Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-08-11

term I'm IT'S most uncompromisingly
British Significance and by inclina
ton collector OF ARTICLES OF virtu
and bigotry." In pursuit OF which no
made frequent excursions 10 the cont
nout from his residence I'm n quaint
quiet street ot Old Brompton II had
been during his not infrcqucnt. but or
dlnarlly abbreviated. sojourns IN Paris
that their steamer acquaintance had
rpcncd into an affection almost flllal
on the one hand, almost paternal on
tho other.
There came n rapplnG az the door.
The knob was turned; the door open
cd. Klrkwood, swinging on one heel.
bchcld. hcSitant upon the threshold. n
rather rotund figure Of medium height,
clad I'm an eXpresslonleSs gray lounge
suit. with n brown bowler" hat held
tentatively In one hand, an umbrella
weeping I'm the other. A voice. which
was unctuous and insinuative emanat.
ed from the figure.
"Mr. Kirkwood"
KIrllwood 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. Kirkwood?"
"Arc you Mr. Calendar" Kirk
woods smile robbed the retort or any
flavor OF incivility.
Encouraged, the man entered pre-
missing that he would detnin his host but
n moment and readily surrcndcrlng hat
! and umbrella. lakewood, putting the
latter aside invited his caller TO the
easy chair which BrentwicI had occu-
! pied by the fireplace.
ut takes the edge off the dampncss,"
KirkWood explained I'm Difference TO
| the others look of pleased surprise at
! the cheerful bed of Goals. "I'm afraid
/ could never get accllmated TO life in
n cold, damp room-or damp. cold
room-such AS you Britishcrs prefer"
1T Is grateful" Mr.. Calendar agreed.
| spreading plump and we'll cared for
hands to the warmth. But you are
| mistaken / am as much an American
| as yourself"
! "fesT Kirkwood looked the man
over with more interest, less matter of
course courtesy.
| lie proved not unprepOssesslng, this
UNDERESTIMATE Mr.. Calendar. lie was
dressed with some care his complexion
was good. and the fullness OF his glrth
| emphasized as It was by n notable
lack Of inches. bespoke n nature genial.
easy going ana syba1ltic. His dark
eyes, heavy Iiddcd. were active. GU
! riously Mt times with n subducd Gilt
ter in n face large, round, pink, OF
| which the other most remarkable fea-
lures We're n mustache. close trimmed
and showing streaks OF gray; a chubby
| nose and duplicate chins. Mr.. Calen.
dar was, Furthermore, possessed of n
polished bald spot glrdled with ton
sure Of silvered hair-circumstanccs
which lent some Fictitious distinction
to n personality otherwise common
| place
IFS manner might be best described
as uneasy, with assurance. as though
he frequently found It necessary 10
make up for his unimpresslvc stature
by assuming an unnatural habit OF au-
| thority.
$50 you knew / was an American.
Mr.. Calendar" suggested Kirkwood
saw your name on the register. We
| both hail from the same neck OF the
woods, you know"
81 didn't know 1t, and'-
eyes; I'm from Frisco too"
And I'm sorry"
Mr. Calendar passed five fat fingers
| neryously over his mustache. glanced
/ alcrtly up at Kirkwood. as If monen-
| tariIy inclined TO question his tone
| then again stared glumly into the
| fire. for I<irkwood had maintained mn
attitude purposcfully colorless. Not to
I put too fine point upon II, he believed
/ that his caller was lying. The mans
! appearance, his maEucrisms. his voice
and enunclation. while they might
| have been American. seemed all nm
! Californian. To one born and bred I'm
/ that state, as Kirkwood had been her
sons are Enthusiastically hall marked
Now, no man Hes without motive
This one chose to reamrm. with show
Of deep feeling. Eyes. I'm from Frisco
too We're companions iu misfortune 3"
81 hope not altogether" said Kirk.
wood politely.
Mr. calendar drew his own hgor
enccs from the response and mustered
ny q show OF chcrrfulucss "Tbcn
you're not completely wiped out7o
"To tho contrary. I was hoping Won
were less unhappy"
"Oh then you arc|
Klrkwood lifted tho cabIc MESSAGE
from the manfcl or have iust hoard
from my partner at homo" he said
with q faint smile and quoted: .Ev
crythIue gone No insurance."
Mr. Calendar pursei HIS plump ups
whlatfI4 inoudibly Too bad too
bad" he murmurcd sympathcticallv
We're an hard hit. moro or less" 10
lopscd into detected apathy. from
which Kirkwood, growing AZ Icnctb
impatient, found It necessary 10 rouao
him
"You wished 10 see me about some.
thing else. I'm surc"
Mr. calendar started from his row
erie "Eh7 was dreaming. beg
pardon o. seems hard 20 rrnlizo Mr.
T'rswood that this awful cntaatropbo
hHs yvori8kcn our beloved METROPOLIS
V.Ta .rrffreg r.tr..r. 1901 49,.