Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-10-08
CHAPTER Xxv1.

" IRKWOOD'S heart sank with
II the hopelessness of it all. If
n the railway directorates of Eu-
4 ~ rope conspired against them,
what chance had they? If the night
boat train from Ostend had only had
the decency to be twenty-five minutes
late, instead of arriving promptly on
the minute of 4:45, they two might
have escaped by the 500 for Dun
kerque and Calais.
Miss Calendar" said kirkwood
from his heart, lust as soon as get
you home safe and sound / am going
to take day off, hunt up that little
villain and fay him alive. In the
meantime I forgot to dine last night
and am reminded that we had better
forage for breakfast"
Hobbs logged them at safe dis
lance while they sailed forth and in
a neighboring street discovered an ear
ly bird bakery. Here they were able
to purchase rolls steaming from the
oven. fresh pats Of golden butter wrap
ped in clean lettuce leaves and milk in
twin bottles, all of which they prosaic-
ally carried with them back to the sta
ton. lacking leisure as they did to par
take of the food before train time.
Without attempting concealment
(Hobbs, he knew, was eavesdropping
round the corner of the door Kirk
wood purchased at the ticket window
passages on the Dunkerque train Mr..
Hobbs promptly flattered him by imi-
tation. and so Jealous of his luck was
Kirkwood by this time grown through
continual disappointment that he did
not even let the girl into his plans I'M
til they were aboard the 500 in a COM
partment all to themselves. Then, hav-
ing with his own eyes seen Mr.. Hobbs
dodge into the third compartment in
the rear of the same carriage, Kirk
wood astonished the girl by requesting
her to follow him, and together they
left by the door opposite that by which
they had entered.
The engine was running up and
down a scale of staccato shorts in
preparation for the race and the cars
We're on the edge of moving, coup
lings clanling. wheels a-groan, ere Mr..
Hobbs condescended to join them be-
tween the tracks.
| YEARLY. dishcartened, Kirkwood re-
opened the door, flung the bags in and
helped the girl back into their despised
compartment. The quicker route to
England via Ostend was now out Of
the question. AS for himself, he wait
ed for brace of seconds, eying wick
eddy the ubiquitous Hobbs, who had
popped back into his compartment, but
stood ready to pop out again on the
least encouragement. In the meantime
he was pleased to shake friendly foot
at Mr.. Kirkwood, thrusting that men,
Der out through the half open door.
Only the timely departure of the
train, compelling him to rejoin Doro-
thy at once If at all, prevented the
American from adding murder to the
already noteworthy catalogue Of his
high crimes and misdemeanors.
Their simple meal. consumed to the
ultimate drop and crumb while the
Dunkerque train meandered serenely
through a sunny, smiling Flemish
countryside. somewhat revived their
faded spirits.
For n time they laughed and chat
tered. pretending that the present held
no cares or troubles, but soon the girl
nesting her head in corner of the
dingy cushions, was smiling ever more
drowsily on Kirkwood. And presently
she slept in good earnest, the warm
blood ebbing and flowing beneath the
exquisite texture of her cheeks the
ghost Of an unconscious smile CULVER
ing about the sensitive scarlet mouth
the breeze through the open window
at her side wantoning at will in the
sunlit witchery Of her hair. And Kirk
wood, worn with sleepless watching
dwelt in longing upon the dear. limo
cent allure of her until the ache ir
his heart had grown well nigh insup
portable, then instinctively turned hi:
gaze upward. searching his heart
reading the faith and desire of it, 81
that at length knowledge and under
standing came to him of his weakness
and strength and the clean love tina
he bore for her. and, gladdened, he sa
dreaming in waking the same clea
dreams that modelled her unconsciou
lips secretly for laughter and the 10,
Of living.
When Dunkerque halted their prog
ress they were obliged to alight ant
change cars. Hobbs a discreetly SIMS
ter shadow at the end Of the platform
BY schedule they were to arrive II
Calais about the middle Of the fore
noon. with wait of three hours to b
bridged before the departure Of tn
Dover packet. That would be an ann
ious time. The prospect of it rendere
both Dorothy and Kirkwood doubl
anxious throughout this final stage Q
their flight. In three hours anythin
\ could happen or be brought abou
Neither could forget that it was quit
within the bounds of possibilities 70
| Calendar to be awaiting them in Ca
lais. Presenting that Hobbs had bee
acute enough to guess their plans an
advise his employer by telegraph. til
/ latter could readily have anticipate
their arrival, whether by sea in til
brigantine or by land taking the diret
route via Brussels and Lille. II sue
proved to be the case it We're scarcel
sensible to count upon the arch az
venturer contenting himself with
waiting role like Hobbs.
With such unhappy apprehension
for a stimulant. between them I'll
man and the girl contrived Il max