Show aw omm roo 41 q m i BAG B AG by louis joseph vance at copyright 1908 by tho robbs merrall co 1 XIV 1113 old boatman boatini in seemed inclined T toi ard optimism bell t alie lie loat jay aloit alongside side a landing stage nt t woolwich nud kirkwood had cl ashore ferll knebbe roke it the man told him with ith a Went heri I 1 sur vey of tho the skies wilds ind s fit from the nn ili tint 11 old ir cr bick b ick a bit sir aask til tit wye ye to til tit Dork artl st nhun shun boung lillain d ills th tit shortest walk ak sir mr I 1 ocoa opoa 3 er catches r thank sir lie ile caught the hai sovereign which Kirk kirwood in tit ungrudging ilber aliby spared them of his lili store of two tio the tile Ameti cin nodded 1 ments and adicus adieus with a faded smile deprecating ills cl et ances of i w liming tig t the le race sorely handicapped as hi lie ins tit was cry ery iery vry tired and in his heart suspected that he lie would fai hut but if it ho he did he lie would at least be able to coln coin fort himself that it wua wits not for lack of arving lie ile set hh ills teeth on that covenant in grim deter min atlon miller there was a strain of the bulldog latent intent in a tho the kirkwood breed or else lila ills infatuation gripped him more strongly than lie guessed yet he lie suspected something of its power lie ile knew that this was inq altogether nil nn Insane proceeding and anti that the lure alt that led him on was aixa dorothy calendar A strange dull light glowed in his menry ee on oil the thought of her hed RO go through fire and water ater in her service she was mas costing him dear ps was to cost him dearer still and perlin perhaps pi lo be 10 for his hi gut guerdon rilon no more tit tinn in a thank you mr at tho the end of the pason o 0 goo rut but that would mould to I 1 0 no loss less than his deserts lie ile u was as not to forget that ho lit was interfering tive girl was mus in lit her tier fathers fut liers hind li surely wife enough there to the cis cas aal ual mind if her p cirtin in her pi rents fortu fortuna ties were distasteful ehe she endured it pas passively sivel without complaint he lie decided that it was uns ills dut to himself from front time to time that lit ahli main Inte interest rost must bo be in the gime it itself in the solution of the rid die dle na bate batcher or sl b cfall bf all lit lie laust look for iio im reword for his fits gratuitous and self appointed alvirt indeed he lie was all but successful in lit persuading hlin stif ant that it w is the tho fascination of ad adventure denture alone nione flint that drew him blin on oil A eliom Iio tn lie presently encountered auml ciul minute directions for aching inc it liln tho the dockyard Do kird station of the southeastern and cint clint ham hain ralla adding comfortable in lit formation to the that the cot eist eastbound bound train would pisa iriss gil in lit ten ini minutes if kirkwood would mend his ills pact he lie inako it ea ensile with time to spare kirkwood mended his fits pace tee accord ingli but contrary to the tile prediction ind fild no ito thile to spire nt rit ill tilt arjell as te ie stormed the ali ticket gril grating ting the train was tn lit nt tho the plit forin therefore a it ni evou ticket agent him iut lout i 1 clr at cliss cl iss ticket in iteld of lit lie third cliss lie had asked for ind liere mere wn was no timo into wherein to JIM in i the mi anle fled kirkwood plinked pi inked lown dolvil tile fare swore and sprinted for the tile tile first compartment whoso door he perked iolene Iole nl op n proe praed to be and was moreover not a n cir ile recel ted a fleeting of a motu womans ans startled ebes staring into hta ills own oun through a thin mesh of 0 lelling fell off the running board the door ami and hurled coard the next compartment here happier fortune attended upon his desire the tile boxI boxlike bite cletion was noten anted and i notice bl blonn olI upon the window aass glass announced thit it was second S oaid class SaloL smoking lug kirk mirk wood promptly tumbled in ind when he tuned to shut the tile door the tile coaches were moving niovi nf A pipe helped him to be beir ir up while the train ane as biking its two other etona steps in tbt tb borough of Wo woolwich it consoled cou jilin little that none disputed with him film ills his lanely ancey l possession of the compartment that he ho ind irid cau caught bt the iralu or tint wit he was really losing no clint k sense of deep dejection had settled down don upon his consciousness ness with a realization of how completely a fools errand was mas this of big IJ i felt foredoomed to failure lie ile was never to eco see dorothy calendar again aad ua his brain seemed numb with disappointment presently he toppled limply over on the cushions and foil fell fast asleep and swaying eway loe the train left itle town I ailina presently lie put aside pipe and stared bi blankly out at nt a reeling aind the sant homely smiling countryside of kent A deeper deep melancholy sin choly tinted ili his mind dorothy calendar was form forever or lost to him film presently he lie toppled limply over on tho the and fell fast adeep ua medao after n ion ions time he a seemed ce to real rather inelly ay tint h lt tit the e ige door hall been opened to admit somebody its smart closing bans