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The San , Francisco Sunday Call THE BLACK BAG CHAPTER XlX— Continued In something less than half an hour of this wild driving. Kirkwood roused out of his reverie sufficiently "to become sensible that the speed was slackening. Incoherent enatches of sentences, frag ments of words and phrases spoken by Brentwick and the mechanician, were fungr back past his ears by the rush- Ing wind. Shielding his eyes he could ree dimly that the mechanician was tinkering (apparently) with the driv ing gear. Then, their pace continuing steadily to. abate, he heard Brentwick Ring at the man a sharp toned and juerulously Impatient question: -What »as the trouble? His reply came in a single word, not distinguishable. The girl sat up, opening her eyes, s disengaging her arm. Klrkwood bent forward and touched Brentwick on the shoulder; the latter tura«(| to him a face lined with deep concern. "Trouble." he announced superflu ously. "I fear we have blundered." "What Is itr* asked Dorothy In a troubled voice. "Petrol eeems to be running low. Charles here" (he referred to the mech nidan) "says the tank must be leaking. We'll go as best we can and try to find an inn. Fortunately, most of the Jnns nowadays keep supplies of petrol for Just such emergencies." "Are we — ? Do you think — T* "Oh, no; not a bit of daSger of that," . returned Brentwick hastily. "They'll not catch up with us this night.© That .;s a very inferior car they have^ — to Charles says, at least; nothing to com pare with this. If I'm not In error, there's the Crown and Miter Just ahead; we'll make it, fill our tanks, and be off again before they can make up half their loss." Dorothy looked anxiously to Kirk wood, her lips forming an unuttered query: What did he think? "Don't worry; we'll have no trou ble," he assured her stoutly; "the chauffeur knows, undoubtedly." None the less he was moved to stand up in the tonneau, conscious of the presence of the traveling bag, snug at his feet, as -w^ll as of the weight of Calendar's revolver in his pocket, while he stared back along the road. There was nothing to be seen of their persecutors. The car continued to crawL Five minutes dragged out tediously. Grad ually they drew abreast a tavern standing back a distance from the road, embowered in a grove V)f trees between whose ancient boles the tap-* room windows shone enticingly, aglow \u25a0with comfortable light. A creaking eign board, much worn by weather end age, swinging from a roadside post, confirmed the accuracy of Brent wick's surmise, announcing that here stood the Crown and Miter, house of entertainment for man and beast. Sluggishly the car rolled up before it and came to a dead and silent halt. Charles, the mechanician. Jumping out, ran hastily up the path toward the inn inn. In the car Brentwick turned again, his eyes curiously bright in the etartlght, his forehead quaintly fur \u25a0 rowed, his voice apologetic "It may take a few minutes," he said unfiecidedly, plainly endeavoring to cover up his own darjc doubts. "My dear." to the girl, 'If I have brought trouble upon you In this wise, I shall never earn my own forgiveness." KSrkwood stood up again, watchful, attentive to the sounds of the night; but the voice of the pursuing motor .^car was not of their company. "I hear ' nothing," he announced. "You will forgive me — won't you, " my dear? — for causing you these few moments of needless anxiety?" pleaded • the old gentleman, his tone tremulous. "As if you could be blamed!" pro . tested the girl. "You mustn't think of it In that way. Fancy, what we should - have done without you!" "I am afraid I have been very clum sy." sighed Brentwick, "clumsy and Impulsive. . .' . Klrkwood. do you hear anything?" "Perhaps." suggested Brentwick a little later, "perhaps we had better alight and go up to the inn. It \u25a0would be more cozy there, especially If the petrol proves hard to obtain, and we have long to wait." "I should like that," assented the pirl decidedly.. Klrkwood nodded his approval, op ened the door and Jumped out to assist 'her; then picked up the bag and fol lowed the pair — Brentwick leading the n-ay with Dorothy on his arm. At the doorway of the Crown and Miter. Charles met them evidently seri ously disturbed. "No petrol to be had here, eir," he announced reluctantly; "but the landlord will send to the next inn, a mile up the road, for some. You will have to be patient, I'm afraid, esjr." "Very well. Get some one to help you push the car from the road," or dered Brentwick: "we will be waiting In one of the private parlors." "Yes, elr; thank you, sir." The mechanician touched the visor of his cap and hurried off. "Come. Kirkwood." Gently Brent wick drew the girl in with him. Kirkwood lingered momentarily on the door step, to listen acutely. But