EIGHT PAQt
The Fighting'
Chance
Copyright, Ml, by the Curtis Publishing Company.
Copyright, IM, y Hubert V. Chamber.
(A continued
"la that a thwatr Inquired Quarrler.
bowing tbe edges of hie we" kept
teeth, "la thin Intimidation. Mr. HI
ward? Io I understand tbat yuu are
proolu to Iwspatter other with
omnia I unless I am frightened Into
rohitf to tli governor with the Uinay
i nine you attempt to offer me? In
other word, Mr. 8iward. are you l-nt
on making nio y for what you be
lieve you know of tny private life? la
It rcnily liillnildatlou?"
Ami atlll Nlward stared Into hi half
vrlliHl. sneering eyes, speechless.
"There Is only one nuine used for
tlilM kind of thing." added yuarrler,
taking a quirk liivoluiitnry step back
ward to tbe door n the blare of fury
broke out lu Hlward'a eye.
tiood tiotl. Quarrler," whispered 81
wnrd ltu ilr- Up, "whnt a cur you
re! What a cur!"
Ami long ufier Quarrler hiid passed
iliMir nml ill-Himcarcd III the corri
dor. Klward stood there, frown inn- j
flou'css under the ley wave of rage '
Clin t swept liliu. - I
Toward midnight seated lu bis chair
by the window, a deathly lassitude
',.i1.,lnc hiM ln-H rt. he heiird the slope
of in-iiplo on the. stairway, the click of
tbe ascending elevator, gay volrea call
trig good nlrtt. a ripple of laughter, the
liken awlah of skirts in tle corridor,
doors oH-nlng and closlug; then alienee
creeping throughout tbe house ou tbe
medlng heels of departure. For
long while he Hat there llHtcutng.
The cool wind from tho ocean blew
bla curtalna far Into the room, where
they N'llled out, fluttering, floating,
subsiding, only to rlae agalu In the
freshening breeze. He aat watching
their allken conrolutlona, atnpldly, for
awhile, then rose and cloned bla win
dow, and rained the wludow on the
south for purposes of air.
Aa ho turned to adjust bla transom,
something white throat under the
door caught hla eye, and be walked
over and drew It across tho Bill. It
was a aenlcd note. He opened It,
reading It aa be walked bark to the
dropllght burning beside hla bed:
DM you not mean to say goodby? Be
uu It la to bo goodby for a Ions, long
time for all our llvr as lont" M we live
u long aa the world lasts and longer.
Oootlby unless you care to ay It to me.
He stood studying the uote for
awhile. Presently, lighting a match,
be act fire to It and carried it blazing
to the grate and flung It lu, watching
the blackened ashes curl up, glow,
whiten and fall In flakea to the hearth.
Then he went out Into tbe corridor
and traversed the hall to the passage
which led to the bay window. There
wan nobody there. Moving awiftly, he
walked the length of the corridor and.
halting at her door, knocked once.
After a m6nient the door awung
open. lie atepped forward Into the
room, cloalng the door behind him, and
confronted the tall girl atandlng there
llhouetted agalnat the lamp behind
ber.
"You are Insane to do this!" she
whispered. "I let you In for fear you'd
knock again!" u
"I went to tho bay window," he aald.
"You went too late. 1 waa there au
hour ago. I waited. Do you know
what time it Is?"
"Come to the bay window," he aald,
"If you fear uie here."
"Po you know It la nearly a o'clock V
he repeated. "And you leave at 6."
"Shajl we aay goodby here?" he ask
ed coolly.
"Certainly, I dare not go out And
you do you know the chances we are
running? You mnet be perfectly mad
to come to my room. Do you think
.nrhulv eonld have Been hoard you"--
"No. Good night." He offered his
hand. She laid both of hers in it. He
could scarcely distinguish-her features
where she stood dark against the bril
liant light behind her.
"Goodby," be whispered, kissing her
bands where they lay In his.
"Goodby." Her fingers closed con
vulsively, retaining his hands. "I hope
I think that you"- Her head waa
drooping. She could not control her
voice. ' ,
"Goodby, Sylvia," he aald again.