bang shocked him awake aw like lie ile sat up blinking in confusion AIR ion hardly conscious of more to begin with fill thin win that tho the train had amused unit waa nna ngien in tit full flight then ills senses cl clearing oarin lie became aware tint thit I 1 Is solitary just entered mas w as a w N oman she was seated acro across as from front him her tier bick MCI to the en ell gine glue in lit tin an attitude which somehow suggested it highly nonchalant frame of mind sho silo 1 ai and ite ly tier speaking olce was mas high H bitett 11 jn his 1114 hearing vermith ills breath the bewildered mau man a 9 ild 1 I I lie lit deuce and above it in lit n led tone mrs hallam allam II she nodded in a not unfriendly fish vish ion smiling brightly myself sir I 1 KIrkwo really our predestined path paths are findly tangled just now arent they vero you surprised to find me tile in here w h ou on come now confess aou a aerel were I 1 lie ile remarked td till tato smooth girlish freshness of hei bet clucks the sense and buguor of tier mouth tho the veiled gleam of excitement in her eyes of the chang ing ser iser n and ud saw as well ell that sho silo was dressed for traveling sensibly but with an air nud and had brought a small hand bag with her tier surprised and delighted he lie reco recovering ering with mendacity so anten lional and obvious that the woman laughed aloud 1 I know aoud oud be you seti had the carriage ahead the ono one you didn dian t take I 1 nai wa so when aou ou hung up to the dor and away again lou ion sec see me hanging wilf out the aindow to watch N NN where here ou wint did you 1 I hints tilts how I 1 disco discovered cred that your discourtesy was as unintentional that ou on recognized me ine by the tile fact that ou on took this mhd compartment right behind my own she silo paused invitingly but kirkwood grown wary contented bilm himself telf mill picking up his pipe and carefully knocking out the dottle on the N window adge 1 I was glad to see 3 a on she affirmed lint but only kirtly because 3 ou on were N ere 3 a on air kirkwood iho the other and major part w u is because bight sight of aou confirm cd ed my 0 own il secief intuition IOU ou sie ste fin im quite old i and anti wise enough to question even my own intuitions for tor you are going to Queens queensborough borough aren t you mr Mrk kirkwood Queens queensborough borough he echoed bladl 1 b in ili fact he was at a loss to follow her tier dilot no mrs lim hallam allam II im not bound there titer her was appi reut she made inde no to conceal it but 11 she silt falt faltered cred if not there ghe 01 aou a my artl mrs fl allun I 1 liae no ito intention of going to kirkwood prot protest st ed 1 I 1 dont understand the ner nervous ous drumming of n pitt P itt fit wither coi cohered ered toe melble benceth the tile licin of her tier dress alone nione Ic betrayed trayiA a rising title of lm then my intuition ans at t fault in thi this Iti if it was nas at nil all concerned lit mv int at af fitas yes most decidedly nt lault tault aco ver well then noi ow let us eee see vi here arc are you bound kirkwood looked out of the tile il lidow im ial coull convinced its a rendezvous ous kirkwood nood smiled cutly at the lands landscape cipe Is li dorothy calendar so very very beautiful mr tr kirkwood with a trace of malice ostentatiously kirkwood rend read tho the southeastern and r anth ims framed card of warning posted just above mrs airs hall me be hc id to all nil such in curable lunatics ns are possessed of a 11 desire de sire to travel on the lie running boards of rallin rallen 11 carri igea vu anre going to meet her tier arent you I 1 he ile gracefully concealed n aann awn the womans plin of attack took another form last night when ihen you told mf me our story I 1 bell believed eved you lie ile devoted bilm himself telf to suppressing the he temptingly nobilous retort and succeeded uc bat lout though he left it tin loken the humor of it tu twitched tho the corners of hl his 4 mouth month ned mrs was ins observant It so that her next attempt to linw him film out u was its edged with tilt temper 1 I believed vou an american but a gentleman it appears that it if you ever were nere the latter youve youre fallen so to low that you willingly cast your lot m with ith thieves having exhausted his repertory of rudeness Kirk kirkwood mood took to twiddling his thumbs 1 I want ant to ask you it if you think it fair to me or my eon son tn to leave us in le dornne nor 0 the place chere v here you are to meet the vie thle shoves es who stole fourmy sons eons jewels sirs alm hallam allam II he eald said soberly it I 1 am going to meet mr calendar or sir I 1 bate no assurance of mu fact wn 1 1 0 f p ewt durin silt tel 4 1 lint but hill 1 e t to tills this then thell u jy 17 ehe she sit ani anial I 1 api pl it ile felt fie tile only ile rt sturt tort to tub tilli would be te a hiril of 1114 4 rhoul ders dou latil tila iiii ability tu to irr iro one off and ligion took r refuge fuge lu fit killme the douan abandoned abandon etl a beconi plin of siege with tilt a readiness that did d id end it to her tier knowledge k now ledge of mankind be bile thought out the very carefully before open opening ing with a masked battery mr nir kirk kirkwood cm t u we 0 bo be friends I 1 othilie nothing ot