Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-10-28

more straight and hard.
'Dorothy..' cried the adventurer,
with a touch of displeasure. "You
heard me-"
81 heard you,' she replied a little
YEARLY, more than a little contemptu-
ously. Don't mind him, please, Mr..
Kirkwood!" with an appealing ges-
turc, as Kirkwood. unable to contain
himself, moved restlcssly in his chair,
threatening to rise. Don't say ny
thing. l have no intention whatever
Of going with this man."
Calendars features twitchcd merry
ously. lie chewcd q corner of his
mustache, fixing the girl with a black
stare. Il presume" he remarked, aft
er Il moment, With slow elaboration,
you're aware that rs your father l
am in Il position to compel you to &C
company me-"
81 shall not so with you" iterated
Dorothy in Il level tone. You may
threaten me, butt shall not go. Mr..
Brentwick and Mr.. Kirkwood are TAX
ing me to-friends, Who will give me a
home until / can find Il way to take
care of myself. That is all | have to
say to YOU"
"Bravo. my dear1!' cried Brentwicz
e~ncouragin%ly.
mind Your business. SIR Numbered
Calendar. his face darscnin&. then
to Dorothy, You understand, L trust.
what this meanS?' he demanded. Il
offer you u homo. and Il good one Re
f11cn md ,-n1, v-,pi- jn,. Nnl1r liy-intr
my girl. You've forfeited your leg
acy"-
Il know, l know" she told him in
cold disdain. Il ann content. Won't
you be kind enough to leave me
alone?'
For a breath Calendar slowered over
her. Then, Il presume" he observed,
that all these heroics are inspired by
that whippersnapper kirkwood. DO
you know that he hasn't Il brass far
thing to bless himself with?"
What has that cried the girl in
dignantly.
"Why, it has everything to do with
me, my child. AS your doting parent
1 can't consent to your marrying moth
ing Il year, for l surmise you intend to
marry this Mr.. 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 a quaver that escaped her
control, eff Mr.. Kirkwood asks me l
SHALL" h stated very simply.
Chat %interposed Kirkwood, ''is
completely understood" His gaze
sought her eyes, but she looked away.
"You forget that l am your father
sneered Calendar, land that you are a
minor. l can refuse my consent"
But you WON'T Kirkwood told him,
with assurance.
The %adventurer stared. NO." he
agreed after slight hesitation; mo, I
shan't interfere. Take her, my boy, if
you want her. and Il fathers blessing
into the bargain. The Lord knows I've
troubles enough. A parents lot is not
what it's cracked up to be- he
paused, leering. ironic. But delib-
erately, there's still his other mat
ter of the gladstone bag. | don't mind
abandoning my parental authority
Nltli IlN Niilid . llul'liiiCno - IN ~
ed, but as for my property
ut is not your property" Interrupted
the girl.
ut was your mothers, dear child.
It's now mine
81 dispute that assertion" Kirkwood
put in.
"You may dispute it till the cows
come home, my boy. The fact will re-
main that l intend to take my property
with me when | leave this room,
whether you like it or not. Now. are
you disposed to continue the argument,
or may 1 count on your being sensi-
ble?''
You may put away your revolver, if
that's what o mean," said kirkwood.
1--WE certainly shan't oppose you With
violence, but l warn you that Scotland
Yard''-
ooh, that be blowed!' the adventure
er snorted in disgust. 81 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 a mind to with
Scotland Yard!"
"Then you admit" queried Brent
wick civilly, "that you've no legal title
to the jewels in disputes"
"Look here, 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-
full daughters"
"'Ere you are" Stryker spoke for
the first time since entering the room,
taking the valise from beneath the
chair and depositing it on the table.
"Well, we shan't take anything that
doesn't belong to u.s." laughed Calen-
dar, fumbling with the catch, mot
wen so small q matter as my own