Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-09-09

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his grasp.
On his feet, straddling Mulready's
insentient body, he confronted Calen-
dar and Stryker. The face of the lat
ter was a sicllly green, the gift of his
fright. The former seemed coldly COM
posed, already recovering from his
surprise and bringing his wits to bear
upon the new factor which had been
so unceremoniously injected into the
situation.
He was leaning heavily upon a hand
that rested flat on the table. In
this hand he held Il revolver. which
he had apparently drawn in self de-
Tense at the crisis of M,Aready'S
frenzy. Its muzzle was detected. He
looked Kirkwood over With a cool
gray eye. the color gradually return
ing to his fat, clean shaven cheeks, re-
placing the %pardonable pallor which
had ~momentarily rested thereon.
AS for Kirkwood. he had covered
the fat advcnturer before he knew it.
Strykcr, who had been standing immc-
diately in the rear of Calendar, imme-
diately covered and cringed to find
himself i'll the line of fire.
OF the three conscious men in the
brigantine's cabin Calendar was prob
ably the least confused or excited.
Strykcr was palpably unnamed.
kirkWood was tingling with a sense
of mastery. but collected and rapidly
revolving the combinations for the re-
versed conditions which had been
brought about by Mulready's drunken
folly. His citation was apparent in his
shining boyish eyes as We'll rs in the
bright color that glowcd in his checks.
When he decided to speak, it was with
rapid enunciation. but clearly and con
ciscly.
"%Calendar," he began. "if n single
shot is fired about this vessel the river
police will be buzzin@ round Your cars
i'll Il brace of shakes"
The fat adventurer nodded assent
his eyes contracting.
VERY we'll" continued kirkwoo(
b%rusqucly. You must know that
have personally nothing to fear from
the police. If arrested | wouldn't b'
detained Il day. On the other hand
you Hand me that pistol, Calendar
butt first. please. Look sharp, IN,
man, If YOU DON'T
He left the cllipsis to be filled in b,
the corpulent bl%ackguard's intelligence
The latter, gray eyes still intent on tn
younger mans face, wayered, plainl.
impressed, but still wondering.
"Quick, Pm not patient tonight"
No longer was Calendar of tw
minds. In the face of Kirkwood's a
titude there was but n curse to b
followed-that Of obedience. Calenda
surrendered an untenable position a
!. gracefully as could be wished.
II guess you know what you meal
by this" he said, rendering the weapon
as per instructions. Pm doggoned
l do. You'll allow q certain latitud,
in consideration of my relief. l can
say we were anticipating this-ah-
, heaven sent visitation"
, Accepting the revolver With his lief
, hand and settling his fore finger OF
the trigger, Kirkwood beamed wit,
pure enjoyment. He found the defer
ence of the older man. tempered
though it was by his indomitabl
! swagger, refreshing in the extreme.
"A little appreciation isn't cXactl.
! out of place, come to think of it," h
commented, adding, with an eye TO
the captain, "Stryker, you bold, bat
butterfly, have you got a gun concea
j, ed about your unciean persona
The captain shook visibly with cor
, triton. NO. Mr.. Kirkwood," he mar
=. aged to reply in a voice singularly lack
ing in his wonted buster.
= Say sir" suggested Kirkwood.
. mo. Mr.. Kirkwood, sir" amende,
:, Strykcr eagerly.
\ "Now, come round here and let
have a look at you. Please stay wher
), you are, Calendar. Why. captain, 20
are shivering from head to foot. Nc
i'll are you, you wag? Step over t
the table there. Stryker. and turn on
your pockets; turn EN- inside out an
let's see what you carry in the wa
OF offensive artillery. And. Strykel
don't be rash; don't do anything YOU
: be sorry for afterwards
: NO fear of that mumbled the cal
tain, meekly stumbling toward the t;
BILE and. in his anxiety to give no caus
for unpleasantness, beginning to eml
ty his pockets on the way.
Don't forget the SIR Stryker. Ant
Stryker, if you happen to think of any
I, thing in the line of one Of your merr
quips OF jests, don't strain yoursel
holding in. Get it right off your ches
and you'll feel better"
: Kirkwood chuckled, in high conce:
with himself, watching Calendar OF
of the corner of his eye, but with hi
attention centered on the infinitely d
verting spectacle afforded by Stryke
whose predaceous hands were tren
e bling violently as one by n the
$ brought to light the articles of whic
he had despoiled his erstwhile victim
4 Come. come, Stryker!! Surely 70
- 4 go Is-I- ~ C-.--1