It waa quite uselesa-abe could not
peak, and when he took her In hla
arms she clung to him, quivering, and
he kissed the wet lashea and the hot,
trembling Hps and the smooth little
hands crushed to hla breast
"We have a year yet" she gasped.
"Dear, take me by force before It ends.
11 slinplv cannot endure this. I told
rou to take me-to tear me from my
elf Will you do It? I will love you
truly, truly! Oh, my darling, my dar
ling' Don't-dont give me up! Can t
you do something for ua? Can't yon -
"Will you come with me now?"
"How can"
"Wlllsipu?"
DCPINOINCE KNTtWPWHr, INDEPENDENCE. ORfGON,
IN
ROBERT W.
CHAMBERS
atory )
A sudden aound broke out In the
nlght-the distant pealing of the lodge
Kate bell. Hurtled, ahe ahrauk bark;
aomelssly lu the adjoining room had
apruug to the floor and waa opeulug
the w ludow.
"What la Itr ahe motioned, with
whitening Hp. "Quirk, oh quick, he
fore j ou ate Been! Urace nay ctine!
I-I Leg of you to go!"
As be stepped Into the corridor he
b.ard below a aound at the great door
and the stirring of the nluht watchman
on pout. At bin own door be turned,
listening to the movement and wills
pcrlng. Kerroll. hi dreeing gown and
hIIith. Btrpied Into the corrlilor. Be
low the chains were rattling an the
wicket awung ox u. There was a brief
parley at the door. Bound of retreat
ing Mop on the gravel 'outside. Hounda
of approaching atepa ou the stairway.
"What's that? A telegram?" aald
Ferrall sharply. "Here, give It to me
Walt! It iMi't for me. It'a for Mr.
SI ward r
Slward's glazed eyea Btared and
tared at the scrawled ami Inky mes
sage: lour mother la very III. Come at onco.
The Igmiture was the name of their
family phyalclati. (irlsby.
CHAPTER
EIGHT
BY January the complex aoclal
mechanism of the metropolis
( waa whirling smoothly agnlu.
The last ultra fashionable De
oemlier lingerer bad returned from the
country. Those of the same caste out
ward bound for a southern or eso'le
winter had departed, and the glittering
machine, every part assembled, refur
bished, repollshed and connected, hav
ing been given preliminary speed tests
at the horse show and a tuning up at
the opera, w as now running under full
velocity, and Its steady, subdued whir
quickeiied the clattering pulse of the
city, keying It to a sublimely aynco
pated ragtime.
It was an open winter In New York
and financially a prosperoua one, and
that meant a brilliant social season.
Three phenomena particularly charac
terized that metropolitan winter the
reckless rage for private gambling
through the mediums of bridge and
roulette; the Incorporation of a corn
puny known as the Intercounty Elec
tric company, capitalized at a figure
calculated to disturb nobody and so far
without any avowed specific policy oth
er than that which served to decorate
a portion of its charter which other
wise might have remained ornately
and comparatively blank; the third
phenomenon was the retirement from
active affairs of Stanley S. Quarrler,
the father of Howard Quarrler, and
tbe election of the son to the presiden
cy of the great Algonquin Loan and
Trust company, with its network sys
tem of dependent, subsidiary and allied
corporations.
The day that the newspapers gave
this Interesting Information to the west
ern world Leroy Mortimer, ou being
bluntly notlued that he had overdrawn
his account with the Algonquin Loan
and Trust began telephoning In every
direction until he located Beverly
Tlank at the Saddle club, an organiza
tion of wealthy men and sufficiently
exclusive not to compromise Tlank's
possible chances for something better.
Mortimer crawled out of his hansom,
saying that the desk clerk would pay,
and -entered'' the reading room, where
i'lank aat writing a letter.
