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The Sari Francisco Sunday Call THE BLACK BAG C«UJt»TER XVII — Continued The hansom was traversing a street in old Brompton — a quaint, prim byway lined with dwellings singularly, old worldlsh, even for London. He seemed to know it subjectively, to have re tained a memory of It from another existence, as the stage setting of a vivid dream all forgotten will some times recur with peculiar and exas perating intensity in broad daylight The houses, with their sloping, red llle roofs, unexpected gables, spon taneous dormer windows, glass panes set in leaded frames, red brick facades trimmed with green shutters and door eteps of white etone. each sitting back, ecdate and self-suSlcient, In its trim dooryard fenced off- from the public thoroughfare — all wore an aspeot hauntingly familiar, and yet strange. A corner slprn. remarked in passing:, had named the spot "Arpen Villas"; though he felt he knew the sound of those syllables as well as he did the name of the Pless, strive as he might he failed to make them convey any thing tangible to his intelligence. When had be heard of It? At what time had his errant footsteps . taken him through this curious survival of eighteenth century London? Blindly staggering- on, wilted with weariness, th« horse stumbled- In the tha its and plunged forward on its knees. Quick as the driver was to pull It up. with a cruel Jerk of the bits. Klrkwood was caught unprepared; lurching against the dashboard, he lost his footing, grasped frantically at the unstable air. and went over, bringing up In a sitting position in the gutter, with a solid shock that Jarred his very teeth. For a moment dazed he sat there blinking; by the time he got to his feet the girl stood beside him. ques tioning him with keen solicitude. "So," he gasped; "not hurt — only sur prised. Walt ..." Their cab had come to a complete standstill; Calendar's -was no more than 20 yards behind, and as Klrkwood caught sight of him the fat adventurer was in the act of lifting himself pon derously out of the seat Incontinently the young man turned to the girl and forced the traveling bag Into her hands. "Run for It!" he begged her. "Don't stop to argue. You promised — run! I'll come. ••/•** •i "Philipr she pleaded. "Dorothyl he cried in torment Perhaps it was his unquestionable distress that weakened her. Suddenly she yielded — with whatever reason. He was only hasily aware of the swish of her skirts behind him; he had no time to look round to see that she got away safely. He had only eyes and thoughts for Calendar and Etryker. They were both afoot now, and run ning toward him. the one as awkward as the other, but neither yielding a Jot of their malignant purpose. He held the picture of it oddly graphlo in his memory for many, a day there after — Calendar making directly for him. his heavy featured face a dull red with the exertion, his fat head dropped forward as If too heavy for his neck of a bull, his small eyes bright with anger; Etryker shying off at a discreet angle, evidently with the Intention of devoting himself to the capture of the girl; the two cabs with their dejected screws, at rest in the middle of the quiet, twilit street He seemed even to see himself, standing stockily pre pared, hands in his coat pockets, his own head inclined with a suggestion of pugnacity. To his mental photograph another succeeds, of the same scene an ln stan/ later; all as it had been before, their relative positions unchanged. save that Stryker and Calendar had come to a dead stop, and that Kirkwood's right arm was lifted and extended, pointing at the captain. . So forgetful of self was he that It required a 'moment's thought to .con vince him that he was really respon sible for the abrupt transformation. Incredulously he realized that be had drawn Calendar's revolver and pulled Etryker up short, in mid stride, by the mute menace of It, as much as by his hoarse cry of warning: "Stryker — not another foot — '' With this there chimed Dorothy's voice, ringing bell clear from a little distance: "Philip V Like a flash he wheeled, to add yet another picture to his mental gallery. Perhaps two score feet up the side walk a gate stood open; Just outside it a man of tall and slender figure, rigged out in a bizarre costume.con sisting mainly of a flowered dressing cown and slippers, was waiting in an attitude of singular Impassivity; within it pausing with a foot lifted to; the doorstep, bag in hand, her head turned as she looked back, was Dorothy. ' As he comprehended these essential details of the composition the man in the flowered dressing gown raised a hand, beckoning to him In a manner as imperative ss his accompanying words. "Kirkwood :" he saluted the young roan in a clear and vibrant voice, "put VJ> that revolver and etop this foolish ness." And with a Jerk of his head to ward the doerway, in which Dorothy now waited, hesitant: "Come, sir— quickly 1" Klrkwood choked on a laugh that was half a sob. "Brentwick!" he cried, restoring,the weapon to his pocket and running toward his friend. "Of all hap py accidents!" "You may call it that." retorted the elder man with a fleeting smile' as Kirkwood slipped Inside the dooryard. "Come." he said, "let's get into the house." "But you said— l