the wind was blowing into that quarter whence they had come, and" he could hear naught save the soughing, in* the trees, together with an occasional burst of rude rustic laughter front the taproom. Lifting his shoulders in dumb dismay, and. endeavoring to com pose his features, he entered the •tavern. "The Diary of a Show GjjM" Begins on This Page Next Sunday II — The Crown and filter A rosy cheeked and beaming land lady met him In the corridor and, all bows and smiles, ushered him Into a private parlor reserved for the party,' Immediately bustling off In a desperate flurry, to secure refreshments desired by Brentwick." The girl had seated herself on one end, of an extremely comfortless lounge and was making a palpable effort to seem at ease. Brehtwlck stood at one of the windows, shoulders rounded and head bent, hands clasped behind his back as he peered out Into the night. Kirkwood dropped the traveling bag beneath a chair the farthest removed from the doorway, and took to pacing the floor. In the corner of the room a tall grandfather's clock ticked off 10 Interm inable minutes. < For some reason un conscionably delaying, the landlady did not reappear. Brentwick, abruptly turning from the window, remarked the fact querulously, then drew a chair up to a marble topped table In the mid dle of the floor. \u25a0 "My dear." he requested the girl "will you oblige me by sitting over here? And Philip, bring up a chair, if you will. We must not permit our selves to worry, and I have something here which may, perhaps, engage your interest for a while." To humor him and alleviate his evi dent distress of mind, they acceded. Kirkwood found himself seated oppo site Dorothy. Brentwick betwjeen them. After some hesitation, made the more notable by an air of uneasiness which sat 'oddly on his shoulders, whose com posure and confident mien had thereto fore been so complete and so reassur ing, the elder gentleman fumbled in an Inner coat pocket and brought to light a small black leather wallet. He seemed to be on the point of open ing it jsvhen hurried footfalls sounded in the 'hallway. Brentwick placed the \u25a0wallet, still with its secret intact, on the table before him. as Charles burst unceremoniously in, leaving the - door wide open. "Mr. Brentwick, sir", he cried gustily. "That other car — " With a smothered ejaculation Kirk wood leaped to 'his feet, tugging at the weapon in his pocket. In another in stant he had the revolver exposed. Tr.e girl's cry of alarm, Interrupting the machinist, fixed Brentwick's atten tion on the young man.. -He, too, stood up, reaching over very quickly ;to clamp strong supple fingers round Kirkwood's wrist, while with the" other hand he lalfl hold of the revolver and by a single twist wrenched it away. Klrkwood turned upon him in fury. "So!" he cried, shaking with passion. "This Is what your hospitality meant I You're going to — " , "My dear young friend," Interrupted Brentwick with a flash of Impatience, "remember that if I had designed to betray you, I could have asked no better opportunity than when you were my guest under my own roof." "But — hang it all, Brentwick!" ex postulated Kirkwood, ashamed and con trite, but worked upon by desperate apprehension; "I didn't mean that, but — « "Would you have bullets flying when she Is near?" demanded Brentwick scathingly. Hastily he slipped the re volver upon a little shelf beneath the table top. "Sir!" he Informed Klrk wood with some heat, "I love you. as my own son, but you're a young fool! . . . . . as I have been in my time . . . and as I would to heaven I might be again! Be advised, Philip — be calm. Can't you see it's the only way to save your treasure?" "Hang the Jewels!" retorted Klrk wo<sd warmly. "What — " "Sir. who said anything about the Jewels r* , As Brentwick spoke. Calendar's cor pulent figure filled the doorway; Stryker's weather worn features loom ed over his shoulder, distorted In a cheerful leer. ~ "As to the Jewels," announced . the fat adventurer, "I've got a word to "say,, if you put It to me that way." • " He paused on the threshold, partly for dramatic effect, partly for his own satisfaction, his quick eyes darting from face to face of the four people whom he had caught so unexpectedly. A shade of complacency colored his expression, and he smiled evilly be neath the coarse short thatch of \u25a0 his gray mustache. In his, hand a revolver appeared, poised for immediate use If there were need, \u25a0• There -was none. Brentwick, at his primal! appearance, had . dropped a peremptory hand on Kirkwood's shoul der, forcing the young man back to his seat; at the same time he resumed his own. The girl had not stirred from hers -since the«flrst alarm; she sat as if transfixed with terror, leaning for ward with her elbows on the table, her hands tightly clasped, her