The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17

ment." He begged II with wave OF his
hand. stood pondering briefly, fumbled
for his watch. found and consulted It
TITS the barest chance" he muttered
Perhaps we can make It"
What are. we going TO dor asked
tho woman.
Give Mister Mulready q run Tor his
money. Come along. Kirkwood; we
haven't q minute. Mrs. Hailam, permit
US :. :" She stepped aside and he
brushed past her to the door. Come,
Kirkwood"
He seemed to take Kirkwood's COM
pany for granted. and the young man
was not inclined TO argue the point.
Meekly enough he fell In with Calendar
on the sidewalk. Mrs. Hallam followed
them out. You won't forgetT' she
called tentatively.
TIL phone you II we ind out any
thing" Calendar Jerked the words un-
tremendously over his shoulder as.
linking arms with Kirkwood. he drew
him swiftly away. They heard her shut
the door; instantly Calendar stopped.
Look here, did Dorothy have "a
small parcel with herr
''She had a gladstone bag"
"On, the devil the devil!" Calendar
started on again. muttering distract
edly. AS they reached the corner he
disengaged his arm. We've a minute
and a half to reach Charing Cross pier.
and think It's the last boat. You set
the pace. will you? But remember, I'm
an oldish man and-and fat"
They began to run, the one easily, the
other numbering after like an old fash
Toned. square rigged ship paced by a
liner.
Beneath the railway bridge. In front
Of the underground station. the cab
rank cried them on with sardonic view
nd h1b
with suspicion. turning to watch as
they plunged round the corner and
across the wide embankment.
The Thames appeared before them, a
river of ink on whose Furnished surface
lights swan In long winding streaks
and oily blobs. BY the floating pier a
county council steamboat strained its
hawsers, snoring huskily Bells were
jingling in her engine room as the two
gained the head OF the sloping gang
way.
Kirkwood slapped shilling down on
the ticket window ledge. Where to?''
he cried back to Calendar
Cherry Gardens pier" rasped the
winded man. He stumbled after
Kfrkwood. groaning with exhaus-
ton. Only the tolerance of the pier
employees gained them their end; the
steamer was held some seconds for
them. As Calendar staggered to its
deck the gangway was jerked IN. the
last hawser cast of. The boat sheered
arrowlike. to the pier beneath Water
loo bridge.
The deck was crowded and addf-
tional passengers embarked at every
stop. In the circumstances conversa-
.tion, save on the most fmpersonal top
les. was impossible; and even had it
been necessary or advisable to discuss
w
where so many ears could hear, Calen-
dar had breath enough neither to an
swer nor to catechise Kfrkwood. They
found seats on the forward deck and
rested tn &c in grim silence, both fret
ting under the enforced restraint
while the boat darted, like some IL
Illuminated and exceptionally active wa
ter insect, from pier to pier.
AS 1t snorted beneath London bridge
Calendars impatience drove him from
his seat back to the gangway. Next
STOP" he told Kirkwood curtly: and
rested his heavy bulk against the pad
dlebox. brooding morosely, until, after
an uninterrupted run OF more than a
mile. the steamer swept in, sidewheels
backing water furiously against the
ebbing tide, to Cherry Gardens land
ing.
Sweet name for a locality unsavory
beyond credence! -. AS thew
west on Bermondsey wall, Kirkwood
was fain to tug his topcoat over his
chest and button 1t tight to hide his
linen. In guarded tone he counseled
his companion to do likewise: and Cal
. endar, after moments blank uncom-
prehending stare. acknowledged the
wisdom of the advice with a grunt
The very air they breathed was rank
with fetid odors bred OF the gaunt
dark warehouses that lined their way:
the lights were few; beneath the loom
! ing buildings the shadows were many
and dense. Here and there dreary and
cherries public houses appeared with
lighted windows conspicuous in a
lightless waste. From time to time. as
they hurried on. they encountered and
made wide detours to escape contact
with knots of wayfarers-men debased
and begrimed, with dreary and slat-
ternly women, arm in arm. zfeza gine
widely across the sidewalks, chorusine
with sodden voices the burden of some
5 popularized ballad. The cheapened
sentimental refrains echoed sadly be-
tween benighted walls
: Kfrkwood shuddered. sticking close
to Calendars side. Life's naked bru-
| talities had Heretofore been largely
out Of his ken. He had heard OF
slums, had even ventured to mouth
: politely moral platitudes on the sub
: ject OF overcrowding in great centers OF
population. but In the darkest flights OF
imagination had never pictured to him
self anything so unspeakably foul and
hopeless as this. And they were
come hither seeking-Dorothy CaIen-
/ DART He was unable to conceive what
! manner OF villainy could be directed
Z against her, that she must be looked
! for in such surroundings
, After some 10 minutes steady walk.
, ing Calendar turned aside with a NUT
, tered word, and dived down a Gov
cred, dark and evil smelling passage
I way that seemed to lead toward the
: river.
: Mastering his involuntary qualms
) Kirkwood followed.
! Some 10 or IL PAGES from it's en-
. trance the passageway swerved at a
right angle. continuing three yards o,
: so TO end IN blank wall, wherefror
: nickerfng. inadequate gas lamp tut
! ted. At this point stone platform
perhaps four feet square, was dis
covered from the edge OF which a
fight OF worn and Shiny stone step.
led down to a permanent boat land.
ing. where another gas light hared
. gustily despite the protection OF Its
frame OF begrimed glass.
Good LordE exclaimed the young