thought you went to Munich." etamtaered Klrkwood; and "so thoroughly Impregnated was his mind with this understanding that it was hard for -him to adjust his perceptions to the truth. "I was -detained— by business," re sponded Brentwood briefly. His gaze, weary and wistful behind his glasses, rested on tne face of the girl on the threshold of his home: and the faint sensitive flush of, her;; face deepened^ He stopped and honored her with a bow that, for all his fantastical attire, would have graced a beau of an earlier decade. "Will you be pleased to enter?" he pug gisted punctiliously. , "My house, such a,, n is, is quite at your disposal. And," he added, with a glance over his shoul ders. "I fancy that a. word » or two may presently be passed ' which^ you would hardly care to hear." "_ . Dorothy's hesitation was but transi tory; Klrkwood was reassuring her with a smile .more tike his wonted boy ish grin than anything.- ho -had - sue eeeded In conjuring up throuKhouti the day. Her own smile answered . it. \u25a0> and with it a murmured iword of gratitude end a little, half timid,- half distent. bow for Brentwick, she ; passed ; on ; Into} the hallway. : -; Kirkwood lingered with his; friend upon the door stoop. Calendar. i«cor ered from his > temporary consternation, was already at the gate,; bonding. over it. fat fingers fumbling with -the latch, H'.s. round red face, lifted to the bouse, fiarkly working with chagrin. ; V \u25a0 From his threshold,' ; watching.- Wra with a slight- contraction 1 of' the eyes,' Brentwick hailed him', in. touos.of . cloyr Ing courtesy. "Do you wish to see ; me, e!r 7" The fat adventurer faltered v Just within the gateway; then. f wlth atru oolent swagger, "I want my daughter," he declared vociferously. Brentwick peered mildly over his glasses, first at Calendar, then at Kirk wood. - His glance lingered a moment on the young man's honest eyes, and swung, back to Calendar. "My j good ' man," he said with sub li«ne tolerance, ."will you be pleased to take yourself off— to the devil if you like? Or shall I take tne trouble to in terest.the police?" He removed one fine and fragile hand from a pocket; of the flowered dressing gown long, enough to Jerk it signifi cantly toward the nearer street corner. Thunderstruck. Calendar glanced hastily in the indicated direction. A blue coated bobby Vas to be seen ap proaching with measured stride, diffus ing upon the still evening air an im pression of ; ineffably capable self-con tentment. Calendar's fleshy lips parted and closed without a sound. They quivered. Beneath them quivered his assortment of graduated chins. His heavy and pendulous cheeks quivered, slowly em purpling with the dark tide of his apo plectic wrath. The ciose clipped thatch of his iron grray mustache, even seemed to bristle like hairs upon the neck of a maddened dog. Beneath him his fat legs trembled, and indeed his whole huge carcass shook visibly, In the stress of his restrained wrath: Suddenly, overwhelmed, he baniced ££*£• behlnd h!l » and waddled off to Join the captain: who already, with fallen "gS" natlve Prudence had fallen back upon their cab. vie" 0 ?*. 11 "™ e » l «?' I°'1 °'' \u25a0fateario advan box Virtw m ,'° rtable « lev ation of his Jo£n2 ' Z O °*l B Cabby ' wh^e huge en tur? LZ , the » av en*ir€r's discomfl wich it arentrifs a snyle, that's wat lr and "n " \u2666 1 £ ke \u25a0* rathe^* hadvlce, b r and next time yer fairest darter runs awye with the dcok in disguise! to.tashun. . . . Kebsir? . .'. uarn, you 'ard-'arted t.X; fliSff" h « « wo °Pe« upward In a dl«y ™*a * °i, vltu *«ration best unre corded.. Calendar, beyond an absent ;L" de A m E'°' oa * h «<» by W. ci! a. 7£t ?^ UMU M , 8 ?. 00 awa y a bussing in «ect. ignored, him utterly. n^v U f n l y extractl nr money, from his pocket, he paid off his driver, and In company with Stryker. trudged in mo rose silence down the streets rr S atWh LV t0 . uch#d Kirkwood's arm and drew him into the house. CHAPTER XVTIX Adventurers' Luck AS the door closed. Kirkwood swung impulsively to Brent wick. with the brief, uneven laugh of fine drawn serves. don't know — '' e iilr°^ s « r *al»«." interrupted the elder man shrewdly. m'7?X turaad up In the nick of time, for all the world llke—^" traJr rle<lUln poppln * tht»ns;h a stage M^a 1"^1 "^ inearnaUon of the prov too?s» w *tcb" over children and Bn 5"!| wlc v k dropped a calming hand ri»«,S i " h ° ulder ' "^out simile seems Elngul&rly happy, Philip. Permit me that you join the child ™n thJ ! eS }£ t0 ?*? d " ° Pen dOOr at m A t,l th ehallw *y- "For myself. 1 11 be with you in one moment" \u2666v, v nt> lndul »*ent smile lurking . in ift'f???' 0 * h!s Whlte pustache, he watched the young man wheel and dart through the doorway. "Toung hearts!" he commented lnaudibly—and a traoe sadly. "Youthl . ..;.••, Beyond the threshold of the study, Klrkwood paused, eager eyes searching Its somber shadows for a sign of Dor othy. .i t* *.