face, a little blanched, turned to the. door. But her scarlet lips were set and firm with inflexible purpose, and her brown eyes met Calendar's with a look, levels and unflinching. Beyond .this she gave no Elgn of recognition. Nearest of the four to the adventur ers was Charles, the mechanician, paused In affrighted astonishment at sight of the revolver. Calendar, choos ing to advance suddenly, poked the muzzle of the weapon jocularly in the man's ribs. "Beat It, Four-eyes'" he snapped. "This is your cue to duck! Get out of my way." The mechanician Jumped as if shot, then hastily retreated to the table, his sallow features working beneath the goggle mask which had excited the fat adventurer's scorn. "Come ' right in, Cap'n," Calendar threw over one shoulder; "come In, shut the door and lock.it/ Let's all be sociable, and have a nice quiet time." Stryker obeyed, with, a' - derisive grimace for Kirkwood. Calendar, advancing - Jauntily to a* point within a yard of. the table, stop ped, smiling affably down .upon his prospective victims* and airily twirl- Ing his revolver. .-.'/.• "Good evening, all!" he saluted them blandly. . "Dorothy. ; my, /child," with assumed concern, l"you're. looking a trf-" fle.upset; I'm afraid you'ye'.been" keep ing late hours. Little girls', must be careful, you; know,.- or "they, lose the bloom of roses in their cheeks. ... Mr. Kirkwood, It's^a- pleasure to. meet you again! Permit me to paraphrase" your most sound advice, and remind you that pistol" shots are apt to at tract undesirable attention. It wouldn't be wise for, you to -bring .r. r the: police about our ears."' I believe that in sub-V stance such 'was your sapient counsel to me In the cabin of the Alethea; was It n0t?...:,. . "And. you. sir!"— fixing Brentwick /with 'a; cold unfriendly eye. "You animated- fossil,; : what "d'ybu mean" by; telling, me; to go ;to "the devil? '.' . : But let, that 'pass; " I hold no grudge; --] Wh*t might : your name be?" ; -\u25a0-•;' - ; -;h X- ..' ---"• "It might be Brentwick," said that gentleman placidly. "Brentwick, eh?- Well, I like a man of spirit. But permit me to advise you—" "Gladly," nodded Brentwick. "Eh? . . . Don't come a second time between father and daughter; another man might not be as patient as I, Mister Brentwick. There's a law In the land, if you don't"' happen to know It." v "I congratulate you on your success In evading It," observed ', Brentwick, undisturbed. "And it was considerate of you not to' employ It iri'Ahls In stance." Then, with a sharp change of tone, "Come, sir!" he demanded. "You have unwarrantably, Intruded Jn > this room, which I : 'have 'engaged for my private use. Get through with your business and be off with you." "All In good time, my antediluvian' friend. When I've wound up 'my busl- ; ' lness here I'll go — not before, -f Brit, Just to oblige you, we'll "get f down to it.. . .-'-\u25a0. Klrkwood. you : have a" re volver of mine. Be good enough to return it." "^ "I. have it here — under- the table," : Interrupted Brentwick * suavely. "Shall I hand It to you?' "By the muzzle. If you 'please. . Be very /careful; this one's- loaded, too-^-*»' apt to explode any, minute." \ To Kirkwood's intense disgust.Brent wick quietly slipped one hand beneath the table and, placing the. revolver on"; its top. delicately with his finger tips, shoved It toward : the farther edge. With a -grunt .of approval, -, Calendar swept,' the weapon up. and into ;hls; pocket. "Any more - ordnance?" /he Inquired briskly, eyes moving; alertly from face I to., face. "*^o "^t** 31 "'" y°u*' wouldn't '. dare usej'em any- way. > And I'm ; about done. Dorothy, my dear.; it's high time > jou returned to your' father's protect tlon.v Where's; that gladstone ; bag?'.' ... ; "In my- traveling bag," the'; girl told him in a toneless voice. / :. ; "Then you' rnay bring It along. You' may also say \u25a0 good- night to* the kind gentlemen.". . -. -„ Dorothy did 'not move; her pallor \u25a0grew'more lntense'and'Klrkwood^saw . her, \u25a0•": knuckles .tighten beneath the gloves! her • mouth seemed • to " grow; more , straight hard. , ; "Dorothr!" cried" thejadventurer with a' touch'; of displeasure. ; ; "YouV heard : mer:.' % : \u0084. , ./,..•;; X '- \u25a0, :, - '*- "I heard you," she .replied -a little' wearily, more ' than; a .little* contempt-:" uously. ;- ."Don't, mind.'hlm, ..please, "MrC - Kirkwood!"— with an ges ture,! as /Klrkwood; to" contain; himself,' moved T restlessly.-; in ;his ?chair h as If to rise. /"Don't? say; anything. ;. I have no I intention /whatever, of -going" with this man." :-,,- ; - : *;, :^t.' Calendar's '/features -- v twitched t-inerv.r ; \u25a0ously ; ; he \ chewed a -corner of "his t mus- '\u25a0'. tache,' fixing:, the" girl with ;a black "stare/" Vl ' presume,',' ihe I rernarkedTaf ter) aTriio- - nient, with^ slow.