The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-06-17


Old Bob paatcd. .Ddpnt-sce-masrthi
vey OF the skies. winds freshenin'
from the east'rds. an that'll old 'er
back BIT. SIR
"Arsk tn wye to th' Dorkyard sty-
shun." young william volunteered.
.'Tis th' shortest walk. sir. 'opes
yer catches 'er. Thanky, sir"
He caught dexterously the sovereign
which -Kirkwood. in ungrudging llber.
aiity. spared them Of his store Of two.
The American nodded ackHowledg.
ments and adieus. with faded smile
deprecating his chances Of winning the
race. soreiy handicapped as he was.
He was very. very tired and In hif
heart suspected that he would fail
But n he did he would at least be
able to comfort himself that II was
not for lack OF trying. He set his
teeth on that covenant In grim deter.
mination. Either there was a strain
of the bulldog latent in the Kirkwood
breed or else his infatuation gripped
him more strongly than he guessed.
Yet he suspected something Of its
power. He knew that this was alto.
gether an insane proceeding and that
the lure that led him on was Dorothy
Calendar. A strange. dull light glowed
I'm his weary eyes on the thought Of
her. He'd go through fire and water
I'm her service. She was costing him
dear. perhaps was 10 cost him dearer
stiil. and perhaps thered be for his
guerdon no more than Thank you.
Mr.. Kirkwoodr' at the end Of the pas.
sage. But that would be no less thar
his deserts. He was not TO forget that
he was interfering unwarrnntably
The girl was I'm her fathers hands.
surely safe enough thereto the cas-.
uai mind. II her partnership in her
parents fortunes were dlstasteful she
endured II passiyely. without com.
plant.
lie decided that II was bis duty TO
remind himself from time 20 time
that his main interest must be IN the
game itself. In the solution Of the rid.
die. Whatever should bcfall. he must
look for no reward for his gratuitous
and self appointed part. Indeed. he
was all but successful In persuading
himself that Il was the fascination Of
adventure alone that drew him on.
A hapchance native whom he pres
entity encountered furnished minute
directions for reaching the Dockyard
station OF the Southeastern and Chat
ham railway. adding comfortable IN
formation TO the effect that the next
eastbound train would pass through
IN ten minutes-if Kirkwood would
mend his pace he could make Il easily
with time TO spare.
Kirkwood mended his pace accord
ingiy. but. contrary TO the prediction.
had no time 10 spare at all. Even as
he stormed the ticket grating the train
was laundering In at the platform
Therefore q nervous ticket agent
passed him out n first class ticket In.
stead Of the third class he had asked
for, and there was no time wherein 10
have the mistake rectiHed. Kirkwood
plankcd down the fare. swore and
sprinted for the carriages.
The first compartment whose door
he perked violeniy open proved 20 be
occupied and was. moreover. not a
smoking car. lie received fleeting
impression of woman's startled eyes
staring into his own through thin
mesh OF yelling, fell OF the running
board. slammed the door and hurled
himself toward the next compartment
Here happier fortune attended upon
bis desire. The boxllke section was
untenanted. and notice blown upon
the window glass announced that II
was Second Class Smoking" Kirk.
wood promptly tunbled in, and when