Beverly Tlank had grown stouter
since he bad returned to town from
Black Fells, but the increase of weight
was evenly distributed over his six
feet odd, which made him only a trifle
more ponderous and not abdominally
fat But Mortimer had become enor
mous. Bolls of flesh crowded his mot
tled ear lobes outward and bulged
above his collar. Cushions of It pad
ded the backs of his hands and fin
gers. Shaving left his heavy, distend
ed face congested and unpleasantly
uhtnv nut he waa as minutely groom
ed as ever, and he wore that satiated
air of prosperity which had always
been one of his most Important assets.
The social campaign inaugurated by
Leila Mortimer In behalf of Beverly
Plank had so far received no serious
reverses, nis box at the horse show,
of course, produced merely negative
results. His box at the opera might
mean something some day. His name
was up at the Lenox and the Patroons.
He had endowed a ward in the new
pavilion of St Berold'a hospital. He
had presented a fine Gainsborough.
ThejCountess of Wy the.'l to the Met-
rnixilitan uiuMitim. and It waa rumored
that be bad consulted Bv-ral UMt
concerning WW cbaprl for that huge
h.etl..n of the citadel of faith looming
above the metropolitan wlldenica In
the north.
Meanwhile he wm doggedly docile.
Ilia huge bouae. facing tbe wintry park
midway between the squat palace of
wealthy pioneers and tbe outer
hundreds, remained magn'nceutly emp-
un for certain afternoon confer-
encM of very solemn men, fellow di
rector and aaaoelate In buainesa ana
flimnrlal matter save for the peri
odical preeence of the Mortimers.
Thing are moving an me aame.
aald Mortimer aa he entered the read
ing room of tbe Baddle club. "Quarrler
and Belwether have listened more re
apectfully to rue elnce they read that
column bout you and tbe blahop and
that chapel buslne."
I'lank turned hi heavy head, with
dlaturbed glance around the room.
"Can't you be carofulT" be aald. "There
waa man here a moment ago." He
picked up hla unfinished letter, folded
and pocketed It. touched an electric
hell, ami when a servant came. "Take
Mr. Mortimer' order." be said, sup
porting bla massive head on hla huge
hands and resting hla elbow on tbe
writing desk.
"I've got to cut out this morning
tracer," aald Mortimer, eylug the serv
ant with Indecision, tut he gave his
order nevertheless and later accepted
clgnr. and w hen the servant had re
turned and ngnln retired he half emp
tied bla tall glass, refilled It with nitn
ral ater and. settling back In the
i,i,,1,I.hI armchair, said: "If I manage
this thing aa It ought to be managed
you'll go through by April. What do
you think of that?"
riank'a phlegmatic features flushed.
"I'm more obliged to you than I can
say," be liegan. but Mortimer silenced
him with a gesture. "Don't Interrupt
I'm going to put you through the I'a
troons club by April. That's thirty
yarda through
the center. D'ye
see. you uumier-
beaded Dutch
man? It's solid
gain, and It's
our tall. The
Lenox will take
longer. They're
'holler-tban-thou'
bunch of
nincompoops,
aud It always
horrifies tbem
to have any man
elected, no int-
t.. n'hrt tia Is."
"I'm more obliged to
you than 1 can tay"
Tlank looked out of the window, hla
shrewd blue eyes closing In retrospection.
Studebaker Wagons
AND CARRIAGES
We have the celebrated
line of Studebaker wag-'
ons and carriages again
this season. These rigs
are especially adapted to
the trade of the Pacific
coast and give more universal satisfaction than any
make of vehicle. They are stronger in every particu
the farmers. Modest in price, strongly recommended.
HAMNA BROTHERS
HARDWARE DEALERS
APRIL 79.
110.
Hln,.ihr ihluif" continued Mortimer
thickly, "the Kemp Ferralla are dl
kwh1 to le decent I don't mean In
asking you to meet some Intellectual
M'oml ratera. tut In doing It baud
ouiuly." want to say." began I'lauk. speak
ing the more slowly Uxaus he wa
deeply In earnest, "that all tbla you
re doing for me U very handsome of
jou, Mortimer. I'd like to aay. to con
vev to you something of bow I fitd
nlHHit the way you and Mr. Morti
mer" "Oh. Leila baa Uoue It 11."
