Bluefield evening leader. [volume], August 11, 1909, Page 6, Image 6

About Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911

Image provided by: West Virginia University

                
l l *
opening chapter of the BLACK BAG
ai
w«i<c' 11 for instalments every day until the story ^scompletecL
Imls Joseph Vance
Copyright, 1!M)8. by the Ilobbs-Merrill Co.
-•r M\ouiuriee nas many
attendants. Mainly they are clad
in hauberk and helm, nr they
carry rapiers at their sides and
swear strange oaths. fiat some
times we encounter in the pages
o/ a novel a genuine knight in
modern broadcloth or in tweed,
who speaks the language af our
own day and may be met on
Broadway or Stato street. Such
is Philip Kirkwood, artist
vamter, whose otlventures in jntr
snit of the mysterious black
bag and whose heroic deeds in
the service of his bcautijul lady
love arc worth the stuying up
late o' nights to read. ' To de
scend to the idiom of the day,
The Black Bag" is "the real
thing in.the story line, thrilling,
mysterious — but not too mys
terious—and most interesting.
chatter I.
UI’ON a certain dreary April
afternoon 111 tlie year of gr.v •
l'.Xai the apprehensions of
1 hllip Kirkwood, paint
er, were enlivened by the discovery
tliat lie was oeupylng tluit singularly
distressing social position which mn\
be summed up succinctly in n |,Pr.i-c
through long usage grown proverbial,
“alone In London.” inevitably an o.v
trenilst because of Ids youth tho liad
Just turned twenty-live, ho took no
count of mitigating matters and would
hotly have resented the suggestion
that his case was anything but alto
gether deplorable and forlorn.
Hint lie was not actually at tho end
of his resources went for nothing. He
held the distinction n quibble, mock
ingly immaterial, like tho store of
guineas in ids pocket, too Insignitlcant
for mention when contrasted with his
needs. And ids base of supplies, tho
'American city of his nativity, whence,
and not without a glow of pride in his
eecret heart, lie iww wont to register
nt foreign hostelrles, had been arid
imrily cut off from 1dm by ono of
those accidents sardonically classified
by Insurance and express corporations
ns acts of Uud.
Now, to one who has lived all his
Bays serenely In accord with the dic
tates of his Oi«i sweet will, taking no
thought for tho morrow, such a situ
oMon naturally scoins both appalling
«J)d Intolerable, nt tho first blush. I
must be confessed that, to begin with,
Kirkwood drew a long and disconso
late face over his fix
* Then lio resolutely shrugged It off
md wont In search <>f man’s most
faithful dumb friend—to wff, ids pipe,
• he which, when found and filled, bo
lighted with a spill twisted from the
envelope of a cable message.
Its about time,” he announced,
watching the paper bin -ken and burn
In the grate fire, "that I was doing
something to prom my title t.. n liv
ing.” And this was pH ids valoSlctorj
to a van Is hod competence. "Anyway,
I'm » sight I tetter off than those pr^r
devils over there i really have H
great deal to bo thankful for now that
my attention's drawn to It.”
i*"r me ensuing fpw minutes he
thouptrt Jt nil over. soberly. but w Ith a
»»tout heart, standi n? nr .4 window of
tilR bedroom In the Hofei ploys, hand*
tl»*ep In trouser' pockets pipe fumlnc
voluminously, his raze wandering out
over n blurred infinitude <.f wet. shin
ing roofs and sooty < lilmney pots
There rame a rapping at the door.
K1rkw<>od removed the pipe from be
twc-fS) his teeth 1 >ng enough to ny
•Tome In!" pleasantly.
The knob was turned. ntul the door
f>pene*l. Kirkwood, iwinglng on one
heel, beheld, hesitant. upon th? thresh
old. a diminutive r>« ire In the livery
of flu* !’!<•'- ■» pages
"Mr. Kirk wo.si r"
Kirkwood nddrsl
"Oentlorrn* ♦ ««.. ?j> .,jr »•
Kirkwood n< d<h 4 ~ In « toll I n •
‘'“how him up pP k* | c-p.p t„,t
t.efore the word W re f,!rh . ip of
Ms mou*h b man “-p;<d into the
mom.
"Mr. Brent wP k " K!r ,i , imost
rhotifed, )|J I p|? ,• r< -,1 v r * '
aMtofn l nd
"My dear bo;.■••• rt.. j|,r] p . l ifter.
•‘I'm delighted to to.- ' r
note not nr. hour nr.-o r • d < • , ..
—you see.”
