The San Francisco call., 1909-03-07


inquired with lift of his cunning eyes;
and when Kirkwood had advised him,
slowly counted out four fifty franc
notes, placed them near the edge of the
table. and weighted them with five ten
franc pieces. And, That all?' he asked,
replacing the pocketbook.
That viii be about all. I leave you
presently TO your unholy devices. you
and that gay dog, over there" The
captain squirmed, reddening. "Just
by way Of precaution, however, Til
ask you to wait In here till I'm off"
hirkwood stepped backward to the
door of the captains room, opened
II and removed the key from the
inside Please take Mulready in
with YOU" he continued. by the time
you get out I'll be clear of Antwerp
Please don't think of refusing me,-I
.eally mean itP'
The latter clause came sharply as
calendar seemed to hesitate, his weary
wary eyes glimmering with doubt
hirkwood, watching him as a cat her
prey, intercepted a lightning swift
sidelong glance that shifted from his
taee to the port lockers, forward. But
the fat adventurer was evidently to a
considerable degree deluded by the
very childlike simplicity of Kirkwood's
attitude II the possibility that his
aItercation with Mulready had been
overheard crossed his mind, Calendar
had little choice other than to accept
the chance. Either way he moved. the
risk was great; if he refused to be
licked in the captains room. there
vas the danger of the police. to which
Kirkwood had convincin gly drawn at
tention; If he accepted the temporary
imprisonment, he took a risk with the
gladstone bag. On the other hand, he
had estimated Kirkwood's honesty as
-.
view; he had appraised him as a gen
tleman and a man of honor. And he
did not believe the young man knew,
after all. Perplexed. at length
he chose the smoother way, and with
an indulgent lifting OF eyebrows and
fat shoulders, rose and waddled over
60 Mulready.
"Oh. all right" he conceded with
deep teleration in. his tone for the idio-
to me. beau. He laughed a nervous
laugh. Come along and lend US
hand, Stryker"
The latter glanced timidly at Kirk
wood. his eyes pleading for leave to
move; which Kirkwood accorded with
an imperative nod and a fine flourish
of the revolver Promptly the cap
tain sprang to Calendars assistance;
and between the two OF them, the one
taking Mulready's head. the other his
feet, they lugged him quickly into
the stuffy little stateroom. Kirk
wood watching and following to the
threshold, inserted the key.
One word more" he counseled,
hand on the knob.
Don't forget that I have warned you
ghatn happen if you try to break even
with me-"
Never fear, little one" Calendars
,angb was nervously cheerful. THE
Lord knows you're welcome"
Thank you most to death re-
sponded Kirkwood politely. "Good-by
and good-by to you, Stryker. Glad
TO have humored your desire to meet
me soon again"
Kirkwood, turning the key in the
lock. Withdrew it and dropped 1t on
the cabin table; at the same time he
swept into his pocket the money he
had extorted of Calendar. Then he
paused for an instant listening; from
the captains room came sound or
murmurs and scuffling. He debated
what they were about in there-but
time pressed. Not improbapiy they
were crowding for space at the key
hole. he reflected. as he crossed to the
port locker forward.
He had its lid up in twinkiing, and
in another had lifted the well remem-
bered gladstone bag!
This seems to have been his first
compound larceny.
AS If stimulated by some such re-
flection he sprang for the companion
way. dropping the lid of the locker
with a bang which must have been
excruciatingly edifying to the men in
the captains room. Whatever their
emotions, the bang was Knocked by a
mighty kick, shaking the door; which,
Kirkwood reflected, opened outward
and was held only by the frailest kind
of a lock: it would not hold long
Spursed onward by storm of curses
Stryker's voice chanting tnfuriated
cacophony with Calendars, Kirkwood
leaped up the companionway even as the
second tremendous kick threatened to
shatter the panels. Heart in mouth, a
chill shiver of guilt running up and
down his spine, he gained the deck,
cast loose the painter, drew in his row.
boat and dropped over the side; then,
the gladstone bag nesting between his
feet, sat down and bent to the oars.
And doubts assailed him, pressing
close upon the ebb of his excitement
doubts and fears innumerable
There was no longer a distinction to
be drawn between himself and Calen-
dar; no more could he esteem himself
better and more honest man than that
accomplished swindler. He was not ad-
lish law. he understood, made no al
lowance for the good intent of those
caught in possession Of stolen property;
though he was acting with the most
honorable motives in the world the law,
IL he came within It's cognizance, would
undoubtedly place him on Calendars s
plane and judge him by the same
standard. To all intents and purposes
he was a thief, and thief he would re-
main until the gladstone bag with It's
contents should be restored to its right
full owner.
. Voluntarily then he had stepped
, from the ranks of the hunters to those
or the hunted. He now feared police
interference as abjectly as did CAL
} ehdar and his set Of rogues; and Kirk
wood felt wholly warranted in assum-
ing that the adventurer with his keen
intelligence, would not handicap him
: self by ignoring this point. Indeed,
IL he were to be judged by what Kirk
wood had inferred of his character,
I. Calender would let nothing whatever
: hinder him. neither fear of bodily hurt
nor danger of apprehension at the
hands of the police, from making a de-
termined and savage play to regain
: possession of his booty