Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-18

THE BLACK BAG
BY LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE.
Copyright-By Bobbs Merrill Co.



"If you please, Mrs. Hallam," sug-
gested the girl with just the right
! shade of independence. 81 wish to lis
ten to Mr.. Kirkwood He has been
very kind to me and has every right.
|. She turned to him again,
leaving the woman breathless and
speeches. with anger.
You told me once" Kirkwood con-
tinued quickly, and, he felt, brazenly,
that you considered me kind, thought
ful and considerable. You know me
no better today than you did then,
but | want to beg you to trust me n
little. Can you trust yourself to my
protection till we reach your friends
in England?"
why, Il the girl faltered, taken
by surprise.
Mr.. Kirkwood!" cried Mrs. Hal
lam angrily, finding her voice.
Kirkwood turned to meet her on
slaught with mein grave, deter
mined, unflinching. please do not
interfere, Madam he said quietly
You are impertinent, sir! Dorothy
| forbid you to listen to this person :"
The girl flushed lifting her chin a
trif1e. "Forbid?" she repeated Won
deringly.
kirkwood was quick to take advan-
tage OF her resentment. MRS Hal
lam is not fitted to advise you" he in
sisted, NOR can she control your &C.
tons. 1t must already have occurred
to you that you're rather out of place
In the present circumstances. The
men who have brought you hither,
believe you already see through, to
some extent. Forgive my speaking
plainly. But that is why you
have accepted Mrs. Hallam's offer Of
protection Will you take my word
for 1t, when l tell you she has not
your right interests at heart, but the
reverse? | happen to know, Miss Cal
endar, and L"
How dare you, sir?"
FLAMING with rage, Mrs. Hallam nut
herself bodily between them, confront
ing kirkwood in white-lipped despera-
tlon, her small, gloved hands clenched
and quivering at her sides, her green
eyes dangerous.
But Kirkwood could silence her;
and he did. ''Do you wish me to
speak frankly, Madam? Do you wish
me to tell what l know-and all 7
know" with rising emphasis-"of
your social status and your relations
with Calendar and Mulready? prom.
Use you that If you wish it, or force
me to it. ;"
further; the womans eyes wavere.l
before his and a little sob of terror
forced itself between her shut teeth
kirkwood smiled grimly, with a face
Of brass, impenetrable, inflexible. And
suddenly she turned from him with
Indifferent bravado
"As Mr. Kirkwood says, Dorothy"
she said in her high, metallic voice,
Il have no authority over you. But If
you're silly enough to considerI for a
moment this fellows insulting sugges.
ton. if you're fool enough to 60 with
him, unchaperoned through Europe
and imperil your
Mrs. Hallam!' Kirkwood cut her
short with a menacing tone.
Why, then, wash my hands of
you,' concluded the woman defiantly.
Make your choice, my child" she
added with meaning laugh ana
moved away, humming snatch from
French chanson, which brought the
hot blood to Kirkwood's face.
But the girl did not understand; and
he was glad of that you may Judge
between u.s." he appealed to her d.
rectly, once more. Il can only offer
you my word of honor as an Ameri-
can gentleman that you shall be land
ed in England, safe and sound, by the
first available steamer"
There's no need to say more, Mr..
klrkWood,' Dorothy informed him
quietly. Il have already decided l
think l begin to understand some
things clearly, now. If you're
ready, We will CO."