° ne room - and dee P. " war f . ?d? d only by circumscribed disk of illumination thrown on the central ?u - by a shad ed reading lamp, ahM the flickering glow of a grate fire set. beneath the mantel of a side walL i Jl* 01 -' h « avy velvet porUeres cloaked the recesses of two long win 3ows. closed Jealously even against the twilight. Aside from the doors and f chimney piece, every foot of wall space was occupied by tower- Ing -bookcases or by shelves crowded to : the- limit bf their capacity with an unazlng ; miscellany of objects of art, the fruit of years of patient and dls :rlminaUng collecting. An \u25a0 exotic and leady atmosphere, compounded ,6f the faint and intangible exhalations of these insentient thing*, rragrarice of sandal wood, myrrh' and musk, remi niscent whiffs of half forgotten ln :enee, seemed to . intensify the Impres sion of gloomy richness and repose. By the fireplace, a little to one side, stood Dorothy, one small foot resting >n the brass fender,. her figure merging nto the, dusky background, her delicate Jeauty gaining an effect of elusive and ethereal mystery la the -waning and nraxiae ruddy glow upflung from the aedded coals. "Oh, Philip r She ..turned swiftly to Klrkwood with extended hands and a low, broken 1 cry.* "Tmso glad. ;'. \u0084 ,M, M ' A trice of ; hysteria in ; her manner earned him, and . he checked himself upon the verge of a ' too dangerous tenderness. Therei" be said sooth ingly, letting he* hands rest gently- in ajs palms while he. led \ her to a chair. "We can make oufttlves easy now." She eat" down and he released her hands with a reluctance -less evident than actual. "If ever I say another w-ord against my luck — •• ' *!Who," Inquired the girl, lowering her voioe, "who is .the gentleman in the flowered dressing gown?" ••Brentwick— George Silvester Brent wick : an old • friend. I've known him tor. years— ever since I came abroad, furiously- enough, however, this \u25a0 Is " the Ursttime Tve'ever been' here. ;< I called :>nce. but he wasn't In— -a few days ago —the day .we. a met. I thought the place looked, familiar. . Stupid of me!" "Philip," said . the girl with a~ grave race but, a, shaking ..volce,T'lt> was.". She laughed, provoklngly. .... .. "it ; was so , funny, ' Philip. I don't know why V ran. j when you told me to, .but I lid; '. and ' while I .- ran, . I was conscious jf -the * front door, .here, opening, and this:*. tall man in the flowered: dressing . jown coming: down to the gate as- if t.-were .'; the . most ordinary thing;- in : :he world • for him to stroll oat. dressed that .. way, Yin \u25a0 the evening. , '/ And %he >pened . the. gate,' and ' bowed, and \u25a0' said, ;ver; so ;; pleasantly, -.'Won't \u25a0 you oome n, , Miss * Calendar?-^-" ',;"*• _' '"."He" did!" exclaimed- Klrkwood. '\u25a0 '^'"Biit can 11, say ?"^ she - expostulated. "At all event*, he seemed to know me; md when." he .added something', about :allingr you , in,' : too-^-he " said ' T *Mr. Kirk «rodd'^-I'didn't hesitate.". ; .;'lt's" strange^ enough,' surely— and fbr .unate. ' ! Bless his '; heart I"* said Kirk yob6V§BMJflPMßflWSssaßSQßWßßrt And, "Huml" said. Mr. . ' Brentwick sQnslderately, ; entering .the" study.^ He : md discarded the dressing gown and vas now: ln "evening' dress." ;> '".. \u25a0; /,: '; Thei-'sjfrl ', rose.': ;-. Kirkwood;, turned. J *TMr. 1 Brentwick—'' he began. ; ' But Brentwiok begged his patience with an eloquent gesture. • "Sir.", he said, somewhat austerely, "permit me to put a single question: ..-Have you by any chanoe paid your cabby?** "Why — '' faltered the younger : man, with a flaming ' face. "I-^why, ; no— that is— '* The other quietly put his hand upon a. bell pull. A faint Jingling' sound •was -at once . audible, emanating from the basement. . , "How ' much should you say you owe him?" "I^-I haven't a pennyTln the worldt" The shrewd , eyes flashed their amuse ment Into- Kirkwood's. "Tut,'- tutt" Brentwick chuckled. . < "Between gen- \u25a0 tleinen, my dear boy t Dear ; met you are slow to learn." > . , , "I'll never, be contented .;to sponge on my friends," explained Klrkwood in 'deepest misery. "I ; can't tell . when — '* \ - ;.• "Tut, tutl How much did . you say TV ' "Ten shillings— or ;say itwelv*,, would \ be about right,"- stammered S the Amer- 1 lean, swayed by conflicting tmotlona of gratitude and profound embarrassment A soft footed butler, impassive as Fate, materialized* mysteriously in the f doorway. . V^-"^ \u25a0:'.-. ' :l- ' "You rang, sir?*.' .: he' interrupted frigidly., . • ' "I rang, Wotton."; His master :se lected a sovereign from , his purse ? and ' handed, it to the servant. "For the; cabby, Wotton." \u25a0: • >- •;'• '."-"/ .:; ; ;: "Yeastr." The ; butler • swung; auto matically on \u25a0 one * heeL [\u25a0'.;; "And Wotfonl" . \u25a0 "Sir?":" . , .-VLj _\ -. "If : any one should • ask' for me, I'm "And If you should see a pair of disreputable sooundrels skulking in the '-'\u25a0 neighborhood, one short and -stout. -the; other tall ' and evidently a seafaring \u25a0 man, let me know." . •Thank you. ; sir.". A ; moment later ": the front I door was heard \u25a0to • close. Brentwiok t turned with ia; little bow:^ to the . glr L "My dear ) Miss ' Calendar," > he .; said, rubbing his . thin, fine hands—- - "I am old .< enough,: I trust,: to call * you y such without - offense— -please be seated." ;- " "i, \.'' : y^ :\u25a0\u25a0'_ Complying the girl rewarded \u25a0 him ' with -. a i.. radiant > : smile. -..Whereupon.