-'deliberation, 1 "? "you're aware '. that,'- as • your " father, -I* am in a position to - compel 'you ?to -- accompany - me.":/ \u0084•-\u25a0'*\u25a0;\u25a0; :r-.'::: r -.':: 7 ' tf' ' .'-.vi< -••-'=\u25a0' *,"\u25a0 vs "p \u25a0 ' "I . shall . not ;. go ; wlth ;, you." • iterated Dorothy! in /a ! level- tone, f /."You* may' threaten fine. . but--^I ;shall ? not i go. W Mr. 1 Brentwick and ; Mr.'j Kirkwood^ areitak-" ing me\to— friends,^ who/ will | give me^ ~B.'. horned until? I " can 'find aTway^ to' take care sof I myself. - : Thatj: is '.< all >I • have %to j say,.to;you."^ : '-" *jC~l'£t£ '."."'->.:\u25a0';.-*,•, /\u25a0\u25a0 C '--\u25a0- fßravo."-. my/ dear!" - cried Brentwick \ 'encouragingly. ";'~]:M \u25a0. \u25a0' ' ' . '-\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0 ; '\u25a0'• •\u25a0;:\u25a0: "Mind your business, sir I" , thundered Calendar, his face darkening. : Then, ,to . Dorothy, ."You . understand;-! trust, what this \ means?" he' demanded. * "I offer you a home^ — and a good one. Re-» fuse, and you work for -your living, my girl! You've forfeited', your' legacy—" "I ; know, - 1 . know," she f told him jln cold' disdain. " I anv content.* Won't' you be kind enough toleave me aloneT'. For a breath, Calendar glowered over her; "then, "I /presume," , he observed, "that all" these; heroics are inspired by j that whipper-snapper, iKirkwood. Do youknow that he hasn't a- brass farth ing to bless himself with?" ". -' . \"Whaf has .that— ?" cried the girl - Indignantly.";'- f|, . iy-' r \Vhy,\ it has everything .to :do . with me,; my child. As your \ doting, parent, I can't consent to .your, marrying,' noth- . : ing-a-year. .... . -For- 1; surmise you ' Intend .to;" marry this : Mr. £ Klrkwood, -don't yyo u V:\u25a0* :\u25a0 { \u25a0',; ''\u25a0..\u25a0 : ; There followed a little Interval, of silence,; while the warm blood, flamed In the girl's face and the ; red lips;: trembled as she •; faced her^ v torm_entor. I Then, with a{ quaver I. that escaped \ her ''•! control. "If Mr. Kirkwood asks me, ; shall," she stated ; ; very, simply.' •' " ""That," interpbsedv'r Klrkwood, completely understood.":" His gaze sought i her eyes, but che looked away. "You forget that I" am ; your ; father," \u25a0sneered, Calendar: ''and: that you- are a minor." I : can refuse 'my; consent." , ; . "But you- won't," '\u25a0•; Kirkwood .told him. with assurance. . .... .•' V- r .'\u25a0.""-'- The ; adventurer v stared. -^ ''No,*', he , agreed,* after^sllght; hesitation; : '"no, ;l shan't: Interfere. , Take' her, ; my, boy, if you want 'her— -and a father's" blessf Ing Into the j bargain. B The ; Lord knows y : I've troubles ; enough; a parent's- lot Is •' not * what It's 'V cracked :, up ' to; be." : >• He ; paused, leering, •'»-ironia?-''But"^7-dellb-': : erately, % "there's ; still \u25a0', this ' other - mat- • ' ter of the gladstone.bag.v I don't -mind , abandoning r? my^ parental *£ authority, ' when my, child's happiness is concerned, but as for^my- property--".-: "It Is -riot 'your property," inter rupted the "girl. : •- "It " was ';' y our dear child. ; It's -now mine." • : V "I dispute that assertion": Klrkwood puf.ln. .\u25a0'":. :\u25a0:"£ :'<• -, ' : '\u25a0\u25a0 "\u25a0 \u25a0 - ":•-\u25a0\u25a0 .--. - ."You may dispute", it till "the- cows come home, my ; boy:, the fact: will, re- , , main that I intend to take my property \u25a0: wl th * nie .. \u25a0 when -- 1 ">, leave -i- this '" \u25a0 room,"'.' \u25a0: whether. , you^ like It or f. not.' y Now \u25a0 are ; you disposed to "continue the argument; ' or; may ; I count on your : being sen- Bible?*'/, J ; . "' r "\u25a0 ' --".;- ' \u25a0 > \u25a0\u25a0' ' \u0084'; "You .."may , put . away/ your .r- revolver, 0 '; If /that's f.what: you \ mean,"-, said > Kirk- -f -woodl? C.TWe - certainly 'shan't .'oppose 'yoir.wlth/Vlolence,' but;l*wam you that V ' Scotland *-Tar4^-".j - '. . : . ; /, . ; .-., * '"Oh/that l be blowed!"-the?adventurer : snorted iin ? dls&ust> i^l. can : sail; circles ! ; \u25a0 rounds any \ tec. .that^ ever jblew .[ out , of *j . Scotland VYard'^Glve.'ine. an" bourns start Jl to'J do • alii the >' funny business . you've ; a^mlnd k to, 'jWlthi-Scot-v' "LandCYard!""^-,- \u25a0'-''" '\u25a0\u25a0';. . v"'. ' "\u25a0'-' "\ ;.; ''}. -/"Then* you •admit," .queried . Brent- " . wick* civilly, ithat you*:ve no legal title to"therjewels^ln-;dispute?" f ; V -;,.; t - ; - : y, r ,\ ;:"' '.Tiobk ~ here,"i,'myis friend,", chuckled' : ! Calendar^ -V'when 1 you i catch \ me l 'admit-' V .jtjn^ r janytelng.^ypu?' I write'tlt'-:dbwn«lriy *your?little f book^and jtelC the; bobby on "corrierT'i"' Just"; at? present; l've; got v \u25a0 other I ; « business s than tj standing; «j;'roundtf admittlnsfif anything si about -anything. ' \u25a0.>\u25a0:/.'