Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-07-15

wv mered, "I"-
She lifted her shoulders
impatiently and with a quick move
ment stepped back across the thresh-
old, where she paused, a rounded arm
barring the entrance, one hand grasp
ing the doorknob, as If to shut him
out at any moment.
"I'm awaiting your explanation" she
said coldly.
He grinned with striv-
ing to penetrate the mental processes
of this handsome Mrs. Hallam. She
seemed to regard him with a suspicion
which he thought ineXcusable. Did
she suppose he had spirited Dorothy
Calendar away and then called to ap-
prise her Of the fact, or that he was
some sort of adventurer who had
manufactured a plausible yarn to gain
him access to her home, or-harking
back to her original theory-that he
was an emissary from Scotland Yard?
Probably she distrusted him on the
latter hypothesis. The reflection left
him more at ease.
ILL lSiS 90 AiS tS NOu, Mis-.
Hallam," he began. Miss Calendar
was here at this door in a four wheel
er not ten minutes ago, and"-
"Then where is she now?'
"Tell me where Calendar u.s." be re-
torted, inspired. and I'll try to an
swer youH"
But her eyes We're blank. you
mean'-
THAT Calendar was in this house
when l came; that he left, found his
daughter in the cab and drove off with
her. It's clear enough"
"1ou are quite Mistaken" she said
thoughtfully. George Calendar has
no been here this night
He wondered that she did not seem
to resent his imputation. II think
not
"Listen! she cried, raising q warn
ing hand. and. relaxing her vigilant
attitude, moved forward once more to
peer down toward the embanl5ment.
A cab had cut in from that direction
and was bearing down upon them with
a brisk rumble of hoofs. AS it ap-
preached, Kirkwood's heart, that had
1~1ghtened, was weighed upon again by
disappointment. 1t was no four wheel
er, but a hanson, and the open wings
of the apron, disclosing a white TRAN
gle of linen surmounted by a glowing
spot of fire, betrayed the sex Of the
fare too plainly to allow of further
hope that it might be the girl return
ing.
At the door the cab pulled up sharp
ly and a man tumbled hastily out upon
the sidewalk.
"Here!' he cried throatily, tossing
the cabby his fare. and turned toward
the pair upon the doorstep. evidently
surmising that something was amiss,
for he was Calendar in proper person
and a sight to upset in a twinkling
I1IrKwood"s 1ngen1ously bu1lded castle
of suspicion.
"Mrs. Hallam!' he cried, out Of
breath. sis my daughter here?" And
then, catching sight Of Kirkwood's
~countena1ce: "Why. hello, Kirkwood!"
He saluted him with a dubious air.
The woman interrupted hastily.
please come in, Mr.. Calendar. This
gentleman has been inquiring for you,
with IN astonishing tale about your
daughter"
Dorothy" Calendars moonlike WIS.,
age was momentarily Invested of any
trace Of color. What of herr"
"You had better come in" advised
Mrs. Hallam brusquely.
The fat ~adventurer hoped hurriedly
across the threshold. Kirkwood follow
ing. The wcman shut the door and
turned with back to it. nodGing sig
nificantly at Kirkwood as her eyes met
Calendars.
"Well. weli?" snapped the latter i'm
patiently, turning to the young man.
But Kirkwood was thinking quick
ly. For the present he contented him
self with Il deliberate statement of
fact, Miss Calendar has disappear
ed" 1t gave him an instant's time.
'There's something fishyr!' he told
himself. These two are playing at
cross purposes. Calendars no fool.
He's evidently a crook to boot. AS for
the woman, she's had her eyes open
IOr Il nu1nDei OIL years. Lie HILL
things Dorothy. She didn't vanish of
her own initiative. And Mrs. Hallam
knows or suspects more than she's
going to tell. l don't think she wants
Dorothy found. Calendar does. So
do 1. Ergo, I'm for Calendar"
"Disappeared? Calendar was bark
ing at him. How? When? Where?"
"Within ten minutes" said Kirk
wood. "Here; let's get it straight"
And he told what had happened, men
tioning that he had not paid the cab
driver.
Thanks" said Calendar dryly. He
bent his head in thought for an in
slant, then looked up and fixed Mrs
Hallam with an unprecedented eye
81 say!" he demanded explosively
There wasn't any n here thai
knew-eh?"
Her fine eyes wavered and fell be
fore his, and Kirkwood remarked tina
her underlip was curiously drawn IN.
Il heard a man leave as Mrs. lana
i0ipal ~ ~ lo roI,ntaora1 bn1nfIllE