Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-01-11
CHAPTER XVIII.

AS the evening boat train from
Ia Dover swung on toward Char.
| ! ing Cross for perhaps the tenth
4 L time in the course Of his jour.
ney Kirkwood withdrew his gaze from
the window and turned to the girl. q
question ready framed upon his lips.
"Are you quite sure he began, and
then, alive to the clear and penetrating
perception in the brown eyes that
smiled into his from under their level
brows, he stammered and left the
query uncompleted.
Continuing to regard him steadily
and smilingly, Dorothy shook her head
in playful denial and protest. do you
know" she commented, that this is
about the fifth repetition Of that iden-
tical question within the last quarter
hour"
How do you know what l meant to
say?' he demanded, staring.
81 can see 1t In your eyes. Besides,
you've talked and thought Of nothing
else since we left the boat. Won't you
believe me, please, when say there's
absolutely not soul in London to
whom l could go and ask for shelter?
| I don't think it's very nice Of you to
be 80 openly anxious to get rid OF
me-"
This latter was so essentially unde-
served and so artlessly insincere that
he must needs, of course, treat 1t with
all seriousness.
"That isn't fair, Miss Calendar. Real
ly it's not"
"What am | to think? I've told you
any number Of times that It's only an
hours ride on to Cbiltern, where the
Pyrfords will be glad to take me In.
You may depend upon 1t. by 8 tonight,
at the latest, you'll have me off your
hands-the drag and worry that I've
been ever since
"Don'tI he pleaded vehemently.
Please! You know 1t isn't that. ]
don't want you of my hands, ever.
That is to say. I-ah"- Here he was
smitten with q dumbness and sat,
aghast at the enormity of his blunder,
entreating her forgiveness with eyes
that very likely pleaded his cause
more eloquently than he guessed.
81 mean," he foundered on present
ly, in the fatuous belief that he would
this time be able to control both mind
and tongue-"what mean is I'd be
glad to go on serving you In any way
might to the end Of time II you'd
give me-
He left the declaration inconclusive
"a stroke Of diplomacy that would
have graced an infinitely more adept
wooer. But he used 1t all unconscious
ly. 20 Lord" he groaned in spirit.
Worse and more Of It'll Why in thun-
der can't say the right thing right?"
Dear Mr.. Kirkwood," she said gen.
tly, bending forward as If to read be-
tween the lines anxiety had craven on
his countenance, won't you tell me,
please, what 1t can be that SO worries
you"
In evaporation he interrupted al
most rudely. "It's only this-I-Tm
strapped"
Strapped" She knitted her brows
over this fresh specimen Of American
slang.
"Flat strapped - busted - broke-on
my uppers-down and out" He reeled
off synonyms without smile. II
haven't enough money to pay cab fare
across the town.
"Ohw she interpolated, enlightened.
Ito say nothing Of taking us to
Chiltern. couldn't buy you a glass
Of water If you were thirsty. There
isn't soul on earth within hail who
would trust me with Quarter-I mean
shilling-across London bridge. I'm
the original 'luckless wonder and the
only genuine Jonah extant."
With q face the hue Of fire he cock
ed his eyebrows askew and attempted
to laugh unconcernedly to hide his bit
ter shame. 1--WE led you out Of the
frying pan into the fire, and l don't
know what to do. Please call me
Games"
"Oh. poor Mr.. Kirkwood! And it's
Ill because of me! You've beggared
vourself'-
Not precisely. l was beggared to
begin with" He FASTENED to disclaim
the extravagant generosity Of which
hoI nlt,f
four pounds to my name that night We
met. l haven't told you'll
you've told me nothing, nothing
whatever about yourself" she said re-
proachfully.
II didn't want to bother you with
nv troubles. / tried not to talk about
myself. You knew l was an Amer
lean, but rlA worse than that. I'm
Californian-from San Francisco" He
tried unsuccessfully to make light OF
it. 81 told you l was the 'luckless
wonder II I'd ever had any luck l
would have stored little money away.
AS It was, | lived on my income, left
my principal in Frisco, and when the
earthquake came 1t wiped me out
completely"
"And you were going home that
night we made you miss your steamer"
at was my own fault, and I'm glad
this blessed minute that l did miss 1t.
Nice sort I'd have been to 90 of and
leave you Mt the mercy
"Please. l want to think. I'm trying
to remember how much you've gone
through
Precisely what don't want you to
do Anyway, did nothing more than
any other fellow would have done.
Please don't give me credit that /
don't deserve. We must 60 to Mrs
Hallam's house first. It's too late
now-after 5-else we could deposit
the Jewels In some bank. Since
since they are no longer yours the
only thing and the proper thing to do
is to place them in safety or in the
hands of their owner II you take
them directly to young Hallam your
hands will be clear. And-I never did
such thing in my life, Miss Calendar.
but If he's got spark Of gratitude In
his makeup ! ought to be able to-
er-to borrow q pound or so Of him."
do you think so?" She, shook her
head In doubt. 81 don't know. I know
so little of such things. You are right.
We must take him the jewels, butt
Her voice trailed off into a sigh OF
profound perturbation.
- hor l,nlr