/. . i Cap'nr?s laf s• , have J that * bag of^my?dutiful^dauehter's." -\u25a0< t* .-.-C ; r\u25a0\u25a0../;•r \u25a0\u25a0../;• Louis Joseph Vance \u25a0• ; " .'Ere you are." . Stryker. spoke for the first time since entering. the. room, taking the valise J4 from ' beneath"" the chair and depositing It on : the table." ; "Well, we shan't take anything that doesn't : belong to us," laughed Calen dar, fumbling with the catch; "not even so; small a. matter as my own child's traveling bag. A small— heavy — glad stone bag," he grunted, opening the valise and , plunging in .one greedy hand, "will— Just— about— do for mine!" ; With which he "produced the article mentioned. "This. for. the discard, Cap'n," 'he 'laughed, contentedly. push- Ing the girl's valise aside; and,' rumb ling with stentorian mirth, stood beam ing benignantly over the assembled company. \u25a0 "Why." , he exclaimed, "this moment Is worth all -it cost me! My children, I. forgive you freely. Mr. Kirkwoo'd, I felicitate you most cordially on hav ing secured a most expensive wife. Really— d'you know? — -I feel . as if I ought to" do a little' something for you both." Gurgling with delight he smote his fat palms together. "I Just . tell you what," he resumed, "no one yet ever called Georgie Calendar a tight wad. , I Just believe I am going to make you kids a handsome wedding present. :.' . . The. good Lord knows there's enough of this for a fellow to be a little generous and never miss It!" The thick mottled .fingers tore nerv ously at -the. catch; eventually he got .the . bag \ open. Those i about the table bent forward, ..all quickened by "the - prospect x of •; for the first- time behold ing, the treasure over which they had : fought,- for which they had suffered, so long. . •*. . " I | • A heady and luscious fragrance per vaded the atmosphere, exhaling from the open. mouth ofthe bag. .A silence. Indefinitely sustained. Impressed It self upon the little audience— a breath less pause ended eventually ' by a' sharp snap .of Calendar's teeth. "Mmm!" grunted the adventurer/ In bewilder ment. He began to pant Abruptly, his heavy hands delved Into the contents of the bag, like the paws of a terrier "digging In the earth. To ;Kirkwood the air- seemed tempor arily thick, with, flying . objects. Be neath; his astonished eyes atowel fell , upon the. table-^a crumpled, soiled towel, bearing on '\u25a0 Its; dingy hem .the ' Inscription in Indelible ink: "Hotel dv Commerce, Anvers.'.V A tooth mug of . substantial ./earthenware dropped- to ; the ; floor with a crash. A slimy soap dish of the; same" .manufacture slid across "the^ table; and* Into Brentwick's lap. ; ; A' battered alarm clock u with never \u25a0 a tick left in its -abused carcass rang vacuously as it . fell ; by ; . the open bag. if. . . The; remainder was—or anges: a dozen or 1 more small,, round, ;. golden globes . of : : ripe fruit, ' perhaps a shade v overripe, therefore the more aromatic -,- .. :. x -The .adventurer' ripped out an oath. "Mulready, by the- living God!": he ;raged -In. fury. "Done up, I swear! Done by that infernal sneak— me, blind as a "bat!" » .He fell -suddenly . silent, the blood congesting in- his -face; : as suddenly broke forth again, haranguing the company. .. . ' ."That's 'why. he went out and bought thosedamnedforanges.ls it? Think v of It— me sittingln" the hotel in 1 " Antwerp arid^ him plugging : in -oranges; by: the -bagful 'because ' he : was \ fond of : frultl ' Wheni did -he do^itt How.'do "'. l ; know? If 1 knew, .would I be here and him the ': devil;' knows' wherei tbia " minute? 1 ,When ray >back was turned, 7of ' course,* the damned j snake! .That's why^; he was ; so s hot about picking.a > fight \ on the boat,' hey? r Wanted- to get 'thrown 1 off and | take -I to':" the 'woodsy-leaving i me v with this! -% And that's iwhy- he felt so awful' done up he, r wouldn't Itake >; a hand I at ; hunting you two down, hey? .-Well— by-f the-rEternal! . I'll! camp^ on his trail for. the rest of his natural born ; days ! - I'll have his _eye teeth for ' this," I'll— " :•\u25a0\u25a0•-\u25a0 •/ ' : J \u25a0 ''•:'\u25a0' \u25a0;\u25a0- ; / : -.He swayed, gibbering with rage, . his countenance ; frightfully i contorted, his I fat hands shaking " as • he struggled' for expression.* \u25a0.;>": ''f y ;-^" -j . •.-: r:>: - ; ,v;i And'- then,. .while. yet their: own, as-. \u25a0 tonlshment \u25a0 held ,"- Dorothy, Klrkwood. Brentwick *{ and -.-.;. Stryker.; speechless,', ? the ~ mechanician, < moved \u25a0 sud-' denly/ upon -the, ad venturer.' ;*\ " • i There \u25a0 followed -two metallic i- clicks. . Calendar's ravings '? were^abrupted as if his, tongue, had ;» been ;, paralyzed.; He fell I back ; a* pace,*', flabby; Jowls "i pale and 'shaking, v* ponderous^ jaw, - dropping j on his ,; .breast, ; mouthy -wide r and i eyes -crazed;' as V he ',' shook \ violently : before him;' his r, thick * fleshy wrists— securely \u25a0" . / '........'