Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-11-30
Ghe
BLACK
BAG
By Louis Joseph Vance
Copyright 1908. by the Bobbs.tierriii Co.

II r
After long time he seemed 70 real
lze rather hazily that the carriage door
had been opened to admit somebody.
Its smart closing bang shocked him
awake. He sat up. blinking in con-
fusion. hardly conscious Of more, to
begin with, than that the train had
paused and was again In full flight.
Then. his senses clearing. he became
aware that his solitary companion. just
entered. was a woman. She was seated
across from him, her back to the ell
CINE. In an attitude which somehow
suggested highly nonchalant frame
Of mind. She laughed, and immediate
ly her speaking voice was high and
sweet in his hearing.
Beneath his breath the bewildered
man said. "The deuce" and above 1t.
in a stupefed tone, Mrs. Hallam!'
She nodded in not unfriendly fash
ion, smiling brightly. myself. Mr..
Kirkwood! Really our predestined
paths are badly tangled just now.
aren't they? Were you surprised to
find me in here with you? Come. now.
confess you were!'
He remarked the smooth, girlish
freshness Of her cheeks, the sense and
humor Of her mouth, the veiled gleam
Of excitement in her eyes Of the chang
ing sea, and saw as well that she was
dressed for travelling, sensibly, but
with an air. and had brought a small
hand bag with her
surprised and delighted" he replied.
recov ering. with mendacity so inten-
tional and obvious that the woman
laughed aloud.
81 knew you'd be! You see, l had
the carriage ahead, the one you didn't
take. was so disappointed when you
flung up to the door and away again
You didn't see me hanging half out
the window to watch where you went.
did you? That's how l discovered that
your discourtesy was unintentionai
that you hadn't recognized me-by the
fact that you took this compartment
right behind my own"
She paused invitingly, but kirkwoCd
grown wary, contented himself with
picking up his pipe and carefully
knocking out the dottle on the window
ledge.
II was glad to see you," she affirmed.
"but only partly because you We're you.
Mr.. Kirkwood. The other and major
part was because sight Of you confirm
ed my own secret intuition. You see
I'm quite old enough and wise enough
to question even my own intuitions
For you are going to Queensboroush
aren't you. Mr. Kirkwood?"
"Queensborough? he echoed blank
ly. and, in fact. he was at a loss to
follow her drift. NO. Mrs. ,Hallam
I'm not bound there"
Her surprise was apparent. She
made no effort to conceal it. "But."
she faltercd. IF not there
"Give you my word. Mrs. Hallam.
| have no intention whatever Of going
to Queensborough." Kirkwood protest
ed.
81 don't understand" The nervous
drumming of patent leather covered
toe, visible beneath the hem of her
dress, alone betrayed rising tide Of
impatience. "Then my intuition was
at faultr'
"In this instance, If It was at all
concerned with my Insignificant af
fairs. yes-most decidedly ut fault"
Every we'll. then. Now. let us see
where are you bound?"
Kirkwood looked out Of the window
"I'm convinced it's rendezvous"
Kirkwood smiled patiently at the
landscape.
as Dorothy Calendar so very, very
beautiful. Mr.. Kirkwood?" with a
trace Of malice
Ostentatiously Kirkwood read the
Southeastern and Chatham's framed
card of warning, posted just above
Mrs. Hallam's head. to all such In
durable lunatics as are possessed Of
desire to travel on the running
boards Of railway carriages.
"You are going to meet her. aren't
you?"
He gracefully concealed yawn.
The wonian's plan Of attack took an
oth,. go, last ntpht whpp yON