"It wn* rnhfhty g...»d <t ■ «|t
please IP- < re . j_ r tV •
s moment cco I was *he r .of mis.
oble end Ion? !y ti.-.r-: oti th f *
Ptool "
“1 r an fan , " '
up. stalling, at K
ttKernr-nf kizavi
pint r. f | .- of » ! i
erir o, , [ * ?>,. y
(ill the lir e'- of r (,. |
>\nd how r. ; '•!
undertone l riet. u->]
He pntit'rnird to
Kirk W'rorV“ far..
Mr Brentw pi< «
figure and r; 'her *
|enenee thin end
J «t of
keeji. »|er» fill ,
fi tful behind bis
lie off. r<d i?
■emonl n- appear
ls»r* v < f follow hr..'
*'ll hop, dear i y
\f a gliftee this
n • in f te'll h
r< u* end a trn.-e
giaast . Ilk years
. "<’ro Huh terminate, with tIk» »s| .- » of
| lift.v. tJi<* s] ;rit ninj t|n> verve of ihi.-iy
' oddly. Kni I N hands u.*r<*
'•III. delii'a te, tine ,| finylie, (1)1(1 UlC
! ul,s '»••'*«illIi til. dr-'..[iiny white iiius
l*i'he at limes ti.-inlil.il, almost ini
l»er.-c|it i111 y. with lh<- f.e<>eroijs scutl
tmiifs t?i:;t ,-<fii <• v Ith mellow am*. IK*
Ik :<l Ills I . i. straight ami his head
u I * I* an air an air that was not a
r, I tit th> sljrn token nf s. a
30J,t'l < X| < rleine In till* w»ir!«l. The
m-.M c.ii-,,in- .oil!.I have round m.
Haw hi th.* <|iil.-( ta-f. of his attire.
To sum 1IJ*. Kirkwood’* very ...
Ti lend, in d his only one then In l,„ii
<lon. Mr. Itp-nt v. h-k. looked and waa
an hri. ll* h m > tl" in
"I •' li“ |- r st.-d as the }oiiiij;.-r
njaii h.sltatiHl. *'j a a i hep* to find out.
! I I "a vp f. r the conttm lit. In
the meantime”
ono ill milllili'iit I sail f-r the
:ifok." ikMiiI Kirkwood. “'I (sat Is
mainly why I wished to sit* you to
f»H\ goudb> fur tile time.”
“You're going h,\ shadow
clouded Hrentwl.it ; clear eves.
“To Apr lit It out. shoulder to shoul
der, with my brethren In adversity.”
Tho cloud lifted “That is the spir
If!" declared tiie elder man. "For the
moment 1 did you the Injustice tv be
lieve that y< u were running away
Hut now I understand Forgive me.
l'ardon, too, the sturdily which I
min t lay at tho door of niy advancing
years. To me tit., thought of you as a
FarMnn fixture has become «u h u
conimonplace. Philip, tint the nows of
tho disaster hardly stirred mo. Now
I remember that you are a I’ulifnr
I nlan.”
"I was horn In San Francisco,” af
firmed Kirkwood, a bit sadly. “Mv
father nt.d mother wore burled there.”
“And your fortune?”
“1 Inherited my father's Interest In
tho lirm <>f Kirkwood & Vatulorllp.
"hen I camo over to study [tainting I
left everything in Ynnderllp’s hands.
The business afforded mo a Imtidsomo
living."
“You have lioarr! from Mr. Yandor
llp?”
“Fifteen minutes ngn ” Kirkwood
took a cablegram, still damp, from his
• pocket1 and handed it to his guest,
i Fnfolding it the letter read:
Kirkwood, I’Ickb, lAmloti:
' 6tuy where you arc No gund coming
ib.uk. K\ rythlng gone No Inmu imc
. I/Ctter follows. VANDKUI.il*.
“When I g«.f the news In Paris,”
1 Kirkwood volunteered, “I tried tho
bunks. They roftiw'd t <■> honor hit
j drafts. I had a little money In band,
en<>ugli to see mo home, so I closed
; (h tudlo and came across. I'm
looked on tin* Mlnnenpol! . snllhig
; from 'J'llbury at daybreak. The boat
train leaves at 11 :{•». I had hoped
I you might Is* able to dine with me and
{ see me off.”
In silence IJrentwick returned tlio
cnlilo messaee. Then. with a thought
! ful look. “V u ure sure this Is wise?"
! he queried.
“It’s the only thing 1 can see.”
“Hut your partner says" -
“Naturally he thinks that by tills
: time I should have learned to paint
'veil enough to support myself for a
; few months until he can get tilings
J running again. Perhaps I might.”