. ' v Simultaneously •",. the- '-^mechanician r whirled ? about, jboundedleagerly" across Ithe j fioor.Jand 'caught ' : Stryker 3at \u25a0 the /door.'i his .dexterous .flngersjtwistingr; ln ' the I captain's Tcollari as :. he Jerked him -b'ackrand'itrlppedjAlin.-.-"" - " " .. ;'v?-' < Mr.\'i : KlrkwoodT/:,' he ." cried.. .t^Here,; J please— one moment. .Take \ this man's *gun 'fromxhlmnwill'ybur', i; ' -- . ''\ Kirkwo'od • sprang .« to'* his ; assistance, .'and^without'encbuntering much .trouble, ; succeeded'^ ln :, wresting ; a Webley * from ; Strykerfslllmp,^ flaccid 'fingrers.-;;:,. - -. <*sßoughlys ßoughly the i mechanician 'i shook \ the . • man.'i dragging him \ toj his ; t eet.' .},!rNow.**., Ihe ordered | sternly, "you march " to . that ' " cxJrner, *4tick :> your.j nose • in • It and p: ; be ; good! You can't get away if you try., rye got other men outside, waiting for you to come'out.. Understand?" -Trembling like a whipped cur. Stry ker meekly - obeyed" his Instructions J.e the letter. . W58BB8&B&* * The \u25a0 mechanician, with a contemptu ous'laughj leaving him, strode back to Calendar," meanwhile whipping; offt his goggles; '"and: clapped a hearty hand upon » the adventurer's quaking shoul-" ders. : ' , TWell!" he cried. "And are you still sailing circles round the men from Scot land Yard. ' Simmons, or Bellows, or Sanderson, or Calendar. 6r Crumbstone, or whatever • name you prefer to sail under?" / Calender glared at him aghast: then heaved; a profound sigh, shrugged'hls fat . shoulders, and bent his head •In • thought. An instant later he looked up. "You can't do" lt,"-he informed the de tective'vehemently: "you haven't got a shred of evidence against' met. "What's there? A pile of oranges and a peck of trash! What of It? . .'.' . Besides." he threatened, "if you pinch me, you'll have to take the girl In. too. I'll not be trapped this way by her and let her off without a squeaL; Take me— take her; d'yqu hear?" .- - "I think." put in the clear, bland ac cents of Brentwick, "we can consider that t matter settled. I have here, my man"— nodding to the adventurer as he took up : the' black leather wallet— "l have here a little matter which may clear up . any lingering doubts as to your standing, which you may be dis posed at present to entertain." He extracted a slip of cardboard and. at arm's length, ] laid It on . the table edge beneath the adventurer's eyes. The latter, bewildered, bent over It for a moment, breathing heavily: then straightened back. shook .hlmse.lf. laughed shortly with a. mirthless note, and faced the detective!' . "It's come with you now. I guess V he suggested very quietly. "The warrant Is still out for -. you," returned . the man. ""' "That'll be' enough to hold you on till extra dition "papers arrive from the states." ; "Oh, Til waive those: and I won't glveyou.any trouble, either. % .'\u25a0.. I reckon." : mused the adventurer. Jing ling his manacles thoughtfully, "I'm a back ' number any 'way. Whan a- half grown girl, 'a half baked boy, a dub like Mulready— damn his eyes! — and a club footed- snipe from Scotland Yard can put it. over, me this way .'.. . tvhy, I guess it's up to me to go home and retire to my country place up the Hudson." He sighed wearily. "Yep: time to cut It out. But I would like to be free long enough to get In one good lick at that mutt. Mulready. My friend, you get your hands on him and I'll squeal on him till. I'm blue in the face. That's a promise." "You'll have the chance before long." replied the detective. "We received a telegram from the Amsterdam po lice late this afternoon, saying they'd picked, up Mr. Mulready with a woman named Hallam. and were holding them on suspicion.^ It seems." — turning to Brentwick. — "they were opening nego tiations for the sale of a lot of stones, and seemed in such a precious hurry that the diamond merchant's suspicion were aroused. We're sending ovor for them. Miss Calendar, so you can make your .'. mind easy, about your Jewels; you'll have them back In a few days." "Thank -you," said the girl with an effort. ; ."Well , M the adventurer. delivered his peroration. "I certainly am blame" glad to hear It. "Twouldn't "ye been a square. deal. any. other way." ".'H • V- He paused.