The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-06-03
by Louis Joseph Vance
copyrisht. 1908. by the Bobbs- Merrill CO.

btuke, icuuluB Out over the ran us IL
endeavoring to locate the rowboat.
"But. Mr.. Mulready"-
The girls words were drowned by a
prolonged blast on the boatswain's
whistle at her companions lips. The
shorter one followed in due course.
"3ut what shall we do If my father
isn't here-wait?"
"No: best not to-best to get on the
Alethea as soon as possible Miss Cal.
endar. We can send the boat back"
"'Once aboard the lugger the girl IS
mine eh. Mulready. to say nothing Of
the loot
II Calendars words were jocular his
tone conveyed different impression
entirely. Both man and girl wheeled
right about TO face him. the one with
strangled oath. the other with low
cry.
THE devil" exclaimed this Mr.. Null
ready.
"oh. my father~ the girl voiced her
recognition Of him.
mot precisely one and the same per-
son." commented Calendar suavely.
'but-er-thanks. just rs much. You
see. Mulready. when I make an ap-
pointment I keep H."
"we'd begun to get bit anxious
about you Mulready began defen.
sively.
80 surmised from what Mrs. Hal
lam and Mr.. Kirkwood told me.
well?
The man found no ready answer. He
fell back pace to the railing. his fea.
lures working with his deep chagrin.
The murky flare Of the gas lamp over.
head fell across face handsome be-
yond the ordinary. but marred by a
sullen humor and scanned with indul-
gence-a face that seemed hauntingly
familiar until Kirkwood In fash OF
visual memory reconstructed the por.
trait Of man who fingered over 4
dining table with two empty chairs
for company. This, then. was he
whom Mrs. Hallam had left at the
Pless-a tall, strong man. very heavy
about the chest and shoulders.
why. my dear friend" Calendar
was taunting him. you don't seem
overjoyed 10 see me for all your wild
anxiety 'Pon my word. you act as II
you hadn't expected me-and our en-.
gagement SO clearly understood nj
that. Why. you fool = here the
mask OF irony was cast-"dld you
think for a moment I'd LET myself be
nabbed by that zap from Scotland
Yard? Were you banking on that; |
give you my faith | ambled out under
his very nose. Dorothy. my dear"
turning impatiently from Mulready.
where's that bagg'
The girl withdrew a puzzled gaze
from Mulready's face qt was apparent
to Kirkwood that this phase Of the af.
fair was no more enigmatic to him
than to her and drew aside corner
Of her cloak, disclosing the gladstone
bag securely grasped In one gloved
hand.
II have II. thanks 20 Mr.. Kirkwocd."
she said quietly.
Kirkwood chose that moment TO ad
vance from the shadow. Mulready
started and fixed him with a troubled
end unfriendly stare. The girl greeted
him with a note OF sincere pleasure in
her surprise.
why. Mr.. Kirkwood. But left You
at Mrs. Hallam'sw
kirkwood bowed. smiling openly nj
Nulrcady's discontinue.
by your fathers grace came with
him." he said. "You ran sway without
saying good night, you know. and I'm
a jealous creditor"
She laughed excitedly. turning 20
Calendar. But you were TO meet me
at Mrs. HallamsT"
"Mulrcady was good enough to try
TO save me the trouble, my dear. Hes
an unselish soul. Mulready. Fortu.
nately Il happened that l came along
not fivc minutes after he'd carried you
Oh. How was that. Dorothyr'
Her glance wavered uneasily between
the two. MuIready and her father. The
former. Struggling to declare his indif.
ference. turned his back squarely upon
them. She frowned.
"TIe came out OF Mrs. Hallam's and
got into the four wheeler, saying you
had sent him to take your place and
would join us on the Alethea."
"So-ol How about II. Mulreadyr
The man swung back slowly. what
you choose TO think" he said after
deliberate pause.
"well. never mind. Wen 20 over
the matter at our leisure on the Ale
thea"
There was In the ndventurer's tone
n menace, bitter and not 20 be ignored.
which Nulready saw nc TO challenge.
II think not" he declared. IL think
not I'm weary Of your addle pated
suspicious. It'd be plain to any one
but a fool that acted for the best
interests Of all concerned in this mat.
ter. II you're not content 10 see II in