-' . striding ;\u25a0 to'% th* '-A flreple.oe, their host U turned . his ; back to it, olasped his hands % behind hlnv ; and ;\u25a0 glowered '"; benignly ?, upon ' the> two. ' "Ah I"; he f observed t in ' accents V of \ extreme personal satisfac tion. ;,_ "Romance! "^Romance!" ' ' . - * "Would " you* mind : telling ' us • how/you - 4 knewTr-"-b«gan ] Kirkwood -anxioualy. : - ;"Not ln/the .least, It Js * simple: enough :;; l ; J4 possess^ an > imagination. From , my; bedroom i win- - dow, . on i the« floor*: above, :<z\ happen -to j behold 1 two cabs racing down the street,' I the ' one\'doggedly» pursuing 'i'th«Y other.V . The foremost 'stopped,^ perforoer of, c'a' fagged' horse. .There- alights ?a?young iJ gentleman > looking,', if , you'll ] pardon" mt,' t > uncommonly seedy ; i he V is ' followed '\u25a0\u25a0 by ' 'a'-young; lady.f if r Bh"e ? will 5 pardon^ m;" '"• ': with '\ another little \ bo w, ; "uncommonly 'n pretty.; * With i these ',\u25a0 twbV old .Teyes 1 1 ' observe : that ? the ' gentleman " does -* not i, pay his , cabby. -. Ergb^-I : inteiligen tly f d eduoe — he Is ' \u25a0 short t of .'nioiiey.*' I . Eh V ,r* "You were rlght/^affirmed Kirkwood.Ti with vhlsr rueful/ and; crooked . smile. J^But— '*, .: .. ... \u25a0•,*: t ,:.:. . /, . -' :\u25a0 "So ! f so!" ' pursued >Bre*ntwlbk7 rising * on his toes ; and dropping back : again ; ."so^thls iworld ? of : ours (wags font to i the old,,;old,jtune! iV v ;^;-.v i Ahd?l,^who^ins my.'j younger j days ;« pursued .'.' adventure % .without • success; t In j. dotage iflndf myself k dragged alntofal'romancejby.ymywtwo^ ears^whether} I iwlUlor J no ! ;? Eh ?|v And 5| now you'are going; toitelljme!all 'about l , iV^ Philip. 1 • Ther*ys/»VchaiiCr. r, ?\u25a0;.';: ."; Well, Wottonr • ;V* ' ; The ; butler had . again appeared noiselessly in the doorway. "Bear pardon, sir, they're * waiting, sir."- ; \u0084•-.,: . ; '\u25a0-\u25a0..-\u25a0, -\: \u25a0\u25a0 "The caitiffs, • Wotton?" "Yessir. 1 * "Where -waitingr "One at each \u25a0 end of t the street, sir." \u25a0 Thank * you.; .You ? may I bring us some S eherry .7 and biscuit, Wotton." "Thank i y ou, sir." The servant vanished. '. Brentwlok removed his glasses, rubbed them,', and- blinked: thoughtfully at , the; srjrl. , "My dear," he said "sud denly, with a peculiar tremor In his voice, -\u25a0 "you' resemble your mother re \ markably. \u25a0 Tut— l ; should know I - Time was when I was one of her most ardent \u25a0{adinirers.'':>.^--.'-;;- v ;A : :;;'-' '-\u0084 \u25a0-..•\u25a0; .<:\u25a0 -, . "You— y-ybu knew •my mother r* cried Dorothy, prof ounaly moved. '.'•' . "Did<l not know you at v sight? My dear,; you are" your ; mother: reincarnate, for '\u25a0\u25a0 the r good of ?an ~ unworthy world. She ' was ' a very;* beautiful woman, *my • dear."\ ,; : - .Y; .;.;-' ' \u25a0-. V\u25a0 \u25a0 '••, ;';-"v.:; \u25a0 .-;• ; .Wotton j entered with : a silver serving ; tray.v: offerings it* In tum^to Derothy, ; Klrkwood L : and r his :? employer.' -.While he .was '- present ; the -three" held silent— the 1 girl i trembling J slightly, übut with her face \ aglow; \u25a0 Klrkwood >; half jstupe-* fled between J his "; ease" . from*, care ; and his \u25a0 growing astonishment, as - Brent wlok continued to . reveal unexpected phases -of ' his personality ;< Brentwiok \u25a0 himself outwardly Imperturbable and ' complacent, for all that his hand "shook as he, lifted; his wine glaes. . VfYo'u 5> may ': go,' . Wotton^or, .: wait. \u25a0 Do n't you feel ; the need . of . a* breath of fresh air," Wotton ?"-~. . . "Yessir, thank? you, V sir." \u25a0'\u25a0'- •'Then; change, your •. ooat; / Wotton, \II ght your pipe, and; stroll \ out for I half . I, an hour. You need not leave the street,' but If either: thef tall .thin blackguard with; the I seal aring habit | or . th* | short stout rascal with the air of mystery ; should acoost 1 you," treat | them with all I oourtesy. Wotton.'. 4 You '.will be careful 1 I not I to . tell I either of them anything Jin ' \u25a0 particular, although I don't mind - your ( telling them; that * Mr.'- Brentwiok ;J lives hereiV if i they.Vask. ;. ~ I y'ain 'i mostly. ' con - cerned to discover If they purpose ; be- » coming \u25a0 fixtures lon the • street * corners, "\u25a0 Wotton/*. ; :,-:•:".'\u25a0 -\u25a0 ; -.:\u25a0-'\u25a0-. V -f Quit* (So, sir." '.•.. •. ; , -^J.l. ii :' ;.; •'Now^youJ may^-go.; ;. { L . . ' Wotton," • continued : his .employer) as 1 the ; butler took - himself "off ; as- softly, as Aa^oat,-; ."grows: dally.;. a> mor* ".valuable ' mech-i anlsm. '"' \u25a0\u25a0:\u25a0 He \u25a0' Is \ by^ no j means;;, human *in any respect, but ' I • find • him \ extremely - "handy] to 7 have around the house. V:^-*'._ 'And * now.l: my'; dear ," :; :* turning ,- to ' r Dor- \u25a0 4 : bthy",'-iVwith i- your '.'permission J l ;? desire • ' ( to ' drink I to .;• the • memory,/ of > your beau-Y ti ful Z mother I and } to '; the I happiness "of herlbeauilfulldaught*r".t;;^ ; ; ' ' "A : ; \u25a0 number 'lof^interesting ' V things,' Miss Calendar, if you'll be good < enough Ltosl«t'. m*?ehobse-ith*7 ;I tbe^you "of irant old^ man,*-,Fhoj s means^ no 'harm, • } who I , has \ a : '. reputation' of ; an eccentrlo i to \ sustain '?. before -his gservants.* V. -, . .< . And^now,'.%v:said-/ißr*ntwlck,' "setting ,asldelhißjglass,^Vnow,^niy;dear.boy, for vtheladventure,'*'-';"v theladventure,'*'-';" ! ;'vlv>';?