The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-07-22
Ghe
BLACK
BAG
BY Louis Joseph Vance

BY Louis Joseph Vance
Copyright 1908. by the Bobbs.Aerili Co.

ly it's not"
what am | to think? I've told you
any number Of times that it's only an
hours ride on TO Cbiltern. where tn.
Pyrfords will be glad TO take me In
You may depend upon il. by tonight.
at the latest. you'll have me Off YOU
hands-the drag and worry that I've
been ever since
f"Don't. he pleaded vehemently.
Please! You know it isn't that. I
don't want you of my hands. ever
That is TO say. I-ah'- Here he wa
smitten with dumbness and sa
aghast at the enormity of his blunder.
entreating her forgiveness with eyes
that very likely pleaded his cause
more eloquently than he guessed
Il mean," he foundered on present
~. in the ia -uous belief that he would
this time be able to control both mine
and tongue-"what | mean is I'd be
glad to go on serving you in any way
might to the end Of time If you'd
give me-
He left the declaration inconclusive
Ia stroke Of diplomacy that would
have graced an infinitely more. adept
wooer. But he used il all unconscious
~. 20 Lordr he groaned In spirit.
Worse and more of it. Why in thun.
der can't say the right thing right"
Dear Mr.. Kirkwood." she said gen.
tly. bending forward as If TO read be-
tween the lines anxiety had craven on
his counterance. won't you tell me.
please. what 1t can be that so worries
you:"
In evaporation he interrupted al
most rudely. It's only this-I-rm
strapped"
Strapped She knitted her brows
over this fresh specimen OF American
slang.
Flat strapped : busted = broke-on
my uppers-down and out lie reeled
off synonyms without a smile. 4
haven't enough money TO pay cab fare
across the town
.Oh!" she interpolated. enlightened.
TO say nothing of taking US 10
Chiltern. couldn't buy you glass
Of water II you were thirsty. There
isn't soul on earth within hail who
would trust me with quarter-I mean
a shil,ins-acrcss London bridge. I'm
the original 'luekless wonder and the
only genuine Jonah extant."
With a face the hue Of fire he cock
ed his eyebrows askew and attempted
TO laugh unconccrnedly 70 hide his BIT.
ter shame. I've led you out OF the
frying pan in.a the FIRE. and don't
know what q do. Please call me
names"
..oh. poor -. Kirkwood. And It's
al because !. me. You've becgared
yourself
Not precisely. ! was beggared T.
begin with" lie FASTENED 10 disclaifl
the extravasant generosity OF which
she accused him. II had only three or
four pounds to my name that night We
met. ! haven't told you-l''-
You've told me nothing. nothing
whatever about yourself" she said re.
proachfuliy.
Il didn't want 70 bother you with
my troubles. tried not to talk about
myself You knew ! was an Amer.
lean. but I'm worse than that. I'm a
californian-from san francisco" lie
tried unsuccessfully to make light OF
II. Il told you ! was the 1uckless
wonder. II Id ever had any luck J
would have stored little money away
As II was. I lived on my income. lei.
my principal IN Frisco. and when the
earthquake came It wiped me out
completely
And you were going home that
night We made you miss your steamer
1T was my own fault. and I'm glad
this blessed minute that ] did miss II.
Nice sort I'd have been to 70 on and
leave you at the mercy
please, ! want % think. I'm trying
20 remember how much you've gone
through
Precisely what don't want you to
do. anyway. ala nothing more than
any other fellow would have done
Please don't give the credit that I
don't deserve. We must 70 10 Mrs
Italians house first. Its too late
now after . else we could depusit
the jewels ID some bank Since
since they are no longer yours the
only thing and Tie proper thing 70 dp
Il 70 place them IN safety or IN the
hands II their owner. II you take
them directly I'D young IIallam your
hands viii he clear. And-i never did
such thing ln my life. Miss Calendar.
lgt n les got spark u gratitude III
his makeup ought 10 lie able To-
er-to borrow & pound " 70 Of him"
DO you tlink sOT She shook her
head IN doubt. Il don't know. know
~ little " such things. lou are right.
We must take him the jewels. but
Her voice trailed Of into q sigh Of
profound perturbation.
lie dared not meet her look.
With q jar the train started and be.
gan 70 move fn5re swiftly.
KirkwOyd lifted the travelling bag 10
his knees.
Don't forget" be said. with some
difficulty. you're 10 stick ~ ne What.
ever happens. You mustn't desert
re"
You know" the giri reproyed him.