The weekly true Democrat., 1909-10-22

/ Naa ~ VI tAr NAbH t-ot-f -
n = the same time be swept into
be pocket the money be had extorted
OF Calendar. Then he paused an in-
slant, listening. From the captains
room came q sound Of muFmurs end
scuGiing. He crossed 10 the port locker
forward.
lie bad its ia up in a tWinkiing
and IN another had lifted out the well
remembered black gladstone bag.
This seems 10 have been bis hrst
compound larceny.
As n stimulated by some such re-
hection. be sprang for the companion.
way, dropping the I'D OF the locker
with a bang which must have been
eEcruciadngly edifying to the men IN
tho captains room. Whatever their
emotions. the bang WIS Knocked by a
mighty kick. shaking the door, which.
KlrkwOOd reflected. opened outward
was held only by the frallest kind Of n
lock and would not hold long.
Spurred onward by storm Of curses.
stryker's voice chanting lnfurlated ca
cophOny with Calendars, KirkwoOd
leaped up the companionway even as
the second tremendous kick threatened
10 shatteF the panels Heart in mouth.
chill shlver OF guilt running up and
down hi5 spine. be 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 10 the oars
And doubts assalled him. pressing
close upon the ebb ~ his excitement
doubts md fears iunumeuble
There was no longer a distinction 20
be drawn between himself aud Calen.
dar: no more could DC esteem himself
better anG more honest man than
that accomplished swlndlcr He was
not advised ns to the Belgian code. but
English law. be understood. made no
allowance for the good intent OF those
caught I'm possession OF stolen prop
erty. Though he was acting with the
most honorable motives in the world,
tho law. n be came within lts cOgnl
zance. would undoubtedly place him on
Calendars plane and Judge him by the
same standard 70 all lntents and pur.
poses no was a thief. and thief be
would remain until the gladstone bag
with lts contents should be restored 10
It's rlghtful owner
Voluntarily. then. he had stepped
from the ranks OF the hunters 10 those
Of the hunted He now feared police
interference as abjectly rs did Calen.
dar 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
Felf by ignoring this point Indeed, n
he were 20 be judged by what Kirk
wood had inferred Of his character,
Calendar 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.
termlned aud savage play to regain
possession OF his booty.
Welll (klrkwOod set his mouth saw,
agelyJ Calendar should have q run
for bis money!
For the present be could compliment
himself with the knowledge that he
had outwltted the rogues. had lifted
the jewels aud probably twO-thirds Of
their armament lie had also the
start. the knowledge 0t their criminal
guilt aud intent and his own plans to
COmfOrt him. As for the latter. be
did not believe that Calendar would
Immediately fathom them, 10 be took
heart OF grace and tugged at the oars
with a will, Dulllng directly for the
city and permitting the current TO drift
him dowustream at its pleasure. There
could be no more inexcusablo folly than
20 return 10 the Quuy Bteen landing
and possibly the arms OF the despOiled
boat owner.
AZ arst be- could hear crash after
splinterinR crash sounding duly muf.
ned from the cabin Of the Alethea,
veritablo devils tattoo beaten out by
The feet Of the prisoners. Evidently |
the fastening was serving him better
than he had dared hope. but a. the
black rushing waters widened between
boat and brlRuntine the clamor aboard
the hitter subsidized. Indicating that
Calendar aud Stryker had broken out
or been released by the crew. In ig.
norance az 30 whether be were seen
OF being pursued, Klrkwood pulled on.
winning m under the shadow Of the |
Quays aud permitting the boat 10 drift |
down 10 a lonely landing on the edge |
Of the dockyard quarter of Antwerp.
Here aliahtlnR. he made che boat
fast and. soothing bis conscience with
I surmise that lts owner would dnd q |
fhero IA the rr.orninr afrnaa uerfftfv i