^;- jVfl^'' I*;.';-.1 * ; .' ; -. r'>v v '- *>> Kirkwood'Tchuckled, r >. i infected T> by i- his • (host's genial ;.j humor. % / f "How, *do : you ; '"''\u25a0'\u25a0^'-.'.s-'k i r«';.,'(A' ; i';-'\:v;. : vl:.'; 'Cj'/Hbiv '.vcan ,it; be coun-T • ity.' V.VAm ,1 \u25a0 to) be 'denied lay ; adventure? i iSlr.'iJ; I{^ refuse r^wlth'outv^ equivocation.^ i YourJ veryj bear 1 n g \ breathes [of romahceT^ fan *f adventure Iforthoom-^ iing.'g Philip; ?otherwlsi| my>disa:ppointjs [inent |will|be? Bo|acute'ftthaUlS shall ? regretfully^ obligedMtooconsider^my^ [ righ tl as i S a'| householder, & to| show) you?' Wdobr.- ./ \ .;.'„, ._ • • ;-v Louis Joseph Vance "But, Mr. Brentwick—!" "Sit, down, sir!" commanded. Brent wick i with such a peremptory note that the - young • man,": who had risen, obeyed out of sheer surprise. Upon' which 'his host .advanced, 'indicting him: with; a long white forefinger. "Would you; sir," he "demanded,, "again expose this little lady, to the machinations of that corpulent scoundrel, /whom I have Just had; the of shooing 'off 1 my premises, ' because you - choose to" resent an old man's raillery?" \u25a0 '\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0_ -\u25a0-."I apologize," Klrkwood ' humored him/- -• . \ ;.-.,. '\u25a0 \ ' ; • \u25a0-' '; .- :. "I accept the apology in the spirit In. which ; it Is ; offered. .; . . . •' I repeat, now for "the adventure, Philip." -If the story's . long, - epitomize. -\u25a0\u25a0. We : can *;con-^ elder details more at our leisure." v " " . Kirkwood's* eyes consulted the girl's face ; almost i Imperceptibly ; she ' nodded to him permission to proceed. ~\ ;.^"'•Briefly.'i then,". ' he " began : haltingly, "the \u25a0 man who ) followed ; us to - the door here, ) Is Miss '\u25a0_ Calendar's father." ' "Oh? * His name, please T'j" ' .*\u25a0\u25a0, :. "George .: Burgoyne ' ' Calendar." An^Amertean: I remember, now."; Continue, please.",, ' "He Is .; hounding us, Blr, . with the intention of stealing some property, which he caused- to*, be which we-7-to " put it ; bluntly-^— stole . from \u25a0\u25a0 him, to which he has. no shadow of a title, . and , -which, - finally, we're \u25a0 endeavoring to -return.- to : Its .owners." .; i "My dear!" interpolated; Brentwlok gently, ; looking' down at the girl's flushed face and drooping head. : "He , ran .us : to ' the : last ; ditch," Kirk wood continued ;V;."rve 'spent my, last farthing 1 trying, to lose; him." . . i ' "But ;; why ' have \u25a0 you not : caused his arrest?" •Brentwick inquired. Kirkwood" nodded. meaningly toward the girl. Brentwiok made a sound Indicating '{.'comprehension; a-• click of the tongue behind, closed* teeth. "We came to your door.by,the merest accident— it might as well have. been another. ; I understood you were in Munich, end lt-nover entered ray head we'd find v you at , home." . • -- \u25a0' .. "A communication from my .•-•\u25a0« i»cl tors detained , ? me,": '/explained Brentwick. "And; now,; what: do you Intend to doT* •Trespass as' far on your kindness : as , you'll permit. V In \u25a0, the flrsttplace, I— I -want, the. use, of a few pounds with which'; to cable? some, friends In New York, for; money ;l on receipt of which I * can t repay .- you." . - ;. "Philip." \u25a0 observed- Brentwick, . "you are -';-; a V| most? irritating :l: l ; child. : .But i l : forgive : you ; the { faults =of ? youthl - ; You \u25a0 may ? proceed, -bearing ;In imind, If \u25a0 you . i please, -that;, li am- your ;friend equally ;WlthVany -^youc may own 'in^ America.".. -^"You're one ; of ; the" best men 1 n the world," 1 said \u25a0 Kirkwobd. "Tut,' tut ! Will you get on?".* ::, '^Secondly, : I -want ' you *to ' help : ; us to esoape- Calendar tonight.- It Is necessary • that Miss_ Calendar,, should go"! to ; Chiltern tills ] evening/ where 'she has | friends, whd^will • receive, and " pro :tect'-her.",'-c',.\u25a0---.;'-;';.:;V;: .\u25a0\u25a0-. : \u25a0 >\u25a0 .-^i .'. "Mm -mm,"; grumbled their host, med itatively. V. "My ."faith f! he : commented, with'i.^brightenlng "eyes.; ."It sounds, almost itop*' good to ibe'tniel And I've been f growing t afraid ~ tfeat v. the . world i was getting to be a most humdrum and uninteresting ,; planet; .I>-'.,Miss\Cal endar, I%am i a?: widower :\u25a0 of ; so many ; years' standing that I had almost for-" gotten \u25a0 I - had . ever ; been any thin g but 9.% bachelor.' ? I \ f ear \my i house , contains ; ' little^'', that i "will ; be :of "service v i to a young lady. Yet *. a ; room: is .'at i your disposal ; ";the '\. parlor =• maid \ wlli^show^ yout: the _ way., i And vPhilip,\between-;v Philip, \ between - ; you? and {me.^l to remark that hot wator and cold steel would add to . the ;' attractiveness i of \u25a0 your . personal appearance ; -my valet \ will \ attend you In my] roonv£; Dlnner.'l concluded Brent wlck I with j anticlpatlve = relish^ "will j be served ' in \u25a0precisely/. 30 1 minutes, 'v, I ! 'shall - expectjypu-tojentertaln;meiwlth"a\full^ and I itemized : account of reyeryjphase ~> otl yoiirj astonishing;" adventure. ; :\u2666 Later, we \u25a0 , will iflnd] a. way f to : Chiltern.". ' : ;77; 77 ,'., /"Again' he r put a! hand ;Up6n7 the, bell pull... r* Simultaneously 'Dorothy. and, Klrkwood^rose^,, '\u25a0'\u25a0'\u25a0\. ".