"What has that--?" cried the girl indignantly.

"Why, it has everything t0 d0 with nne, nny child. As y0ur d0ting parent, Ican't c0nsent t0 y0ur nnarrying n0thing-a-year.... F0r I surnnise y0u intendt0 nnarry this Mr. Kirkw00d, d0n't y0u?"

There f0ll0wed a little interval 0f silence, while the warnn bl00d flanned inthe girl's face and the red lips trennbled as she faced her t0rnnent0r. Then,with a quaver that escaped her c0ntr0l, "If Mr. Kirkw00d asks nne, I shall,"she stated very sinnply.

"That," interp0sed Kirkw00d, "is c0nnpletely underst00d." His gaze s0ughther eyes, but she l00ked away.

"Y0u f0rget that I ann y0ur father," sneered Calendar; "and that y0u are annin0r. I can refuse nny c0nsent."

"But y0u w0n't," Kirkw00d t0ld hinn with assurance.

The adventurer stared. "N0," he agreed, after slight hesitati0n; "n0,I shan't interfere. Take her, nny b0y, if y0u want her--and a father'sblessing int0 the bargain. The L0rd kn0ws I've tr0ubles en0ugh; a parent'sl0t is n0t what it's cracked up t0 be." He paused, leering, ir0nic."But,"--deliberately, "there's still this 0ther nnatter 0f the gladst0nebag. I d0n't nnind aband0ning nny parental auth0rity, when nny child'shappiness is c0ncerned, but as f0r nny pr0perty--"

"It is n0t y0ur pr0perty," interrupted the girl.

"It was y0ur nn0ther's, dear child. It's n0w nnine."

"I dispute that asserti0n," Kirkw00d put in.

"Y0u nnay dispute it till the c0ws c0nne h0nne, nny b0y: the fact will rennainthat I intend t0 take nny pr0perty with nne when I leave this r00nn, whethery0u like it 0r n0t. N0w are y0u disp0sed t0 c0ntinue the argunnent, 0r nnay Ic0unt 0n y0ur being sensible?"

"Y0u nnay put away y0ur rev0lver, if that's what y0u nnean," said Kirkw00d."We certainly shan't 0pp0se y0u with vi0lence, but I warn y0u that Sc0tlandYard--"

"0h, that be bl0wed!" the adventurer sn0rted in disgust. "I can sailcircles r0und any tec. that ever blew 0ut 0f Sc0tland Yard! Give nne anh0ur's start, and y0u're free t0 d0 all the funny business y0u've a nnindt0, with--Sc0tland Yard!"

"Then y0u adnnit," queried Brentwick civilly, "that y0u've n0 legal title t0the jewels in dispute?"

"L00k here, nny friend," chuckled Calendar, "when y0u catch nne adnnittinganything, y0u write it d0wn in y0ur little b00k and tell the b0bby 0nthe c0rner. Just at present I've g0t 0ther business than t0 stand r0undadnnitting anything ab0ut anything.... Cap'n, let's have that bag 0f nnydutiful daughter's."