The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-05-13
Ghe
BLACK
BAG
By Louis Joseph Vance
c op,risht isos. by the Bobbs-iisrriil Co.

y
both hail from the same neck OF the
woods. you know"
Il didn't know 1t, and
Yes; I'm from Frisco too"
And I'm sorry"
Mr.. Calendar passed ave fat fingers
nervously over his mustache. glanced
alertly up at Kirkwood. as If momen-
tarily inclined TO question his tone.
Then again stared glumly into the
fire. for Kirkwood had maintained an
attitude purposefully colorless. Not to
put too fine point upon II. be believed
that his caller was lying. The mans
appearance. his mannerisms. his voice
and enunciation. while they might
have been American. seemed all un-
Californian. To one born and bred in
that state. as Kirkwood had been. her
sons are Enthusiastically hall marked.
Now. no man lies without motive
This one chose to reaffirm. with show
of deep feeling: Yes. I'm from Friscn
too. We're companions In misfortune"
II hope not altogether" said Kirk.
WOoo poilttls.
Mr.. Calendar drew his own infer
ences from the response and mustered
up a show Of cheerfulness Then
you're NOT completely wiped out?"
ITO the contrary. l was hoping you
were less unhappy"
--0h. then you are?"
KIrkwood lifted the cable message
from the mantel. Il have just heard
from my partner at home" he said.
with faint smile. and quoted: sew
erything gone. No insurance
Mr.. Calendar pursed his plump lips.
whistling inaudibIy Too bad. TOO
bad he murmured sympathetically
Were all hard hir. more or less" He
lapsed into detected apathy. from
which Kirkwood. growing at length
impatient. found II necessary to rouse
him.
you wished TO see me about some
thing else. I'm sure"
Mr.. Calendar started from his rev
erie. -Eh: was dreaming. lee
pardon II seems hard 10 realize. Mr
nirkwood. THAT this awful; cafastronhr
!, has overtaken our beloved metropolis
The canting phrases wearied Kirk
wood Abruptly he cut IN: Would
n sovereign help you out. Mr Calen
dar: don't mind telling You that's
about the limit Of my present re-
sources"
-Pardon me-" Mr.. Calendars moon
Ike countenance darkened. He as
sumed a transparent dignity. You
+, miscons;-ue my motive. sir"
Then I'm sorry"
Il am not here TO borrow. On the
other hand. quite by accident discoy-
cred your name upon the register
downstairs. a good old Frisco name
II you VIII permit me 70 say so.
thought 70 myself that here was Q
chance 10 help fellow countrymanY 2
Calendar paused inferrogatively. Kirk
wood remained interested. but silent
IF a passage across would help you
IL think II might be arranged" STAN
kiered Calendar. III az ease.
-ft might admitted Kirkwood spec
uIatively.
Il could fx II 50 that you could &c
orer-frst class. Of course-and pas
your way. so 10 speak. By rendering
Us. me ard my partner. triiIng serv
Ice.
-Ahr'
in fact" continued Calendar. warm
ing up TO bis theme. there might b.
something more in II for you than the
passage k-if you're the right man
he man Pm looking for
That. o. course. r. the question
-EhY' Calendar pulled up suddenly
IN q full winged fight Of enthusiasm
Kirkwood eyed him steadily. -
said that II Is a question. Mr.. Calen
Oar. whether or not ] am the mar
you're looking for. Between you and
me and the tiredogs. don't believe
am Now. II you wish TO name ycur
suId pro quo. this trining service In
20 render In recognition Of your beney
eIence. you may"
.Ye-es," slowly. But the speaker De
Isyed bis reply until be had surveyed
his host from bead 70 foot with :
glance both critical and appreciative.
He saw q man In height rather les'
than the stock size SIX feet 80 much Il
demand by the manufacturers Of mod
ern heroes Of Gction--a man a 81
round shouldered. too. but otberwIs'
sturdIly built. self contained. wei
groomed.
Klrkwood wears a boys horest face
No one has ever called him handsome
A few prejudiced persons have decide
that be has an interesting counte
nsnce. The propounders Of this verde
have been. for the most part, feminine
Kirkwood himself has been heard q
declare that bis features do not lt II
its essence the statement Is true. bu
there Is q very real. n undesirable
engaging quality IN their very irregu
arity. His eyes are brown. pleasant
sss wide apart, straightforward Of ex
pre~sion.
Now, Il appeared that whatever hil
.otiye. Mr. Calendar had acted upoi
impulse In sending bis card up &
KIrkwood. At all events. this Calen
dar proved not lacking IN penetration