\u25a0-_\u25a0 i'^~"?: ..'~'~-i ' -: :\u25a0\u25a0 ' .'/."Mr.f; Brentwlck.V ; said \th«T glrl,^ her eyes ;' starred 5 with *tearsV*ofr gratitude, /•l'idon't.^llreallyJ'don't'ilcnow^how-^-" ; oVMyKdear,^^said';theToldiCgentleman,0 VMyKdear,^^said';theToldiCgentleman, /.•youVwlllj thank ; me most appropriately .byioontinuing,"tb]thejbestrofiy'our]abll-> itjr,'j to resemble your,^ mother ; more* T«~]i xnarkaßlyJeveryj minute. 'S^lv*'- 1." "/ t . '\u25a0_v"Buti'l," .'began '-Klrkwood-^—^/ /,* ' ' vtTTouil my^ dear j Philip^ can* thank f me' bestlby* permlttlngTmeito'^enJoy/myself ; : jw-hich^lf amjTdoingKthoroughly i atf the ; present ! moment."^ Myl pleasure \lri' being '\u25a0\u25a0 irivited :r to ".llnterfere^in^your :: v youhg ; affairs Is , more . keen than ! you can * r well surmise.*:" Moreover," A said % Mr.^ ; Brent- "t "wlckjii'sbilong Jhave !I been'; anlamateiir \ adventurer ;• that al ' esteem ;. it ' the -rarest I privilege •' tb)3 find i. myself \ thus 9. oh ?\u25a0 point J?of " Into J professional i ranks.'^" He ] rubbed ihls • han ds';'. b earn in g £ up6n[them. r; .;''And,"jhe added," asla'mald appeared ; at \ thajdoor.-tti \ haveTalf eady % sohemed f mej a] scheme for ' the , dlsoom fltur«Wo«K«ttri«rtindskth«i'.hemvi^»l scheme which .we. will discuss with our dinner,**-, while; .the '. heathen yrage <\u25a0• and imagine -. \u25a0a >; vain '.*" thing, In I . the outer 'darkness.*?., : r\ • • ' ' . Klrkwood , would \u25a0; have * lingered, " but of sucir inflexible .temper .was. his host that he bowed him; into ithe; hands of a 'manservant without permitting \u25a0 him another word. : - "Not a syllable," \he insisted. "I protests am devoured with curiosity, my"dear; boy/ but I have .also, bowels of compassion.' , When .we are well . on with our; meal, when you are strength ened ..with'- food : ; and ; drink. . then you may < begin.' : But', how— Dickie," *to the valet, "do your duty T'* "• Kirkwood, laughing with exaspera tion, ."retired-- at .: discretion leaving Brentwlck*, the master x of .the^ situation: a "charming \u0084 gentleman with. a will of his • own " and a • way that went "with It. He. heard :the -.young, man's footsteps diminish \u2666oh the "\u25a0 stairway; .. and again he smiled {' the v indulgent, melancholy smile 'of mellow; years. ;, "Youth!" be whispered' softly. "Romance! . And now,", with a" brisk change of tone as he. closed' the study door, "n<»w we are: "ready. f° r > this Interesting Mr. Calendar." ; '.. V'" .. • Sitting Mown' at his .desk," he found and " consulted r a telephone directory: but Its .leaves, at first rustling briskly at the touch of the^slender and delicate fingers, were presently permitted ' to lie unturned— the ;book. resting open-on his knees ithe; while the stared wistfully Into- the fire. _ I A., suspicion C. of .moisture glimmered In his. eyes.-. "Dorothy!" he whispered huskily. And a* little later, rising, he proceeded to the telephone. . . ... -An: hour- and a, half rlater Klrkwood. , his. self-respect - something restored by a ' bath, ; a shave, \u25a0 and ' a resumption of clothes: which had- been hastily -but thoroughly cleansed and pressed- by Brentwlck's, valet ; hls f confidence and courage mounting high* under the com bined Influence of generous wine," sub stantial food, the presence of his heart's mistress and the .-admiration— which was unconcealed— of- his friend, con oluded at the dinner table, his narration. "And that." he \u25a0 said, : looking up from his savory, "Is about all." "Bravo!" applauded Brentwick, eyes shining with delights „ "All," interposed Dorothy In warm reproach, "but what he hasn't told— " "Which, my dear, is to.be accounted for wholly by -a -very creditable mod esty, .rarely- encountered In the young men of the present day. It was. of course, altogether different with those of ray younger : years. Yes,- Wottonr* Brentwick sat back in his chair. In clining an attentive ear to a communi cation; murmured by the butler. "Kirkwood's gaze met Dorothy's across the. expanse of shining cloth; he depre cated her : Interruption with a whim sical twist of his eyebrows. "Really, you shouldn't," he assured her In an undertone. Tve done nothing to de-. serve . . ." But under . the spell of her serious sweet eyes, ; he fell silent, and presently, looked ; down,' strangely abashed: and contemplated the vast enormity of his un worthiness. Coffee was set before them by Wot ton, the impassive. Brentwick refusing it with; a; little; sigh./ "It is one of the things, as Philip knows,"/ he explained to the girl, "denied me by the physician who* makes his life happy by making mine ai waste. I am allowed but three luxuries; cigars, travel in moderation. and the privilege of imposing on my friends. : The first I propose presently to enjoy- by 'your Indulgence: ; and the second I shall this evening undertake by virtue of the third, of which. l have Just availed myself." Smiling at the < involution, ' he rested his head against the back of 'the chair, eyes roving from the girls' face to Kirkwood's. . . "Inspiration to do which," he proceeded' gravely, "came to me from the > seafaring picaroon (Stryker -did you name •him?) via the .exoellent. Wotton.; While you were preparing for' dinner.', Wotton returned from his ; constitutional with the* news that, : leaving \u25a0 the : corpulent -on watch at the Captain Stryker had temporarily v made , himself scarce. However, we need feel no anxiety con cerning, his whereabouts. for*he. re apeared in i good time ' and a' motor "car. From -.which Jt evident that you have not overrated their pertinac ity; \u25a0 the fiasco of ' the cab chase is not to be re-enacted." \u25a0\u25a0 \u25a0 \u25a0 • o Resolutely the girl repressed a gasp of - dismay. r _. Kirkwood stared moodily into his cup. J ,-T -, -: ' "These men bore me fearfully.