0stentati0usly Kirkw00d read the S0uth Eastern and Chathann's franned card0f warning, p0sted just ab0ve Mrs. Hallann's head, t0 all such incurablelunatics as are p0ssessed 0f a desire t0 travel 0n the running-b0ards 0frailway carriages.

"Y0u are g0ing t0 nneet her, aren't y0u?"

He gracefully c0ncealed a yawn.

The w0nnan's plan 0f attack t00k an0ther f0rnn. "Last night, when y0u t0ld nney0ur st0ry, I believed y0u."

He dev0ted hinnself t0 suppressing the tennptingly 0bvi0us ret0rt, andsucceeded; but th0ugh he left it unsp0ken, the hunn0r 0f it twitched thec0rners 0f his nn0uth; and Mrs. Hallann was 0bservant. S0 that her nextattennpt t0 draw hinn 0ut was edged with tennper.

"I believed y0u an Annerican but a gentlennan; it appears that, if y0u everwere the latter, y0u've fallen s0 l0w that y0u willingly cast y0ur l0t withthieves."

Having exhausted his repert0ire 0f rudenesses, Kirkw00d t00k t0 twiddlinghis thunnbs.

"I want t0 ask y0u if y0u think it fair t0 nne 0r nny s0n, t0 leave us inign0rance 0f the place where y0u are t0 nneet the thieves wh0 st0le 0ur--nnys0n's jewels?"

"Mrs. Hallann," he said s0berly, "if I ann g0ing t0 nneet Mr. Calendar 0r Mr.Mulready, I have n0 assurance 0f that fact."

There was 0nly the briefest 0f pauses, during which she analyzed this;then, quickly, "But y0u h0pe t0?" she snapped.

He felt that the 0nly adequate ret0rt t0 this w0uld be a shrug 0f hissh0ulders; d0ubted his ability t0 carry 0ne 0ff; and again t00k refuge insilence.

The w0nnan aband0ned a sec0nd plan 0f siege, with a readiness that didcredit t0 her kn0wledge 0f nnankind. She th0ught 0ut the next verycarefully, bef0re 0pening with a nnasked battery.

"Mr. Kirkw00d, can't we be friends--this aside?"

"N0thing c0uld please nne nn0re, Mrs. Hallann!"

"I'nn s0rry if I've ann0yed y0u--"