Front w lei; supported the presumption
with a decided gesture. "Hut have I
* • ' 1 i ——i - -
?•'' '* ' >i< .Vo Infiirrtnri ”
■ 'V. V«inl« rllj. {«» f)«M It
' 'I r!lp Lmm h wife
n I* I«, nnd flint
N*« . till i rn«;inn
t * orn«* d*'wn from
T1.5 fiot on nolld
*'»r*h j»"«I gi t 11 v. rk ”
1 • 1," admitted
l:-> **1» 1. • . . f If f0||y.
H '« y i »• , 1 think w hnt port
« ri • j hiok' --r.ntit pfthitnr 'an
• or frit. 0 f rt n| I| T< tinMding of n
li«-' • 1 •«•! jt
"ill* puintlfi* can Hii*r reiterated
I ran work Ilk.- otlir-r
i KI rk w o. .I
j IIK-ll.”
^ on (-mi do y ourself and your iron
, lus Ki'ave Injustice, and I fear me you
■ "HI. d.-ar lioy. It's In keeplii)* with
your heritage of American obstinacy.
i Now. If it w.-re a question of mnnrv"
Mr. limit tv Irk," Kirkwood proto t
*•<1 vehemently. "I’m- ample for my
, present needs,” he added.
'*1 course,” concede 1 Ilrentwlek.
" III* •* : I^h. "I didn't iv.illy hope you
would avail yourself of our friendship.
Now, I here's my home in Aspen Vil
las. You have seen It?”
In your ahsenee this aft.-nioon your
estlniahle butler, with commendable
disc retion, kept me without the doors.”
, laughed the young man.
It s a eoinfurtalile home. You would
■ not consent to share It with me tin
, til”—
••Y..u nre more limn good; hut. hon
estly, I must sail tonight. 1 wanted
| only tills chance to sec you before l
left. You'll dine with me, won't .vou?'*
If you Would stay In London, Phil
lp. we would dim* together not once,
but many times. As it is, | myself uni
booked fur Munich, to he gone a week,
on business. I have many affairs need
lug attention between now and the
U:10 train from Victoria. If yon will
be my guest at Ah|»eii Villus”
“Please!" begged Kirkwood. wIiTn
little laugh of pleasure because of the
oth'T’g insistence. ”1 only wish |
cotiid. Another day"—
• <»h. you will make your million In
a year and return nramlalouslv in.
dependent. It's In your American
blood.’ I-rail white fingers tapped nil
arm ..f the chair as their owner stand
gravely Into the lire. *T confess 1
envy you," be observed.
•'llic opportunity to make a million
In a year?” chuckled Kirkwood.
No. i en\y you your romance.
^ ou have youth, uiieomitterahle youth,
and the world before you, I niust go.”
He rose stlllly, ns though suddenly
made conscious of his age. The old
! peered more than a trifle wist
fully now lido Kirkwood's. "You will
not fall to call on me by cnble, dear
boy, If you need anything? I nsk It
as a favor. I’m glad you wished to
P0° n,f' If fore going out of mv life.
Ono ,,,srns to value the friendship of
youth, Philip, flood by, and good luck
attend yen.”
Alone once more, Kirkwood returned
to Ids w indow. The disappoint merit
h<- felt nt being robbed of ids anflel
pa fed pleasure In It retd wick's com
pany at dinner colored his mood un
pleasantly. Ills musing* merged into
vacuity, into a dull gray mist of hope
lo* nos* comparable only to the dismal
ski. * then lowering over-London town.
Prentwl.'k was good, !»ut Itreutwlck
was mistaken. There was really noth
Ing for Kirkwood tc» do but to go
ahead. Put one steamer trunk re
malned to bo packed. The boat train
would leave before midnight, the
eteamer with the morning tide, Tty
the morrow* noon he would be upon
the high s-as, within fen day* Jn New
^ork and among friends, and then
The problem of that afterward per
plexed Kirkwood more than he cared
to own. H rent wick had opened Ids
eyes to the fact that he would he
practically useless In Snn Francisco
Ho could riot harbor the thought of
going bach only to become a charge
upon \ undr rllp. No; he was resolved
that there ef« rward In- must roly upon
himself, carve tut hi* own destiny
It’tt Would the nrt that he had ml
llvafed with sin h assiduity yield him
a Hvellhn. d If - Ineerely practiced with
that end I i i lew? Would the nemtal
iun.1 l-by*: al etptlp -.cnr of n painter,
heretofore dilettante, enable him te
lieeorne self uj.j, irtlng?
There < arn*» a rapping at the door.
T*.. knoh wiH turned by n dlnilnu
Mtc figure In the livery of the Pies*
page*.
