Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-11-30
NUMBER 48.

thing that burned. liquid hot acrid
and stinging. He gulped, swallowed,
slabbered. chokcd, coughed, attempted
to sit up. was aware that he was the
focal center Of ring Of glaring, burn.
Ing eyes. like eyes Of ravening beasts,
and tainted.
His next conscious impression was
Of standing up. supported by friendly
arms on either side. while somebody
was asking him If he could walk a
step or two.
lie vas partly seated, partly held up,
Oh The edge of the cabin skylight, an
object Of interest to some half dozen
men, seafaring fellows all. by their
hcnit. clustered round between him
a.d tie windward rail- OF their mum.
Der one stood directly before him.
Gwarling l!is companions as much by
his air Of command as by his uncom.
mon height-tall. thin faced and sal
low. with hollow. wpatherworn cheeks,
mouth like crooked cash from ear
to ear and eyes like dying Goals, with
which he looked the rescued up and
down In one grim, semi-humorous,
semi-speculative glance. In hands both
huge and red he fondled tenderly
squat brandy flask whose contents had
apparently been employed as first
aid to the drowning.
AS Kirkwood's gaze encountered his
the man smiled sourly, jerking his
head to one side with singularly de-
rlslve air.
"Hi, mateyw he clustered. "Ow
goes 1t now? Feeln' 'appier eigh?"
Some, thank you - more like
drowned rat" Klrkwood eyed him
sheepishly. Il suppose you're the man
who threw me that line? I'll have to
walt till my head clears up before I
can thank you properly"
Don't mention It." He Of the Ian
tern jaws slowed the bottle away with
jealous care In one Of his immense
coat pockets and seized kirkwoOd's
hard in Il grasp that made the young
man vince. You're syfe enough now.
My nyme's Stryker, Capt'n Wilyum
Stryker. Wots the row. Lookin for
friend?" he demanded suddenly as
Kirkwood's attention wandered.
"Yes; your passengers. | presume
they're below
"Passengers"'
A hush fell upon the group. during
which Kirkwood sought Stryker's eye
In pitiful pleading. and Stryker looked
round him blankly.
where's Miss CalendarY the young
man demanded sharply. II must see
her at oncew
The keen and deep set eyes Of the
skipper clouded as they returned to
Kirkwood's perturbed countenance.
"Wot're you talkin' abouti" he de.
manded brusquely.
II must see Miss Calendar or Calen-
dar himself or Mulready." Kirkwood
paused and, getting no reply. grew
restlve under Strykers inscrutable re.
gard. That's why came aboard" he
amended. blind to the absurdity Of the
statement, ito see-er-Calendar.'
"Well, I'm ID"
Stryker managed to infuse into his
tone a deal of suspicious contempt.
"Whyf" insisted Kirkwood, nettled,
but still uncomprehending
"Dyou mean to tell me you come of
from wherever you did come from
intendin' to board this vessel and find
party nymed Calendar?"
Certainly / did. Why
"Wellw cried Mr.. Stryker. rubbing
his hands together with sAl air Oppress-
lively obsequious I'm sorry to him
form you you've come to the wrong
shop. sir. We don't stock no Calen-
dars We're In the 'ardware line, we
are You might try next door, or
dessay you'll find what you want at
the stytioner's round the corner
\ Giggle from his audience stimulat.
ed him. If" he continued acidly. 'I'd
guessed you was such fool. blimmy
II I wouldn't We let you drownd"
Staggered. Kirwood bore his sarcas-
'ic turbulence without resentment
Calendar" he stammered. trying to
explain. Calendar said
81 carn't 'rlp wot Calendar said.
Mebbc e did mykc an engagement
with you an you've gone an went an
forgot the dyte. Mehbe It's larst
years calendar you're thinkin Of.
You, Johnny" TO n lout of boy In
the group Of seamen-"you run an
fetch this gentleman Whitaker'S for
nineteen-six Look sharp, now.
"But"-with IN effort kirkwood
mustered up Il show Of disnity-"am
| to understand" lie said as calmly as
he could, that you deny knowing
George 3. Calendar and his daughter
Dorothy and
"T don't ave to. Listen TO me. young
man." For the time the fellow dis
carded his clumsy facetiousness. I'm
Wilyum Stryker. Capt'n Stryker. mars
ter an 'arf owner Of this vessel an
wot says ere Is law. We don't carry
no passengers. Dye understand meF
agcressively There amt no pusSon
nymed Calendar aboard the Allytheer,
an never was, an never Will be-
what name did you say" Kirk
wood inquired.
This ship? The Allytheer, regis
tered from Liverpool. bound from Lon
don to Hantwerp, In cargo. Anythink
else?"
Kirkwood shook his head, turning to
scan the seascape with a gloomy gaze.
AS he did so and remarked how close
upon the Sheppey headland the brig
antine had drawn the order was given
to go about. For the moment he was
left alone, wretchedly wet. shlvering,
wan and shrunken visibly with the
knowledge that he had dared greatly
for nothing. But for the necessity OF
keeping up before Stryker and his
crew the young man felt that he could
gladly have broken down and wept for
sheer vexation and disappointment.
Some little while later Stryker again
approached him. perhaps swayed by
an unaccustomed impulse Of compass
sion. which. however, he artfully con-
cealed. Blandly ironic. returning to
his impersonalion Of the shopkeeper,
"Nothink else we can show you. sir"
he inquired.
Il presume you couldn't put me
ashore" Klrkwo replied ingenuously.
In supreme disgust the captain show.
oh him hfs hack "'Ere you" he call