Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-07-10

For the present he could compliment himself with the Knowledge that he had outwitted the rogues, had lifted the jewels and probably two-thirds of their armament. He had also the start. the knowledge of their criminal guilt and intent and his own plans to coInfort him. As for the latter, he did not believe that Calendar would Immediately fathom them. so he took heart of grace and tugged at the oars with q will. pulling directly for the city and permitting the current to drift him downstream at its pleasure. There could be no more inexcusable folly than to return to the Quay Steen landing and possibly the arms of the despoiled boat owner.
 At first he could hear crash after splintering crash sounding duly muf fled from the cabin of the Alethea, q verltable devils tattoo beaten out by the feet of the prisoners. Evidently the fastening was serving him better than he had dared hope. But as the black rushing waters widened between boat and brigantine the clamor aboard ihe latter subsided. indicating that Calendar and Stryker had broken out CT been released by the crew. In ig- norance as to whether he were seen CT being pursued. Kirkwood pulled on. winning In under the shadow of the quays and permitting the boat to drift down to a lonely landing on the edge cf the backyard quarter of Antwerp. Here alighting, he made the boat fist and, soothing his conscience with surmise that Its owner would find it there in the morning. strode swiftly over to the tram line that runs along the embankment, swung aboard an ad- ventitlous car and broke his first ten franc piece in order to pay his fare
 The car made leisurely progress up past the old Steen castle and the quay landing, Kirkwood sitting quiet ly. the gladstone bag under bis hand. q searching gaze sweeping the water side. No sign of the adventurers ..e warded him, but It was now all chance. all hazard. He had no more heart for confidence
 They passed the Hotel du Commerce Kirkwood stared up at its windows wondering.
 X little further on a disengaged fiacre. its driver alert for possible fares. turned q corper into the espla. made. At sight of it Kirkwood in. spired. bopped nimbiy of the tram car and signaled the cabby. The lat ter pulled up. and Kirkwood started to charge him with instructions. some thing which he did haltingly, hamper. ed by a slight haziness of purpose. While thus ged and at rest in the stark glare of the street lamps, with no chance of concealing himself. he was aware of rising tumult In the direction of the landing and. glancing round, discovered q number of people running toward him. With no time to wonder whether or no he was really the object of the hue and cry. he tossed the driver three silver francs.
 "Gare Centrale," he cried, "and drive like the devilr'
 Diving into the fiacre, he shut the door and stuck his head out of the window. taking observations. A rag ged fringe of silly rabble was bearing down upon them. with one or two gen darmes in the forefront and a giant, who might CT might not be Strykcr. close second. Furthermore. another cab seemed to have been requisitioned for the chase. His heart misgave him momentarily. but his driver had taken him at his word and generosity, and in breath the facre had turned the cor. ner on two wheels. and the glitternr reaches of the enlbankment. drive and promenade were plotted out. as if smudged with lampblack, by the ob. scurity of narrow and tortuous side street.
 He drew in his head the better to preserve his brains against further emergencies.
 After block CT two KirlIwood pick. ed up the gladstone bag, gently opened the door and put foot on the step. pausing to look back The other cab was pelting after him with all the en- thusiasm of a hound on fresh trail. He reflected that this mad progress through the thoroughfares of a civi- lized city would not long endure with. out police intervention. So he waited. watching his opportunity. The fiacre hurtled onward, the driver leaning for ward from his box to urge the horse with lash of whip and tongue. entirely unconscious of his fares intentions.
 Between two streets the mouth of a narrow and darksome byway flashed into view. Kirkwood threw wide the door and leaped. trusting to the night to hide his stratagem, to luck to save his limbs. Neither failed him. In a twinkling he was on all fours in the mouth of the alley, and as he picked himself up the second fiacre passed, Calendar himself poking a round bald poll out of the window to incite his drivers cupidity with promises of re- doubled fare.
 Kirkwood mopped his dripping fore head and whistled low with dismay. It seemed that from that instant on 1t