.'ir. i\irmv<>'
Klrk'.v d nodd. d
*‘CtCTlf I'llllli, f.. i ..». y,„, *|f "
Klrkw«if,d iixjtln, ntnllln_r, if
M»n»»w 1 i* i«*ri>!< xt il Jin •< untied. (ho
^hl'd fidi m cd, pr.-fT-rlM,' n silver
‘ nrd fray i;t fho or.I < f an unnaturally
rUMfl for.aria. Klrku^d t« >ol< tli»>
= : 'i"’’ ! ’ <*., tinini!) ntu]
■■r-Pu * r and Jn.«i < rt.-*l if * Ifhr-nt
J>r« |a»l)' «•
r " R (Jalondir."' ho road i
.. Tv f'niondrr:' Hut j know
n not, j„ r-.f. tfiiro Mioro'; i T-,j
tfti o, y un .' m in?”
'I '.f - rrofij<d. T»«i• r .dm pod
Tvi” t, I aad o ■•Ifafrd tn v|f»» roil*
r,,-',f’OT». '^<1 '•<‘ard f. r Mr Kirk
wi-S' ■ «• «•, i d |n ii4. i nut . j
' " ’ ; "I'lTui rl .f- n r.-< Mafic n |,v
r..fo
Vorv vi oil. r?nt liofc.ro you <.|,ow
■ ‘1: f■ k fl.N Mr « nloTidnr If ho
‘"r- •'«' ' H TO I’hllli)
Kirk-cod”
*‘V. dr”
'I ' o Child r- r , f1 ,„f puiK-mloiinly !
11 " d> f-r Kir ,* , d tx»mj»«•<?
'■ v " In 1.:-. | Ij.o nnd
j.iKT. .t ■ i or to: | il . du-.j. iru; Dm* Jr,
f'rrnpfh.n f,, hi r, ,, , ,vf(f>
■i < i : u. ti)|«
Mr ‘'! r til ho ell,| , „f know
ho had ninifiNf Iimj.ccI
k. r< turning v itli
;i • ' ' '•d ‘ 1 d . > -nr tho Md f-. din- j
JT“ regretted Brentwlek sincerely.
Tlielra was ii carious sort of frlcud
ship. extraordinarily < lose in view <.f
the* men Kernes* of cither’s Information
I about tin* other, to say nothing of the
l dlspurlty between their apea. I'on
f'ernliijr the elder innit Kirkwood knew
; little more than that the> had met on
i Kldptxwird, “coin'll;: o\er;“ that Itrent
wl»-k had N[f>ilt some years In Amer
ica; that lie was an lhiglhdiman hy
ldrfh, a cosmopolitan hy hahlt. hy pro
fession ii gentleman (employing ttmt
term In Its most uncompromisingly
British significance) and hy lucllnu
j tlon a colhs*tor of “articles of virtu
, bigotry,” In pursuit of which ho
j made frequent excursions to the contl
i nent from his residence In n quaint,
quiet street of Old Brompton. It had
hcen during his not Infrequent, but or
dinarily abbreviated, sojourns In Purls
that their steamer acquaintance bad
ripened Into an affection almost filial
on file one hand, almost paternal on
the other.
There came n rapping at the door.
The knob was turned; the door open
ed. Kirkwood, swinging on one heel,
beheld, hesitant upon the threshold, a
rather rotund figure of medium height,
clad In an expressionless pray lrunge
suit, with a hrown "bowler” bat held
tentatively In one hand, an umbrella
weeping In the other. A voice, which
was unctuous and inslnuatlve, emanat
ed from the figure.
“Mr. Kirkwood?”
Kirkwood nodded, with »om<> ofTort
recalling the niuno. so detached had
been his thoughts since tie- disappear
ance of tin* page.
“Yes, Mr. Calendar?”
“Art* you ah busy, Mr. Kirkwood?”
“Are you Mr. Calendar?” Kirk
wood's smile robbed tin* retort of any
flavor of InelvlMty.
Encouraged, the man entered, pre
mising that ho would detain his host but
a moment and readily surrendering lint
and umbrella. Kirkwood, putting the
latter aside Invited his onller to the
easy chair which Itrcntwlck bud occu
pied by the fireplace.
“It takes the edge ofT the dampness,”
Kirkwood explained In deference to
the other's look of pleased surprise at
the cheerful Iasi of coals. “I’m afraid
I could never get acclimated to life in
* cold, damp room—or a damp, cold
worn such as you Britisher, prefer."
“It Is grateful,” Mr. Calendar agreed,
spreading plump and well canal for
hands to jhe warmth. "I’.ut you are
mistaken, i nm as much an American
as yourself.”
“Yes?” Kirkwood looked the man
over with more Interest, less matter of
course courtesy.