* looking his erstwhile dupes over with a melancholy* eve; then, with an uncertain nod comprehending the girl. Klrkwood and Brentwick, "So lcngl" . he , said' thickly; and turned, with -' the detective's hand under his arm and, accompanied by the thorough ly cowed Stryker, waddled out of the room.'' Ill — JOCRXEPS EXD .Klrkwood. .following the exodus, closed,; the door with elaborate care and slowly, deep in thought, returned to theMable. . • Dorothy seemed not to have moved, save to place her elbows on the marble slab and rest her cheeks between hands 4hat remained clenched, as they had been In the greatest stress of her emo tion. The color had returned to her face, with a slightly enhanced depth of hue to the credit of her excitement. Her cheeks were hot, her eyes starllke beneath the woven, massy sunlight of her : hair. * Temporarily unconscious of her surroundings she stared steadfastly before her, thoughts astray in the Iri descent glamour of the dreams that were to come.. » ~~ Brentwick had slipped down in his chair, restlntr his silvered head upon its back, and was smiling serenely up at the low yellow ceiling. Before him on the table his long whlt-3 fingers were -drumming an Inaudible tune. Presently rousing he caught Klrk v/ood's eye and smiled sheepishly, like a child caught, in. lnnocent mischief. The younger man grinned broadly. "And" you -were responsible for all that!" he commented, infinitely amused. '-, Brentwick </ nodded, twinkling self satisfaction.! "I: contrived it all", he said ;V"neat. I call.lt. too." His old eyes brightened with reminiscent enjoyment. "Inspiration!"' he, crowed "softly. "In spiration.:" pure and . simple. I'd b^en worrying my. wits for fully five minutes before . Wotton settled the matter by telling me about the captain's, hir ing.- of the . , motor, car.' Then, In' a flash; I had it. ... I talked with .Charles by ",. telephone— his name is really Charles, \- by the by— overcame his - conscientious : scruples ' about play ing his fish when they were already all but landed, and settled the artistic de tails." : v <^" ' He chuckled delightedly. "It's the in stinct.", he . declared . emphatically, "the instinct for 'adventure. I knew It was in me , latent' somewhere, but never till this day did it get ''the opportunity to assert Itself. "A bora adventurer — that's- what ? l am! •/ • • You see. It /was essential that they should .be lieve w«7 were ; frightened and running - from "them;' that way, they* would ' be sure : to i run r after: us./ Why, we might i have,-: baited ; a dozen ; traps , and failed to lure I them > into my house, * after that stout scoundrel ' knew you'd had the chance 7. to :' tell /me .the whole yarn. ./:.. ••;• .-Oddr *;"-.- :..-.. . . :/\u25a0„ \u25a0 : \u25a0 ;\ /-;. . "Weren't you taking, chances.' you and J; Charles?" -asked i Klrkwood curi ously. :_: _ : •"Precious ifew..-' There was another motor 4 from _: Scotland Yard trailing .Captain Stry ker*s. '. If \ they " had '.; run past, or turned aside, they would have* been 'overhauled In < short order.'* '?\u25a0 ;He' - relapsed' Into his whimsical reverie; . the wistful . look returned , to .his eyes; replacing the glow of ; triumph and ~; pleasure. 'And he sighed a little -. regretfully. { 4|9BflHE9sߣd69&9 -'J'What. IV:, don't j. understand," con tended; Xl r kwood. w "is ':'• how -you ' co n- * : vinced ) Calendar * that . he ; get \u25a0 revenge by pressing his coarse against Miss Calendar— Dorothy."'- - ' * : --< : '-- -; \u25a0I" "Oh-hY'^ Mr.^ Brentwick elevated bis fine white eyebrows and sat up briskly. . "Mr dear boy, that was the most delectable dish on the entire menu. I have been reserving It. I don't mind owning*, that I might better enjoy the full relish of IL ... I may an swer you best, perhaps, by ask ins you to scan what I offered to the fat scoun drel's respectful consideration, my dear sir." \_^ He leveled a fofeflnger at the card. . At first glance It conveyed nothing to the younger man's benighted Intelli gence. He puzzled over It, twisting his, brows out of alignment. An or dinary oblong slip of thin white card board. It was engraved In fine script as follows: v MR. GEORGE BTJRGQTNE CALEXDAK 31. Aspen Villa*, s. W. "Oh!" exclaimed Kirkwood at length, standing up, his face bright with un derstanding. "You— r "I." laconically assented the elder man. Impulsively Klrkwood leaned across the table. "Dorothy." he said tender ly; and when the girl's happy eyes met his. quietly drew her attention toltho card. v Then' he rose hastily and went over to stand by the window, staring mistily Into the blank face of night beyond its unseen panes. Behind him there was a confusion of little noises; the sound of a chair pushed hurriedly aside, a rustle of skirts, a happy sob or two, low voices Intermingling; sighs. . . . Out of It finally came the father's accents. "There, there, my dear! My dearest dear!" protested the old gentleman. "Positively I don't deserve a tithe of this. I—"I — " The young old voice quav ered and broke In a happy laugh. . . . "You must understand," he con tinued more soberly, "that no con sideration of any sort is due me. . . . "When we married I was too old for your mother, child; we both knew It, both believed It would never matter. But it did. By her wish I went back to America; we were to see what sep aration would do to heal the wounds dissension had caused. It was a very foolish experiment. Your mother died before I could return."