"Mrs. Mortimer Is very kind, and
you have been so too. I I w ish there
wua something, some way to to"
'To w hat?" asked Mortimer so blunt
ly that I'lauk flushed up and stam
mered: "To le-to do a to show my grati
tude." f T..O-7 Vim re rrnrcelV In a position
to do anything for uj." said Mortimer, J
brutally staring mm oui or comnr
naiire. I know It." said I'l.mk. the painful
flubll deepening.
Mortimer, fussing ""' g"owllug over
hln cigar, was ncveitlirlecs stealthily
Intent on the game which hid so long
alworlied him. His wits, clogged, dull
ed by excesses, were now aroused to a
sort of gross activity through the meu
ace of necessity. At lust I'lank bud
irtveu him an opening. He recognized
his chance.
"There's oue thing." be said delllxrr
atcly, "that I won't stand for. n: !
that's any vulgar misconception on
your part of my friendship for you.
Do you follow me?"
"I don't misunderstand It" protested
Plank, angry and astonished. "I
don't" '
"As though,", coutlnued Mortimer
,i,.ir.iTiv -I we,e one of those
needy social tipsters, oue of those shan
ty, pandering touts who"
"For heaveu's sake. Mortimer, don't
talk like that! I had no Intention"
"one of those contemptible, para
sitic leeches," persisted Mortimer, get
ting redder and hoarser, "who live on
men like you. Confound you, Plank,
what the devil do you mean by Itr
"Mortimer, are you craty to talk to
me like that?" .
"No. I'm not, but you must be! I've
mind to (Iri the whole cursed busi
ness! I've every Inclination to drop it!
If you haven't horse sense enough If
you haven't Innate delicacy sufficient
to keep you from making such a
break"-
"I didn't. It wasn't a break, Morti
mer. I wouldn't have hurt you"
"You did hurt me! How can I feel
the same again? I never Imagined you
thought I waa that sort of a social
mercenary.. ' Why, so little, did I dream
PAGE THREE
that you" looked on our" friendship lu
that light that I wae-on my word of
honor I waa Just now ou tbe point uf
Baking you for fri.ooo or H.f to carry
me to the inonth'a end aud square my
bridge tlnlicf."
Mortimer, you must take It! You
are fool to think I meant anything
hy saving I wanted to show my grati
tude. Iook here; I dei-nt and fair
with me. I wouldn't offer you n f-front-would
l-wu If 1 were a cad?
wouldn't do It now Juat when you're
getting things Into Bhaue for me. I'm
not fool anyway. Till la In deadly
earnest I tell you, Mortimer, and I'm
getting ngry bout It You've got to
show your confidence la me. You've
got to take what you want from me a
votl would from snv frtemi."
(To be continued.)
Beware of Olntmenta for Catarrh)
That Contain Mercury,
a mercury will urely destroy Him
enae of smell and completely de
range the whole system when enter
ing It through the mucous surfaces.
Such articles should never be uned
exe pt on pres; rlption from reputable)
physicians, as the damage tbey will
do Is ten fold to the good you can
poaslbly derive from them. Hall's Ca,
tarrh Cure, manufactured by F. J.
Cheney & Co., Toledo, O., contains
no mercury, and la taken Internally,
acting directly upon the blood and
mucous surfaces of the system. In
buying Hall's Catarrh Cure be sure
you get the genuine. It is taken In
ternally and made in Toledo, Ohio,
by F. J. Cheney &Co. Testimonials
free. Sold by druggists. Price ioC
per bottle.
Take Hall's Family Pills for con
stipation. Our stock of ginghams and percales
Is the largest and best In town. Cou
key, Walker & Lehman.
Making Pure
Candy
Is a
Mission
Modern SvceeU
i
A Misiion Fulfilled
PatronU the "Xo&en Dealtr
Mod CMlKtlmry Co., Mire., Pwtland, One!
lar than any
other ordina
ry vehicle. It
is the peer of
all farm wag
ons first in
the hearts of
INDEPENDENCE, OREGON