Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-07-27

l can't consent to your marrying noth- ing year. for l surmise you intend to marry this air kirkwood. don't you?"
 There followed a little interval of silence, while the warm blood famed in the girls face and the red lips trembled as she faced her tormentor Then. with quaver that escaped her control, If MT. Wildwood asks me shall,' she stated very simply.
 That" interposed Kirkwood. lis completely understood" His gaze sought her eyes. but she looked away.
 You forget ,Aat l am your father, sneered Calendar, and that you are q minor. l can refuse my consent"
 But you won't" IIirkwood told him. with assurance.
 | The adventurer stared. No" he agreed after slight hesitation; mo. 1 shant interfere Take her, my boy. if you want her. and fathers blessing into the bargain. The Lord knows I've troubles enough. A parents lot is not what it's cracked up to be-" Ee paused. leering, ironIc. But" delib- eratey, there's still this other mat ter of the gladstone bag. I don't mind | abandoning my parental authority when my child's happiness is concern ed. but as for my property
 Tt is not your property" interrupted the girl
 Tt was your mothers. dear child. It's now mine"
 "I dispute that assertion" Kirkwood put in.
 You may dispute it till the cows come home, my boy. The fact will re- main that intend to take my property | with me when l leave this room, whether you like it or not. Now. are you disposed to continue the argument, or may count on your being sensi- ble?'
 You may put away your revolver. if that's what you mean," said Kirkwood. We certainly shan't oppose you with violence. but l warn you that Scotland | Yard
 oh, that be blowed. the adyentur- CT snorted in disgust. "I can sail cir cles round any tee that ever blew out of Scotland Yard!. Give me an hours start and you're free to do all the funny business you've mind to with | Scotland Yardr'
 Then you admit" queried Brent wick ciyiIly. that you've no !, gal title to the jewels in dispute?''
 Took here.N my friend" chuckled | Calendar; ''when you catch me admit | ting anything you write it down in your little book and tell the bobby on the corner. Just at present I've got other business than to stand round admitting anything about anything. | Cap'n. let's have that bag of my duti- | ful daughters
 Ere you are" Stryker spoke for the first time since entering the room. taking the vaIisc from beneath the chair and depositing 1t on the table. Well, we shan't take anything that | doesn't belong to us.' laughed Calen- dar. fumbling with the catch. mot even so small matter as my own | child's travelling bag. A small-heavy | SiaNic'Oit pdS' hO OltniHS the valise and plunglng in one greedy hand. wll-just-about-, do for mine." With which he produced the article
 mentioned. This for the discard, | cap'n.' he laughed contentedly, push ing the girls valise aside, and, rum bling with stentorian mirth. stood beaming benignantly over the assem- bled company.
 Why" he exclaimed. this moment is worth all it cost me. My children. l forgive you freely. Mir. Kirkwood. l felicitate you cordially on having secured q most expensive wife. Really, d'you know. l feel as If ought to do little something for you both The thick. mottied fingers tore nery- | ously at the catch Eventually he got the bag open. Those about the table bent forward. all quickened by the | prospect of for. the first time behold | ing the treasure over which they had fought. for which they had suffered l so long. | A heady and luscious fragrance per yaded the atmosphere. exhaling from the open mouth of the bag. A silence, 1 indefinitely sustained. impressed itself | upon the little audiences breathless pause ended eventually by sharp snap of Calendars teeth. "Mm-mw grunted the adyenturer in bewilder- | ment. He began to pant.
 Abruptly his heavy hands delved into the contents of the bag. like the paws of d terrier digging in earth To Kirkwood the air seemed temporarily thick with flying objects. Beneath his astonished eyes d towel fell upon the table-a crumpled. soiled towel bear ing on its dizzy hem the inscription in indelible ink Hotel du Commerce, Anvers." tooth mug If substantial earthenware dropped to the floor with crash. A slimy soap dish of the same manufacture slid across the table and into Brentwick's lap. A battered alarm clock with never n tick left in irs abused carcass rang vacuously as it fell by the open bag. The remain der was-oranges. dozen or more small round. golden globes of ripe fruit. perhaps a shade overripe, there.