Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1909-01-21
.Right,o!. agreed the Waterman


gipnin' to get worried
He got no immediate reply. but felt
Calendars sharp eyes upon him wi,ils
he manouvered With matches for d
light
That's So it came at length "You
don't know. kind OF forgot for miu
ute; somehow you seemed on the in.
side"
Kirkwood laughed lightly. I've ey
perienced something of tho same sen
sation in the past few hours
Don't doubt It," Calendar was
watching him narrowly. 81 suppose.
he put it to him abruptly, you haven't
changed your mipd?"
Changed my mipd?"
About coming in with me?"
My dear sir, | have no mind to
change until a plain proposition is
laid before me-
Hmm Calendar puffed vigorously
until It occurred to him to change the
subject you won't mind telling ME
what happened to you and Dorothy"
Certainly not
Calendar drew nearer, and Kirk
wood, lowering his voice. narrated
briefly the events since he had left
the Pless in Dorothy's company.
Her father followed him intently, in
terruptlng now and again with excla-
nation or pertinent question; as, Had
Kirkwood been able to see the face
of the man in No. 9. Frognail Street7
The negative answer seemed to dis
concert him.
"Younggter, you say? Blam' if can
lay my mind to him! Now If that Mul
ready
"Jt would have been impossible for
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. he is-to re-
cover and get to Craven Street be.
fore we did, Kirkwood pointed out.
"Well---go on But when the tale
was told, Its that scoundrel Null
ready" the man affirmed with heat.
Its his hand--L know him ] might
have had sense enough to see he'd
take the first chance to hand me the
double cross Well, this does for him.
all right" Calendar lowered viciously
at the river. you've been blam' use
full" he told Kirkwood assertively.
IF it hadn't been for you, l don't
know where I'd be now-nor Dorothy
either - an obvious after thought.
There's no particular way can show
my appreciation, | suppose? Money
="
I've got enough to last ME until
reach New York. thank you
"WelI. if the time ever comes, just
shout for George B. I won't be want
ing I only wish you were with
us; but that's out of the question"
"Doubt!ess y
turn T
thing you've got a conscience conceal
ed about your person. What? You're
an honest man, eh?'
"I don't want to sound immodest, ;
returned Kirkwood, amused.
"You don't need to worry about that
IL But an honest mans got no
business in my line He glanced
again at his watch. Damn that Null
ready I wonder if he was cute
enough to take another way? Or did
he think The fool
He cut off abruptly. seeming de-
pressed by the thought that he might
have been outwitted. and clasping
hands behhind his back. chewed say
agely on his cigar, watching the river.
Kirkwood found himself somewhat
wearied: the uselessness of his pres
ence there struck him with added
force. He bethought himself of his
boat-train, scheduled to leave a station
miles distant, in an hour and half
If he missed it, he would be stranded
in foreign land. penniless and praC-
tically without friends--Brentwicl1 be
ing away and all the rest of his circle
of acuuaintances on the other side OF
the channel. Yet he fingered, in pool
company. daring fate that he might
see the end of the affair. Why?
There was only one honest answer
to that question. He stayed on be
cause of his interest in a girl whom
he had known for matter of three
hours. at most 1t was insensate folll
on his part, ridiculous from any poin
of view But he made no move to go
The slow minutes heightened mo
notonously.
There came a sound from the stree
level. Calendar held up hand o
warning. Here they come! Steady!
he said tensely Kirkwood listenin'
intently. interpreted the noise as
clash of hoofs upon the cobbles.
Calendar turned to the boat.
"Sheer off" he ordered. Drop on
of sight. I'll whistle when | want you.
AYE. aye, sir"
The boat slipped noiselessly ava
with the current and in an instant wa
, lost to sight. Calendar plucked a
; Kirkwood's sleeve, drawing him int
the shadow OF the steps. "E-easy." h
!, whispered; "and I say. lend me
hand. will you. if Mulready turn
ugly?"
. ooh, yes" assented Kirkwood, wit
nonchalence not entirely unassun
ed.
/ The racket drew nearer and ceased
the hush that fell thereafter SCENE
only accentuated by the purling of tn
y river It was ended by footsteE
V echoing in the covered passagewa,
Calendar craned his thick nee
! around the shoulder Of stone. reco1
: noitering the landing and stairway
y Thank God" he said under h
= breath. 81 was right after all
= A mans deep tones broke o'
:, = above. "This way Mind the steps
:. they're q bit slippery, Miss Dorothy
But my father came the girl
l. voice, attuned to doubt.