* There fell a silence, again broken by the father. "After that X was In no haste to return. But some years ago I came to London to live. I communi cated with the old colonel, asking per mission to see you. It was refused in a manner which precluded the subject being reopened by me: I was Informed that if I persisted In attempting' to tee you you would be disinherited. . . . He was very angry with me— Justly. I admit. . . . One must grow old before one can see how unfor givably one was wrong In youth. . . . So I settled down to a quiet old age. determined not to disturb you in your happiness. ... Ah — Klrk wood!" The old gentleman was standing, hla arm round his daughter's shoulders, when Klrkwood turned. "Come here. Philip; I'm explaining to Dorothy, but you should hear. .-• . . The evening I called on you. dear boy. at' the Pless. returning home I received a message from my solici tors, whom I had instructed to keep an eye on Dorothy's welfare. They in formed me that she had disappeared. Naturally I canceled my plans to go to Munich, and stayed, employing detec tives. One of the first things they dis covered was that Dorothy had run oC with an elderly person calling himself George Burgoyne Calendar — the nanw I had discarded when I found that to acknowledge me would imperil my daughter's fortune. . . . The in vestigations went deeper; Charles let us continue to ' call him— had been to see me only thla afternoon to inform me of the plot they had discovered. This Hallam woman and her son — It seerms that they were legitimately In the line of In» heritance. Dorothy out of the way. But the woman was — alv — a bad lot. Some how she got Into communication with this fat rogue and together they plotted It out. Charles doesn't believe that the Hallam woman expected to enjoy the Burgoyne estates for very many days. Her plan was to step in when Dorothy stepped out,' gather up what she could, realize on it, and de camp. That is why there was so much excitement about the Jewels; naturally the most valuable item on her list, the most easy to convert Into cash. . . . The man Mulready we do not place; he seems to have been a shad^ character the fat rogue picked up lomewhere. The tetter's ordinary Una of business was diamond smuggling, though he would condescend to almost anything In order to turn a"~dlshonest penny. "That see^na to exhaust the subject. But one word more. . . '. Dorothy, I am old enough and have suffered enough to know the wisdom of seizing one's happiness when one may. My dear, a little while ago. you did a very brave deed. Under, fire you said a most courageous, womanly, creditable thing. And Philip's rejoinder was only second in nobility to yours. . . . I do hope to goodness that you two blessed youngsters won't let any ad dlepated scruples stand between your selves and — the prlzo of Romance, your Inalienable inheritance!" Abruptly Brentwick. who was no longer Brentwick. but the actual Cal endar, released the girl from his em brace and hopped nimbly toward the door. "Really. I must see about that petrol!" he cried. "While It's perfectly true that Charles lied about It's run ning out. we must be getting on. I*ll call you when we're ready to start." And the door-^rashed to behind him. Between them was the table. Be yond it the girl stood with hea4 erect, dim tears glimmering on the lashes of those eyes with which she met Phillp'3 steady gaze so fearlessly. Singing about them, the silence, deepened. . Fascinated,- though his heart was .faint; with longing, Klrkwood faltered on the threshold of his king dom. I "Dorothy! . . l You did mean !:. Inn I.JIWIi iPIIH She - laughed, a little, low, sobbing laugh that i had Its source deep In the hidden sanctuary "of her heart of a child. "Umeant It, ray dearest. . ... If you'll have a girl so. bold and forward, who can't wait till- she's asked but throws herself Into the arms of the man _. she loves^— Philip, *I meant it. every! word! ...-.'*";" And as he .went to her swiftly, round the table, she turned to meet him. arms uplifted, her scarlet lips a-tremble. the brown: and bewitching lashes drooping over "her wondrou3ly_, lighted eyes. After a time Philip Klrkwood laughed aloud. - And ,' there .was that quality In the ring "of * his ' laughter that caused the Shade of Care, which had . for the last 10 minutes been uneasily luffing and filling in the offing and.; on the -whole.* steadily/ diminishing and becoming, more pale and -wan* and emaciated and indistinct— there was that in the laugh ter of /Philip 'Kirkwood. I say, which' caused : the* Shade of Care to utter a hollow croak of. despair .as, inconti nently. It vanished out of his Ufa. * THE END