He proved not unprepossessing, this
unclasslHable Mr. Calendar, lie was
dressed with Rome care, his complexion
was good, and the fullness of Ids girth,
emphasize ns It was by a notable
lack of Inches, lvspoke a nature genial,
easy going and sybaritic. His dark
eves, heavy lidded, wero active, cu
riously at times with a subdued g!U
tcr, In a face large, round, pink, of
which the other most remarkable fea
tures were a mustache, close trimmed
and showing streaks of gray; a chubby
no.se and duplicate chins. Mr. Calen
dar was, furthermore, possessed of a
polished bald spot, girdled with a ton
sure of silvered hair—circumstances
which lent some factitious distinction
to a personality otherwise common
place.
His manner might be best described
ns uneasy, with assurance, as though
he frequently found it necessary to
make up for his unimpressive stature
by assuming an unnatural habit of au
thority.
"So you knew I was an American,
Mr. Calendar?” suggested Kirkwood.
"Sum- your name on the register. We
both hall from the .same neck of the
woods, you know.”
"I didn’t know it, and”—
“Yes; I’m from Frisco too."
"And I’m sorry.”
Mr. Calendar passed live fat fingers
nervously over his mustache. glanced
alertly up ot Kirkwood, ns If moincn
tnrlly inclined to question his tone,
then again stared glumly Into the
tire, for Kirkwood had maintained an
attitude purposefully colorless. Not to
put too fine a point Upon It, bo believed
that Ills caller was lying. The* hulus
appearanc e, his mannerisms, Ids vole©
anil emmelatlon, while* they m 1^ lit
have been American, seemed nil un
Californian. To one horn and bred In
that state, ns Kirkwood had been, her
sons are unmistakably ball marked.
Now. no man lies without, motive.
This one Chose to reaffirm, with a show
of deep feeling: “Yes, I'm from Frisco
too. We're companions In misfortune.”
"I hope not altogether.” *nld Kirk
wood politely.
Mr. Calendar drew Ms own Infer
enees from the response and mustered
up a show of cheerfulness. "Then
you're not completely wiped out?”
“To flio contrary, I uas hoping you
were le s unhappy.”
“Oh, then you are?”
Kirkwood lifted the enhle message
from the mantel. ”j have just heard
front my partner at homo,” he said,
with a faint smlie. and quoted: ”‘Kv
erythlng gone. No Insurance.'”
Mr. Calendar pursed his plump lips,
whist!/Tig Inaudlblv "Too bad. too
t«nd!" he murmured sympathetically.
"We're all hard hit. more or less.” jje
lapsed into dejected apathy, from
which Kirkwood, growing at length
impatient, found ft necessary to rouse
him.
“You twlshed t/> see me *|>mit some
th!" g clue, |*tn sure.”
Mr. calendar started from Ms rev
erh "Fh? I was dreaming, f beg
pardon It seems hard to realize, .\jr
!■'Irk wood, that this awful catastrophe
b is overtaken our beloyod metropolis.”
The canting phrases wearb-d Kirk
Wcscd Abrnptly he cub In: “Would
n •verelgn help you oof, \fr raton
d ir? I don't mind telling you that's
about the limit pf my present re
pouveeu.”
"J'nrdon mo." Mr Calendar's moon
like countenance darkens!, lie n*
snmed a transparent dignity. "Ypi
misconstrue my motive, sir."
“Then I'm sorry.”
"I am not hero to borrow. On t’
other hand, quite by incident I dl*c<»»
ered your nnme upon the regi.sm
downstairs, a good ol<l Frisco nan.
If you will permit me to say so.
thought to myself that here was :
chance to help n follow countryman?1
< nlond ir pan « d Interrogatively. Kirk
*oou rerun rued Interested, lmt silent
"If u passage across would help you
I- I think It might he arranged," statu
mens! Calendar, III at ease.
It might,” admitted Kirkwood spec
ulntlvely.
"I could tlx It so that you could g.
o\er-nrst class, of course and pai
your way, so to speak, by renderin;
u.s, me and my partner, a trifling son
ice.”
"Ah!”
“In fact,” continued Culoudar, warm
Ing up to his theme, ‘ there might Id
something more In it f. r you than thi
passage If—If you’re the right mail
the man I’m looking f<>r.”
•'That, of course, Is the question.”
"Kh?" Calendar pulled up suddenly
In a full winged flight of enthusiasm.
Kirkwood eyed him steadily. “I
said that It Is a question, Mr. t'nlen
dar. whether or not I am the
ina i<
"I v'iix looking for gome one to serve me In
a certain cupaelt>\i."
you’re looking for. Between you and
m‘* an'l the 11 redogs, l don’t believe 1
«m. Now, If you wish to name your
quid pro quo, this (rilling service I’m
to render In recognition of your benev
olence, you may.”