** he commented ; at" last*- -. - "And : so." - continued < Brentwick, "I bethought, me, of a counter stroke. . It is my good -fortune 'to have a friend whose whim ifls to support l a touring car, chiefly in [ innocuous Idleness. Ac cordingly I- have telephoned' him and commandeered T the' use of his • machine — -mechanician, too. .. . . Though not a betting man, I am willing to risk recklessly ; ajfew ; pence in ' support of my' contention. ; that of the two. Cap tain - Stryker*s car and ours,- the ' latter will tprove; the -most, speedy.- . '. . 'In short." I* suggest." he concluded, thoughtfully -lacing his long: -white fingers, "that, avoiding^ the hazards of cab and; railway 'carriage, we motor to Chlltern: Hhe- night ) belng^ fine and \ the road; I "am » told, exceptionally good. Miss Dorothy, what do you think T ' Instlnctively.the girl looked to Klrk wood; then- shifted her glance " to their host - : .--"I' think* you are wonderfully thoughtful and kind," she said simply. y"' \u25a0'AndTyou.-.Philip?'*; [ "It's an Inspiration,", the younger man declared. ;"l ,'can.'tl think', of anything better ; calculated to -.throw • them off, than ilto^distance -them "by; motor car. It would : ,be /always : possible to trace < our : Journey ' by ;j raiL" .; "Then," announced Brentwick. mak ing as If to rise, "we * had ' best go. If neither, myihearinginor-Captain Stry ker's car deceives me, our fiery chariot Is panting at^theldoor.".. . ' .: \u0084 >*Ai little;" sobered '2 from the .confident spirit /of quiet gayety In' which- they had - dined. <Jthey; left ? the - table. . Not that,"/ in \ their • hearts,' either' greatly questioned their, ultimate triumph; but they.f were; allowing forithe element of errorisO; apt^ to, set i at -naught human calculations. \u25a0 ~ Calendar - himself {had already;;been-lproved' fallible. ; Within the bounds of possibility, their turn. to stumble^ might now^be imminent. - , .< > v'.Wheri>hß;-let;v '.Wheri>hß;-let ; himself dwell j upon» It. thelri utter J to, give;. Calen dar '\u25a0: pause .jby 'commonplace . "- methods ' maddened/.' Kirkwood.V.Wltbj another, scoundrel it had been so simple a mat ter to put \u25a0 a period ,to^hls • aotlvltleslby, a {word sto jj the', pollcer-*. But ' he t vas *her father ;:?^or.ithat^reason her must con tinually, .i be--; spared."' . -j.fr: > ..-.Even though, \ln ,"^ desperate . 'extremity. ' . she should*: glve^ her consentt • to c thef arrest of ci the tadventurers.V retaliation i^would follow,", swlf t]and"sure. j Por,they>m!ght not , ovVrlooki-nor.^ glore the ? fact\that } hers (had \u25a0.'been' the ,% hands forjjjthej; theft 4of thejJewelsT Innocent .though'^.she ; had'i,been;jln*-co*mmltting thatl larceny.'! a 'catspaw" g'uifled . by -"an Intelllgehce;' unscrupulous Vand'i malign;' the^lawj|would -jiot; hold, her'guiltless were' ; she; oncej brought iwlthln-lts\" cog nizarice.'pNor, possibly would the ; Hal lams, mother, andjson." . v; Upon;* their : | knowledge"! and £ f ear lof thls."und6ubtedly t: Calendar f^wasJ,reck oning:'<wltnesssthe|barefaced>effront- eryiiwithr.whichr he i Voperated^ against ] them.- , : His' > fear *-"of ', the - l police /; might be . genuine' enough, 'but , he ' was; never . f or • ant instant* disturbed?, by; any! doubt ; lest his daughter should turn against him. -She •would never dare that.. Before they left the house, while Dorothy .was above stairs- resuming her hat and coat. Kirk wood and Brentwick reconnoltered from the drawing room windows, themselves screened from ob servation by -the' absence of light In the room ' behind. Before the door a motor car waited, engines humming Impatiently. mecha nician ready ;in his seat, an uncouth shape in goggles and leather garments that . shone like oil skins under the street lights. *At one corner another and a smaller car, stood . In watting. Its- lamps like baleful eyes glaring through the night. In the shadows across the way, a lengthy shado^r 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 Jolntng them. Brentwick 'led the way to the door.- Wotton.' apparently nerveless beneath his absolute Immobility, let them out — and slammed the door behind them with" such prompltude as to give causa to the suspicion that he was a fraud, a sham, beneath his Icy exterior des perately afraid lest the house be stormed by the adventurers. Klrkwood to tha right. Brentwle* to the left of Dorothy, the former car rying the treasure bag, they hastened down the walk and through the gat* to the car. The watcher across the way was moved to whistle shrilly; the other car lunged forward nervously. Brentwick*. taking the front seat. beside the mechanician, left the ton neau to Klrkwood and Dorothy. As the ' American slammed the door, the car swept smoothly out into the mid dle of the way, while the pursuing car swerved In to the other curb, slowing down to let Stryker "Jump aboard. Kirkwood put himself In tha seat by the girl's side and for a few mo ments was occupied with the arrange* ment of robes. Then, sitting back, ha found her eyes fixed upon him. pools of inscrutable, night In the shadow of her hat. "You aren't afraid. Dorothy?" She answered quietly: "I am with you. Philip.