Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-01-18

now." with brisk change Of tone as
he closed the study door-"now we are
ready for this interesting Mr. Calen-
dar."
A suspicion Of moisture glimmered
in his eyes. "Dorothy!a he whispered
huskily, and little later, rising. he
proceeded to the telephone.
An hour and half later KirkwoCd.
his self respect something restored by
a bath, a shave and resumption of
clothes which had been hastily but
thoroughly cleansed and pressed by
Brentwick's valet. his confidence and
courage mounting high under the com,
bined influence Of generous wine, sub
stantial food. the presence Of his
hearts mistress and the admiration
which was unconcealed-of his friend,
concluded Mt the dinner table his mar.
ration.
"And that" he said. looking up from
his savory. "is about ALL"
"Bravo!' applauded Brentwick. eyes
Will 0CllSul.
"All," interposed Dorothy in warm
reproach, "but what he hasn't told"-
(which, my dear, Is to be accounted
for wholly by very creditable mod
esty rarely encountered In the young
men of the present day. 1t was, Of
course. altogether different with those
Of my younger years. Yes, Wotton?"
Brentwick sat back in his chair, in
clining an attentive ear to communi.
cation murmured by the butler.
Coffee was set before them by Wot-
ton, the impasslve, Brentwick refusing
1t, with little sigh. "By the way"
he said. while you were preparing
for dinner Wotton returned from his
constitutional with the news that, leav-
ing the corpulent person on watch at
the corner, Captain Stryker had tenn
porarily made himself scarce. How
ever, we need feel no anxiety concern
ing his whereabouts. for he reappear-
ed in good time and a motor car, from
which II becomes evident that you
have not overrated their pertinacity
The fiasco Of the cab chase Is not to
be re.enactsd."
Resolutely the girl repressed gasp
Of dismay. Kirkwood stared moodily
into his cup.
"These men bore me fearfully." he
commented at last.
"And so," continued Brentwick. u
bethought me Of counterstroke. 1t
is my good fortune to have q friend
whose v. him 1t is to support a touring
car chiefly in innocuous idleness. Ac-
cordingly have telephoned him ana
eommandeered the use Of this ma
chine-mechanician too. Though not a
betting man, am willing to risk reck-
lessly q few pence in support OF my
contention that Of the two, Captain
STRIKERS car and ours, the latter Will
prove considerably the more speedy.
I'm short. l suggest" he concluded,
thoughtfully lacing his long white TN.
gers, that, avoiding the hazards OF
cab and railway carriage. we motor TO
Chiltern, the night being fine and the
road. | am told, exceptionally good.
Miss Dorothy, what do you thinkT
Instinctively the girl looked to kirk
wood. then shifted her glance to their
host. 81 think you are wonderfully
thoughtful and kind" she said simply.
"And you. Philip"
"It's an inspiration" the younger
man declared. II can't think OF any
thing better calculated to throw them
Off than to distance them by motor
car. 1t would be always possible to
trace our journey by rail-"
"Then," announced Brentwick, max
ing as II to rise, I'VE had best 60. II
neither my hearing nor Captain Stry-
ker's car deceives me, our fiery chariot
Is painting at the door,"
A little sobered from the confident
spirit of quiet gayety In which they
had dined, they left the table. Not
that in their hearts either greatly
questioned their ultimate triumph. but
they were allowing for the element OF
error so apt to set at naught human
calculations. Calendar himself had al
ready been proved fallible. Within the
bounds of possibility their turn to
stumble might now be imminent.
When he let himself dwell upon 1t
their utter helplessness to give Calen.
dar pause by commonplace methods
maddened Kirkwood. With another
scoundrel 1t had been so simple mat
ter to put n period to his activities by
q word to the police. But he was her
rather. For that reason he must con-
tinually be spared. Even though, III
desperate extremity. she should give
consent to the arrest OF the adventur'
ers. retaliation would follow swift ana
sure. for they might not overlook or
ploze the fact that hers had been the
hands responsible for the theft OF the
Jewels. Innocent though she had been
in committing that larceny, cats
paw guided by an intelligence I'M
scrupulous and mallgn. the law would
not hold her guiltless were she once
brought within it's cognizancc. nor pos
sibly would the Hallams, mother and
son.
Before the door a motor cur waited,
engines humming impatiently. mecha-
nician ready in his seat. IN uncouth
shape In goggles and leather garments
that shonc like oilskins under the
street lights.
At one corner another and smaller
car stood in waiting. its lamps like
baleful eyes glnring through the night
In the shadows across the way
lengthy shadow lurked-Stryker. be-
yond reasonable question. Otherwise
the street was deserted. Not even that
adventitious bobby Of the early even
Ing was now In evidence.
Dorothy presently Joining them.
Brentwick led the way to the door.
Klrkwood to the right, Brentwick to
the left of Dorothy, the former carry
ing the treasure bag, they fastened
down the walk and through the gate
to the car.
The watcher across the way was
moved to whistle shrilly. The other
car lunged forward nervously.
Brentwick. taking the front seat be-
side the mechanician, left the tonneau
to Kirkwood and Dorothy. AS the
American slammed the door the car
swept smoothly out into the middle OF
the way. while the pursuing car