hirie could okise me more hallam Ual lain I 1 im norry morry if ive unnoted you and 1 I to loo 3 have been rude last night when you cut ma away sa e suddenly you on prevented tit my Y M L I 1 13 you a proposal propos jl a sort 0 of business 4 proposition ion YM yew to como come over to our side 11 1 I thought so that was uns why itly I 1 went iles I 1 understood nut but tula morn ing when mien youve youe had time to think it over 1 I 1 luve have no choice in the matter mrs tho tile green eyes ees darkened ominously you acan I 1 am to understand theu then that youre against us thit you prefer to side tilde alth ith B and scoundrel scoundrels all because of a suo she disco discovered ered him e eying ing her tier mth n emile smile of such nuch inscrutable and lL intelligence that the words died on hir 11 iipp and she silo crimsoned treasonably to herself for he saw it and the belief he had conceived whilo attending to her tier tissue of fabrication earlier that morning was strengthened to the point of conviction con cletion that it if anything had been stolen by anybody mra airs lillaia lal Ilal laia latu and her son owned it as little as calendar As for the woman she felt she bad had steadily lost na rather titer thau than gained ground so she said slowly aitu attu a silent time you aro are not for the corollary of that admission mr nir id Is that you are for sheer ness 1 I bol believe leve he replied nea wearily rily that there are tip other stations sti tlona on this hue title after newington it follows llois fo then that that I 1 fol low and la in answer to his por pert turbe urbel glance she silo added oh ill grant tint intuition Is 1 sometimes a poor guide but if you ic tc ot ct george C calendar so shall 1 I nothing can prevent that you cant hinder me we during the brief balance of the jour ney sirs mrs II allani had find food for thought soe sae frowned pursed her tier lips and iab with one daintily gloved fore finger followed i seam of 0 bet vil lored skirt while kirkwood sit wit and wondering ion dering liow flow to rid ot of her if it slie she proved really as troublesome as ns she site to be also he lie won dered continually what hat it ans ns ill about why did aing suspect him jilin of designing signing dt to meet calendar Ca lendir at queensborough Queens borough had find she lini Vin giblo ground for believing bel leving hit could bo be found in li presumably she had sinie stile she als w 13 avowedly in ili pursuit of lint thit and kirkwood Kilk Mik wood In inferred forred had booked for qu qui nas aa he lie then running it w iv from colendar Ci lendar and lit ill r 1 J P 11 lie ne became alaire abc atc ire tint his atoil eirv con panto vanto ten teas a t daughter to chase a aill ol o the wisp ot or his fits credulous fancy clr sheerness shore disturbing reflection he ile scowled over it then considered the nth othor eld side of the fac fact presuming mrs hallam 12 hive hire ind dependable as that celend Cj lendir ir troula stop in lit would bhe silo so re laity have her tier design to catch catell him there on the aappo that kirkwood be looking for him in tn sheerness iliac did ild not seem soci likely 11 k ely to one who im acumen as us highly as kirkwood he ile up forgot that lil III waa n fools errand and anti begin ngien 10 pro lii into t P je I 1 tn PI flutur A sudden J jolt it ahk ta pas tile tr of bilue and tilt tilt thit tie had no braked chemo but it id blast continue HISS late to that had browl tit n the pla 11 of action star ills bin chwi fir talat ic trust to and accept hat silo uld befall Ut T lie I 1 boned it the tilt lour door and hold big it so turned hall im 11 ie all NI rs I 1 regret smile stilli smiling his ills crooked bounced nou noun ced 1 li balou about that a presA ii ing tup squiring you through to prohibit IOU under understand im the ticket aites sure tia praed in humor fits 1 edible and anti mrs kinli ims spirit ran ills evv it she was as smiling as hi fi as cheerfully cluer fully when ben sll she too rose 1 she 1 I also lit urn in boine boule haste ir erred 1 gathe gathering rim UP her tier hand big and umbrella shot in beside tilt tu A r alsed pl carriage and the tile 6 speed peed was as so senst sens modeled tint the train seemed b 1 it 10 rither than running to bo be creeping kirkwood lung flung the tile door wide open and loL floured red himself to the running bot baird rd the tile end of the track was inas in eight sight and a nun man m who 11 0 has lins been trained to board rin in francisco fr incisco cible cars fairs to alight all ht from front moving vehicle lie ile zung swung off not got his 1113 lil bilanci lance and anti rin swiftly down donn the platform t froia from a bystander by stauder caused him to glance over his shoulder mrs hallam halian lam NIs is then in the act of alighting As lie looked the lurry flurry of skirts subsided and she fell into stride kursu in inar CHAPTER XV I 1 F EPI sheerness must have been that day and S sapi have acquired ground for miny an uncharitable s surmise kirkwood however tio never was so fortu wite as to gain the wicket before the employee there awoke to the situation otherwise such la Is the temper of british petty officialdom he might have hav detained tho th fu fugitte fugl gitle the As it n as kirkwood kirk wood surrendered his tl ticket |