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

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tance while they sailed forth and in
a neighboring street discovered an ear
ly bird bakery. Here they were able
to purchase rolls steaming from the
oven, fresh pats of golden butter wrap
ped in clean lettuce leaves and milk IN
twin bottles, all Of which they prosaic-
ally carried with them back to the sta
ton, lacking leisure as they did to par
take of the food before train time.
| Without attempting concealment
| (Hobbs, he knew, was eavesdrOpping
round the corner Of the door Kirk
wood purchased at the ticket window
passages on the DunkerQue train. Mr..
Hobbs promptly fattered him by imi-
tation. and 80 jealous of his luck was
Kirkwood by this time grown through
continual disappointment that he did
not even let the girl into his plans un-
til they were aboard the 500 In u COM
partment all to themselves. Then, hay-
ing with his own eyes seen Mr.. Hobbs
dodge into the third compartment In
4
wood aston,shed the girl by requesting
her to follow him, and together they
left by the door opposite that by which
they had entered.
The engine was running up and
down scale Of staccato snorts In
preparation for the race and the cars
were on the edge Of moving. coup
lings clanklng, wheels a-groan, ere Mr.
Hobbs condescended to join them be-
tween the tracks.
YEARLY. disheartened. Kirkwood re-
opened the door. flung the bags in and
helped the girl back into their despised
compartment. The quicker route to
| England via Ostend was now out OF
the question. AS for himself. he wait
ed for brace Of seconds, eying wick
edly the ubiquitous Hobbs, who had
popped back into his compartment. but
stood ready to pop out again on the
least announcement. In the meantime
he was pleased to shake friendly foot
at Mr.. Klrkwood, thrusting that mem
Der out through the half open door.
Only the timely departure of the
train, compelling him to rejoin Doro-
thy at once If at all, prevented the
American from adding murder to the
already noteworthy catalogue Of his
high crimes and misdemeanors.
Their simple meal, consumed to the
ultimate drop and crumb while the
Dunkerque train meandered sereneiy
through sunny, smiling Flemish
countryside. somewhat revived their
jaded spirits.
For a time they laughed and chat
tered, pretending that the present held
no cares or troubles, but soon the girl,
nesting her head in a corner Of the
dingy cushions. was smiling ever more
drowsily on Kirkwood. And presently
she slept in good earnest, the warm
blood ebbing and flowing beneath the
exquisite texture Of her cheeks, the
ghost Of an unconscious smile CULVER
ing about the sensitive scarlet mouth,
the breeze through the open window
at her side wantoning at will In the
sunlit witchery of her hair. And Kirk
wood, worn with sleepless watching,
dwelt In longing upon the dear, inno-
cent allure of her until the ache In
his heart had grown well nigh insup-
portable, then instinctively turned his
gaze upward. searching his heart,
reading the faith and desire Of 1t, 10
that ut length knowledge and under
standing came to him Of his weakness
and strength and the clean love that
he bore for her. and, gladdened, he SAT-
dreaming in waking the same clear
dreams that modelled her unconscious
lips secretly for laughter and the Joy
Of living
When Dunkerque halted their prog
ress they were obliged to alight ana
change cars. Hobbs discreetly sinis-
ter shadow at the end Of the platform.
By schedule they were to arrive IN
Calais about the middle Of the fore
noon. with wait Of three hours to be
bridged before the departure OF the
Dover packet. That would be an anx-
ious time. The prospect Of 1t rendered
both Dorothy and Kirkwood doubly
anxious throughout this final stage OF
their fight In three hours anything
could happen or be brought about.
Neither could forget that 1t was quite
within the bounds of possibilities for
Calendar to he awaiting them In Ca
lais Presuming that Hobbs had been
acute enough to guess their plans ana
advise his employer by telegraph, the
latter could readily have anticipated
their arrival, whether by sea In the
brigantine or by land, taking the direct
route via Brussels and Lille. II such
proved to be the case 1t were scarcely
sensible to count upon the arch adj
venturer contenting himself Win
waiting role like Hobbs.
With such unhappy apprehensions
for a stimulant. between them the
man and the girl contrived make
shift counter stratagem, or 1t were
more accurate to say that Kirkwooo
proposed 1t, while Dorothy rejected,
disputed and at length accepted II, al
belt with sad misgivings, for 1t IN
volved a separation that might NOT
prove temporary.
Together they could never escape the
surveillance Of Mr.. Hobbs; parted ne
would be obliged to follow one or the
other. The task Of misleading the Ale.
thea's mate Kirkwood undertook, dele
eating to the girl the duty Of escap-
| ing when he could provide her the op'
portunity. Of keeping under cover un'
IN the hour Of sailing and then pro-
ceeding to England with the gladstone
bag alone II Kirkwood was unable or
thought 1t inadvisable to join her on
the boat.
In furtherance Of this design a ma.
jority Of the girls belongings were
transferred from her travelling bag to
Kirkwood's, the gladstone taking tesn