“Ye-es,” slowly. But the speaker do
layefl Ids rei»Iy until he bad surveyed
bis host from head to foot with a
Khtuee both erltienl and appreciative.
lie saw n man In height rather less
than thu stock size six feet so much In
demand by tlio manufacturers of mod
ern heroes of fiction—a man a bit
round shouldered, too, but otherwise
sturdily built, self contained, well
groomed.
Kirkwood wears n boy’s honest face,
No Olio has ever called him handsome!
A few prejudiced persons have decided
that he Iihs an Interesting counte
nam e. The propounded of this verdict
have been, for ttie most part, feminine
Kirkwood himself has been heard to
declare ttint Ids features do not lit. In
Its essence the statement Is true, but
there Is a very real, If undefhmblo,
engaging quality in their very Irregu
larity. Ills eves tire brown, pleasant,
set wide apart, straightforward of ex
pression.
Now, It. appeared that, whatever Ids
motive, Mr. Calendar had acted upon
impulse In sending his card up to
Kirkwood. At all events, this Calon
dar proved not lucking In penetration
Men of Ids stamp are commonly on
• lowed with that quality to an eminent
degree. Not slow to reckon the call
her of the man before Mm, the leaven
of Intuition began to work In Ids ad!
l-oso intelligence. Ho owned himself
bn tiled.
"Thnhl:*,” be concluded imnslvely; *'I
reckon you're right. You won't do,
after all. i vo wasted your tlmo— mine
l/w. ••
"Don't mention It."
Calendar got lien* lly out of bis chair,
reaching for his hat and umbrella.
"Permit me t<» apologize for an un
warrantable Intrusion, Mr. Kirkwood."
Ho faltered. A worried and calculating
look shadowed his small eyes. "I was
looking for some one to nerve mo in
a certain capacity"
‘Vermin or questionable?" propound
ed Kirk wood M indly, opening tho door.
Pointedly Mr. Calendar Ignored the
Imputation. "Horry t disturbed you.
(J'dnfternooti, Mr. Klrkw<H*l."
”<Jondby, Mr. Calendar." A smile
twitched tho comers of Kirkwood's
too wide month.
Oibiriar. stepped hastily out Into
the Finfl. Kirkwood ch*sd the door
and tho Incident simultaneously with
a smart bane of finality. Laughing
quietly, he went t»«» t; to the window.
V Itti Its dreary outlook, now the drear
ier for lengthening evening shadows.
"1 Wonder what Ids game Is, any
way. An sdventurer, of course The
Woods are full of 'em. A queer fish,
eww of Ills kind And with a trick
dp bl« Nloove as queer and fishy as
tdmself, no doubt,"
CTTAPTF.lt If.
TI1F assumption seems not un
warrantable that Mr Cnlsndar
figuratively washed hts hands
of Mr. Kirkwood. Cliques! Ion
»bty Mr. Kirkwood considered him
. iclf well rid of Mr. Calendar. When
. I the litter hud gone his way. Klrk
i i v.'<m d. mindful of the fuet that Ills l*»ut
I train would leuve St. I’nticrnn at 11 :.‘I0,
! set about his pnebln;; and dismissal
• | fr-» in I.!« f!». urlitK the Incident created
j hy the f >• rd\ eutttrer ui.U at «» o’clock
or thereabouts 1 t himself out of liia
ri.om. drct rcl for the evening, u light
i ral; ei at ..nr tea* aria. In the other
i hat cl a e no, tin* drizzle having
• eenvod
A s'.ol.d I*i I lift ran le I him down
. ty the grout u f’.»or <f the estubllsh
, meat In roi.et'.l g : • « f live ndu
utes. Causing hi Htr -J’l. .• i ng enough
to Kettle his bill :iinl hsive 111 <; ructions
to liyive Ills luggage ii.iivcied to the
boat tralu. lie received with entire
• equanimity the a liable benediction of
the clerk, hi wlc-se oyes he still fig
ured as that mdlatit creature, an
American millionaire, and paused on to
the lobby, where he surrendered hat.
coat and stick to the cloakroom at
tendant ere wittering the dining room.
The hour was i trifle early for a
London dliitw*r. the handsome room
but moderately filled with patrons.
Kirkwood absorbed the fact uncoii
Kclously tint! without displeasure. The
earlier the Ik tier, he was determined
to consume Ids last civilized meal (ns
ho chose to consider If) at Ills serene
leisure, to live fully Ids ebbing mo
ments In the world to whtch lie was
born, to drh’k t<> Its cloying dregs one
ultimate draff <>f luxury.