- i Beneath the rob« their hands met.' ... Exalted, excited. he turned around and looked back. A hundred yards to the • rear four unwinking eyes trailed ,them. like some modern Nemesis In monstrous guise. J CHAPTER XIX I— The Uxbrtilce Road At a steady gait, now and again checked -In deference to the street traffic. Brentwick's motor car rolled, with resonant humming of the engine, down the Cromwell road, swerved Into Warwick road and swung northward through Kensington to Shepherd's Bush. Behind it Calendar's car clung as if , towed by an invisible cable, nev er gaining, never losing, mutely testi fying to the adventurer's unrelenting, grim determination of leaving them no instant's freedom from surveillance, to keep forever at their shoulder s> watch ing his chance, biding his time with sinister patience until the moment when, wearied, their vigilance should relax. .... To some extent he reckoned without his motor car. As long as they trav eled within the metropolitan, limits, constrained to observe a decorous pace In view of the prejudices of the county council, it was a matter of no difficulty whatever to maintain his distance. But once they had won through Ship herd's Bush and, paced by huge doub ledeck trolley trams, were flying through Hammersmith on the Ux brldge road; once they had run through Acton, and knew beyond dispute that now they were without the city boun daries then the complexion of the business was suddenly changed. Not too soon for honest sport; Cal endar was to have (Klrkwood would have said in lurid American Idiom) a run for his money. The scattered lights of Southall were winking out behind them before Brentwick chose to give the word to the mechanician. . Quietly the latter threw in the clutch for the third specd — and the fourth. The car. leaped forward like a startled race horse. The motor lilted merrily Into its deep-throated song of the open road, its .contented, silken humming passing into a* sonorous and sustained purr.' . \u25a0 Klrkwood and tha girl were first Jarred 'violently forward." then thrown together. She caught his arm to steady herself; It seemed the most natural 'thing imaginable that he should take her hand and pass it be neath his I arm. " holding her so, his fingers closed above her own. Before they .had recovered, or had time to catch their, breath, a mile of Middlesex had dropped to the rear. .Not quite so far had they distanced Calendar's^jtraillng Nemesis of the four glaring eyes; the pursuers put -forth gallant effort to hold their place. At Intervals "during the first few minutes a heavy roaring and crashing could be heard behind them: gradually it sub sided, dying on the«wlngs of the free rushing wind that buffeted their faces as. mile after mile was reeled off and the wide, darkling English country side opened out before them, sweet and wonderful. -. Once Kirkwood looked back; in the winking of an eye he saw four faded disks of -light pallid with despair, top a distant rise and glide down- into the darkness. "When he turned. Dorothy was interrogating him with eyes whose melting, shadowed loveliness, revealed to him in- the light of the far. still stars, . teemed to Incite him to that madness which he bade himself resist with all "his strength. He shook his head, as if to say: They can not catch us. -1 His, hour -was not- yet; time enough to think of , love and marriage (as if he were capable of- consecutive thought on any ; other subject!) — time enough enough , to think of them when he had gone back 'to his pla.ee, 1 or rather when 'he should have found it in the ranks of, bread .winners, and so have proved |hls; right "to mortal happiness; time enough then'to'lay whatever ha might have to offer at 'her feet. Now he could •conceive c of -no baser treachery to his soul's «ie3lre than to advantage him self,oorf r her gratitude. \ . . .-Resolutely he turned his face for .ward/ striving: with all his will and might ; to rforgcet the temptation of her Hp 3,; weary as they were and petulant with waiting; and" so sat rigid In his \u25a0time' of! trial, clinging with what strength he could to the standards of his honor,* and. trying to lose his dream in {dreaming of the bitter struggle. that seemed likely ; to be his future portion. i .Perhaps she guessed a little the for tunes of the battle that was being waged wlthlnu. him... Perhaps pot. .Whatever « the, trend, of her thoughts, she.jdid'not, draw-away from.him. . . Perhaps ; the breath of night, fresh and clean , and \u25a0;. fragrant with the odor 'of the fields and hedges, , sweeping into her . face ".with ;. velvety caress, rendered* her •<-\u0084' Presently J- the silken lashes -'drooped. -,; fluttering upon, her cheeks,? the ] tired. and , happy smile hov ered .about "her .lips. V '•; : . .' J,lo l Be ' Concluded Next W*e* >•