Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-10-07

III OCSSiuSO VI liz. 1Ou We OSSSdlcu
YOURSELF
mot precisely. I was beggared to
begin with" He fastened to disclaim
the e%xtravagant generosity Of which
she accused him. 81 had only three or
four pounds to my name that night we
met. 1 haven't told you-I'-
you've told me nothing, nothing
whatever about yourself" she said re-
%proachfully.
." didn't want to bother you with
my troubles. l tried not to talk about
myself. You knew 1 was an Amer
lean, but Pm worse than that. I'm a
Contamination San Francisco" He
tried unsuccessfully to make light of
it. 81 told you l was the luckless
wonder If I'd ever had any luck L
would nave stored a little money away.
AS it was, l lived on my income, left
my principal in Frisco, and when the
earthquake came it wiped ME out
completely"
And you We're going home that
night we made you miss your steamer"
cit was my own fault, and I'm glad
this blessed minute that 1 did miss it.
Nice sort I'd have been to go off and
leave you at the mercy
"PleaSe! l want to think. I'm trying
to remember how much you've gone
through
"Precisely what | don't want YOU to
do. Anyway, l did nothing more than
N .otlnp fo11av- x-o,,ll lo,,> Jn,o
Please don't give me credit that |
don't deserve. We must go to Mrs.
Hallam's house first. It's too late
now-after 5-else we could deposit
the jewels in some bank. Since
since they are no longer yours the
only thing and the proper thing to do
is to place them in safety or in the
hands of their owner. If you take
them directly to young Hallam your
hands will be clear. And-I never did
such a thing in my life, Miss Calendar,
but If he's got a spark of gratitude in
his makeup I ought to be able to-
er-to borrow a pound or sc of him"
do you think SOL? She shook her
head in doubt. 81 don't know. l know
so little of such things. You are right.
We must take him the jewels, but
Her voice trailed off into a sigh OF
profound perturbation.
He dared not meet her look.
With a jar the train started and be-
gan to move more swiftly.
Kirkwood lifted the travelling bag to
his knees.
Don't forget" he said, with some
difficulty, you're to stick by me what
ever happens. You mustn't desert
me-"
You know" the girl reproved him.
II know, but there must be no mis-.
understanding. Don't worry. Well
win out yet. I've a plan"
Glorious liar! He had not the glim.
mering Of a plan.
The engine painting, the train drew
In beneath the vast sounding dome OF
the station to al accompaniment OF
dull thunderings and stopped finally.
Hurried and jostled, the girl cling
ing. tightly to his arm lest they be sep
arated in the crush. they came to the
ticket wicket. Beyond the barrier
surged q sea of hats. Beneath any
of these might lurk the maleficent
brain, the spying eyes, of Calendar or
one of his creatures. Beneath all of
them that he encountered Kirkwood
peered in fearful inquiry.
Abruptly he caught the girl by the
arm and unceremoniously hurried her
toward a waiting hanson.
"Quick!" he begged her. "Jump right
in-not an instant to spare!!'
She nodded brightly, lips firm with
courage, eyes shining.
My father"
eyes" Kirkwood glanced back over
his shoulder. HE hasn't seen us yet.
They've just driven up. Strykcr's
with him. They're getting down."
And to himself, "Oh, the devil!!' cried
the panic stricken young man.
He drew back to let the girl precede
him into the cab. At the same time
he kept an eye on Calendar, whose
conveyance stood half the length of
the station front away.
The fat adventurer had finished pay
ing off the driver, standing on the
deck Of the hanson. Stryker was al
ready out, towering above the mass of
people and glaring about him with his
hawk keen vision. Calendar had start.
ed to alight. His foot was leaving the
step when Stryker's glance singled out
their quarry. Instantly he turned and
spoke to his confederate. Calendar
wheeled like a fash, peering eagerly
in the direction indicated by the cap.
tain's index finger, then, swapping in
structions to his driver, threw himself
heavily back on the seat. Stryker,
awkward on his land legs, stumbled
and fell in an i'll calculated attempt to
hoist himself hastily back into the
vehicle.
To the delay thus occasioned alone
Kirkwood and Dorothy owed a respite
Of freedom. Their hanson was al
ready swinging down toward the great
gates Of the yard, the American stand.
ing to make the driver comprehend
the necessity for using the utmost
speed In reaching the Craven street
address. The man proved both intAlli.