Oxford Democrat., 1909-10-26


He reminded himself that II was al
none Of his affair, decided to pass or
and go his way In peace and, i'm
pulsively swinging about, marched
straight away for the Enclosed door.
"Old ard. guyner!'
Kirkwood halted on the cry, falter.
ing in indecision. Should he take the
plunge or withdraw? Spontaneously
he was conscious that mans figure
had detached itself from the shadows
beneath the nearest portico and was
drawing nearer. with every indication
Of haste to intercept him.
Ere now, guvner, yer mykin' a
mistyke You don't live ERE"
How do you know| demanded
Kirkwood crisply, tightening his grip
on his stick.
Was this the second shadow he had
seemed to see-the confederate Of him
who had entered No. 8, sentry to
forestal interruption? II so, the fel
low lacked discretion, though his de
termination that the American should
not interfere was undeniable. It was
with an ugly and truculent manner, II
more warily that the man closed in
81 knows You clear hout orr
He flung out hand with the plausi.
BILE design Of grasping Kirkwood by
the collar. The latter lifted his stick.
1eaecting the arm, and incontinently
landed his other fist forcibly on the
fellows chest. The man reeleG back,
cursing. Before he could recover Kirk
wood calmly crossed the threshold,
closed the door and put his shoulder
to 1t. In another instant, fumbling In
the darkness, he found the bolts and
drove them home.
And 1t was done, the transformation
accomplished. His inability to refrain
from interfering had encompassed his
downfall, had changed peaceable and
law abiding alien within British shores
into a busybody, trespasser, mis-
demeanant. Ayes, for all he knew to
the contrary, In the estimation Of the
law. burglar, prime candidate for a
convicts stripes.
1.-The devilw he whispered. What
an ass, what an utter ass, ami"
Behind him the knob was ratified
urgently to an accompaniment Of feet
shutting on the stone, and immediate
ly. If he were to make logical deduc-
tion from the rasping and scraping
sound within the door casing, the bell
pull was violently agitated, without,
however, educing any response from
the bell itself, wherever that might
be situate. after which, as II In de-
spair, the outsider again ratified and
jerked the knob.
Be his status what 1t might, whether
servant of the household, Its caretaker
or a night watchman, the man was
palpably determined both to get him
self In and Kirkwood out and yet,
curious to consider, determined to gain
his end without attracting undue at
tention. Kirkwood had expected to
hear the Knockers thunder as soon as
the bell failed to give tongue, but It
did not sound, although there was n
knocker. Kirkwood himself had re.
marked that antiquated and rusty bit
Of ironmongery affixed to the middle
panel of the door. And 1t made him
feel sure that something surreptitious
and lawless was In process within
those walls: that the confederate with.
out, having failed to prevent stran-
ger from entering, left unemployed
means so certain sure to rouse the oc-
But his inferential analysis Of this
phase Of the proceedings was summa
lily abrupted by that identical alarm
In a trice the house was filed with
flying echoes, wakened to sOnorous
.lot by the crash and clamor Of the |
,nocker. and Kirkwood stood fully
:wo yards away. his heart hammering
wildly, his nerves a-jingle, much as II
he resounding blows had landed upon
lis own person rather than on stout
'aken planking.
Ere he had time to wonder the rack
It ceased, and from the street filtered
yoices In alteration. Listening, Kirk
woods pulses quickened, and he laugh
ID uncertainty for pure relief, retreat
ne to the door and putting an ear to a
rack
The accents Of one speaker were
lew In his hearing, stern. crisp. quick
with the spirit Of authority which ami
mates that most austere and dignifed
limb Of the law to he encountered the
world over n London bobby.
Now. then. my man, what do you
want there? Come, now; speak UP |
md step out into the light where can
zee you"
The response came in the sniffiing |
'narl Of the London ne'er-do-well. the |
rogue whose chief oc-
,upatlon seems to be to march I'm the |
uHhS VI lue uuciuploycu ou llS wa
lion Of its annual demonstrations.
"Ie' me alone. carntcher? Ah'm do
n no arm. officer"
Didn't you hear me? Step out here
Ah, that's better No harm. ell? Per
APPS you'll explain how there's nc
inrm breakin' into unoccupicd 'ouscs:
"Gorblimy, 'ow was to know:
Ere's toff 'ands me sixpence fer
iopenIn' is cab doUr todye, an, sezee.
Ny man e seq. 'ye'vc got 'onest |
yce Wy doEcher work? sezee.
'Ow c:n - srZ I. Ere IN hout Of |
/ job these six months. looliin' fer |
work every dye an carn't find It.
,ezee. Come an see me this hevenin
It me 'otke. noine, Frognall stryte,' e
;ez. am
"That'll do for now. You borrow
,encil and paper and write 1t down,
md I'll read 1t when I've got more
line. never heard the like Of II.
This 'ouse hasn't been lived in these
wo years. Move on. and don't let me
ind you round ere again. March, l sayp
There was more Of it-more whining |
artfully tinctured with
lbuse, more terse commands to de-
,art. the whole concluding with scrap.
ng footsteps. dimlnuendo, and al