With a deferential flourish the wait
er brought him the menu card, lie
had M*r\csl In Ids time many an Amer
ican millionaire; la* had nlso served
tlds Mr Kirkwood, nrd respected him
an one exalted above the run of his
kind In that he comprehended the art
of dining.
Fifteen minutes later the waiter de
parted rejoicing, bis order complete.
T»> distract a conaclcnce whispering
of extravagance Kirkwood lighted a
cigarette.
The room was gradually tilling with
later arrivals. It was the most fa
vored restaurant In London, and de
ep* e the radiant costumes of the wom
en Its atmosphere remained sedate and
rest fill.
A cab clattered down the sklo street
on which tlie window opened.
At a nearby table a woman laughed,
quietly happy. Incuriously Kirkwood
clamed her way. She was bending
forward, smiling, flattering her escort
frith the adoration of her eyes. They
wore lovers alone In tho wilderness of
the crowded restaurant. They seemed
very happy.
Kirkwood was conscious of a strange
pang of emotion. It took him some
time to comprehend thnt It was envy.
Ho was alone and lonely. For the
first time h« realized that no woman
hud ever looked upon him ns (lie wo
man at the adjoining table looked upon
her lover. He had fofmd time to wor
ship but one mistress—bis art.
And he was renouncing her.
He was painfully conscious of what
he had tnlSftcri, had lo*t or had not yet
found—the love of woman.
Tho servant Inn was curious, new,
unique In hl.s experience.
Ills cigarette burned down to Ids
lingers ns he sat pondering. Abstract
edly ho ground Its fire out In nn ash
tray.
The waiter pet befnro him a silver
tureen, covered.
np sat up and began to consume ids
soup, scarce doing it Justice. Ills
dream troubled him—his dream of the
love of woman.
Fr mi a little distance Ms waiter re
garded him with an air of disappoint
ment. Tn the course <>f an hour and a
half he awoke to discover the attend
ant In the act of pouring very hot and
Mack coffee from a bright silver p"t
Into a demltnrsp of fragile porcelain.
Klrkwocd slipped a single lump of
sugar Info the cup. gave over Ids cigar
case to be filed, then leaned back, de
lUierntely lighting a long and slender
panctela as a preliminary to a last lin
gering appreciation of the arena of
which he was a part.
He reviewed If through narrowed
eyelids lazily, yet with some alight
surprise, seeming to see It with new
vision, with eyes from which scales of
Ignorance had dropped.
This long and brilliant dining hall,
with Its quiet perfection of proportion
and appointment, had always gratified
Ids love of the beautiful. Tonight It
pleased him to an unusual degree. Y<>t
tinted n deep rose, with their hanging*
of (lull doth < f gold; Its lights dlHcrlm*
Inntlwly clustered and discreetly
shaded, redoubled In half a hundred
mirrors; its subdued shimmer of plate
and glass, Ith soberly festive assem
blage of circumspect men nnd women
splendidly gowned. Its decorously
tnut'd murmur of voices penetrated
nnd Interwoven by the strains of a
hidden string orchestra, caressed his
senses ns always, yet with a differ
ence. Tonight he saw It n room popu
Ions with lovers, lovers Insensibly
paired, man unto woman attentive,
woman of mnu regardful,
lie had never understood tills before.
Tlds rmtrli tie had missed In life.
It seemed hard to realize that, one
must forego It all forever.
Presently he found himself nontely
relf conscious. The sensation puzzled
him, and without appearing to do so
he traced It from effect to cause and
found the cause In n woman a girl,
rn'her Seated at a table the third re
moved from him, near the fartht r wall
of the room.
Too considerate and too embarrassed
to return her scrutiny oponly, look for
look, tie yet felt sure that, however
temporarily, lie was become the ob
ject of her Intent Interest
Idly employed with Ids cigar, ho
sipped Ids coffee, in time aware flint
stie had turned her attention else
i Where, lie looked up.
At tlrst l>« was conscious of an ef.
feet of disappointment. Mho was no
body that ho knew, even by repots
' non. Fhe was simply a young glrf.
barely out of her teens—If as old as
that phrase would signify. He wn
: tier'll wluit she had found In him h
; make her think him worth so long :t
study and looked again, more keenly
I curious.
With this second glance appreciation
stirred the artistic side of bis nature,
that was already grown Impatient of
Ids fret ed mood. The slender and girl
ish figure, posed with such absolute
lack of intrusion against a screen of
rose and gilt, moved him to crltKal
admiration. The tinted glow of shade*
candles caught glistening on the spun
gold of her fair hair enhanced the him
pallor of her youitg shoulders.
In the sheer youth of her (he r< il
Ized) more than In aught else lay her
chiefest charm. She could lie little
more than a child, indeed, if he wer *
to Judge her by the purity of her shad
owed eyes and the absence of emotion
In the calm and direct look which
presently she turned upon hhu whe
sat wondering at the level, penciled
darkness of her brows.
