.
He frightened up. forgot that his was
a fools errand, and began again to
project strategic plans into a prob
Iematc future
A sudden jolt interrupted this pas
time, and the warning screech Of the
brakes informed that he had no time
to scheme, but had best continue on
the plan Of action that had brought
him thus far-that is trust TO his star
and accept what should befall without
repining.
He rose. opened the door, and holding
Ii so, turned.
Il regret, Mrs. HalIam," he announced,
smiling his crooked smile, shat a
pressing engagement is about to pro-
hibit my squirting you through the
ticket gates. You understand, I'm
sure"
His irrepressible humor proved in
fectious; and Mrs. Hallams spirit ran
as high as his own. She was smiling
cheerfully when she, too. rose.
II also am in some haste" she
averred demurely, gathering up her
hand bag and umbrella.
A raised platform shot in beside the
carriage, and the speed was so sensi-
bly, moderated that the train seemed
TO be creeping rather than running.
Kirkwood flung the door wide open
and lowered himself to the running
board The end Of the track was in
sight and-a man who has been trained
to board San Francisco cable cars fears
TO alight from no moving vehicle. He
swung of, got his balance, and ran
swiftly down the platform.
A cry from a bystander caused him
10 glance over his shoulder; Mrs. Hal
lam was then in the act of alighting
As he looked the furry Of skirts sub
sided and she fell into stride, pur-
suing.
Sleepy Sheerness must have been
scandaized. that day, and its gossips
have acquired ground for many an un-
charitable surmise
KirkwOOd, however, was so fortunate
as to gain the wicket before the en-
ploye there awoke to the situation
q Otherwise, such is the temper Of Brit
ish petty offcialdom, he might have de-
tained the fugitive. AS it was, Kirk
wood surrendered his ticket and ran
out into the street with his luck, still
q dominant factor in the race. For
looking back. he saw that Mrs. Hal
lam had been held up at the gate
another victim Of British red tape; her
ticket read for Queensborough, she was
attempting TO aIight one station farther
down the line, and while undoubtedly
she was anxious to pay the excess fare
heaven alone knew when she would
Eacceed IN allaying the suspicious and
resentment Of the ticket taker.
That's good for ten minutes startT
Kirizwood crowed- And 1t never oc-
CURED TO me-"
Before the station he found two hacks
in waiting. with little to choose be-
tween them; neither was OF a type
that did not seem to advertise its pre-
victorian fashioning. and to neither
was harnessed an animal that deserved
anything but the epithet Of screw
KirkWood took the nearest for no other
reason than because it was the near
est. and all but startled the driver on
his box by offering double fare for q
brisk pace and a simple service at the
end Of the ride. Succinctly he set forth