At length, aware that she had sur
prised Ills Interest, Kirkwood glanced
• side coolly deliberate lest she should
detect In his attitude anj’thlng more
than Impersonal approval.
A slow color burned hls cheeks. In
his temples there rose n curious puls
ing.
After awhile she drew Ids gaze again
imperiously, l»crself all unaware of th«
havoc she was wreuklng on hls tem
perament.
“Eighteen," ho hazarded—“eighteen
or possibly nineteen dining at the I Mess
In a ravishing dinner gown and un
happy V oil, hardly- «<>t she!"
Yet the Impression haunted him, and
ere long he was fain to seek confirma
tion or denial of It In the manner of
her escort.
Inttn. .... f a.ltt, T.-t-l.
wood, cutting a figure as negative ns
Ms snug evening clothes. One could
surmise little from a fleshy thick neck,
=t round glazed hnld spot, a fringe of
grizzled hair and two bright red ears.
Calendar!
Somehow tho fellow did suggest
Kirkwood's caller of tho afternoon.
The young man could not have said
precisely how, for he was unfamiliar
with the aspect of thnt gentleman's
back. None the less, the suggestion
persisted. I
Hy now a few of the guoBts, theater
bound for the most part, were leaving.
Here and there a table stood vacant
that had been tilled, cloth tarnished,
chairs disarranged. In another moment
to he transformed into Its pristine bril
liance under the deft attentions of tho
servitors.
Down an aJsle, past the table at
which tho girl was sitting, came two,
making toward the lobby, tlie man, a
plight and meager young personality.
In tho lend. Their party had attracted
Kirkwood's notice ns they entered—
why, he did not remember, hut It was
In his mind that then they had been
three. Instinctively he looked at tho
table they had left, one placed at somo
distance from the girl and hidden from
her by an angle In the wall. It ap
peared that the third member had
chosen to dally a few moments over
hLs tobacco and a liqueur brandy,
Kirkwood could see him plainly loung
ing In his chair and fumbling the stem
of a glass, a heavy man of soml>er
hablr, his black and sullen brows low
ering and thoughtful above a face
boldly handsome.
The woman of the trio was worthy
of closer attention, gome paces In the
wake of her lackluster esquire sho
was making a leisurely progress, trail
ing tho skirts of n gown inngnlflcent
beyond dispute, half concealed though
It was hy the opera clonk whose soft
folds draped her shoulders. Hlowly,
carrying her head high, she npproach
ed, Insolent eyes reviewing t^e room
from beneath their heavy lids, a metal
lic and mature typo of dark beauty
supremely self confident and self pos
sessed.
Men turned Involuntarily to look aft
er her, not altogether In undiluted ad
miration.
jii Tin* art #r pnssing behind the pu
tative Calendar she paused momenta
rll.v, bending as If to gather tip her
train. Presumably the action disturb
ed her balance. Hho swayed a little
und In the effort to recover rested the
lips of her gloved fingers upon the
edge of the table. KitnultaneousJy
(Kirkwood could have sworn; a sin
»rlo word left her lips, a word evident
ly pitched for the ear of the hypothet
ical Calendar alone. Then she swept
on, Imperturbable, assured.
To the perplexed observer It was In
dubitably evident that soino commu
nication had passed from the woman
Ot the man. Kirkwood saw the fat
shoulders of the girl's companion stiff
en suddenly as the woman’s hand rest
ed at his elbow. As sho moved away
* little rippling shiver was plainly vis
Ihle In tho muscles of his bark henentti
his coat, mute token of relaxing ten
slon. An Instant later one plump ntid
mottled hand was carelessly pi need
whom the woman's had been and
was nt onoo removed with fingers
closed.
To tho girl, watching her face cov
ertly. Kirkwood turned for a clew p
the incident. lie made no doubt fhnl
she had observed the passage. Prool
,rf that one found In her sudden star
tllng pallor (of Indignation?; and In Id-i
eyes, briefly a tight With some Ins, ruta
hie emotion, though quickly veiled In
lower,d lashes. Slowly enough she
regained color and composure, while
her vlsn-vts sst motionless, hend In'
cllned. as if thought.
Abruptly the man turned In hi*
chair to summon a waiter and exposed
bis profile. Kirkwood was In newts,
smna.d to recognise On lends r a had
ly frighten.si Calendar now, howevor
and hardly to |*> Identified with the
Me, k. g:ih fellow who had Interviewed
Kirkwood j„ 4»,,, afternoon. His flab
by cheeks were ashen and trembling
Hit Co.NTINI l.i,