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About Independence enterprise. (Independence, Or.) 1908-1969 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1910)
PACE THREE ibnrntiLintMrr. nnrr.nw. jlilv 1. 1910. EIGHT PACES INDEPENDENCE twnnrwuti J ! Tlie Fighting CinisirsLC champs Copyright, 1908, by tbo furli. Pul.lU.hiog Company. Copyright, Hmti, by Robert W. Chamber. (A cuulluui'd story ) "Koine of these days," he said I'1 himself. 'I'll cstcb her tripping, and tticti there'll Ik a decent division of property or there'll he divorce." Hut. a usual. Mortimer found null practice more attractive lit theory than In execution, and lie wn really quit contented to go on thing were going If mnni'lH'Jy would see that he tinil some money occasionally. On of these ocimslon when bo need ed It was approaching, llo bail made a "killing" at Iesmniid' nml bnl used the money to stop up the more threat ening Blip In the tottering financial fabric known hi "iM-nioual c count." Tbo fubrlc would bold for while, but meantime he needed mon ey to go on with. And Iello evidently had none. He tried everybody except l'lank. He bad scarcely the Impu dence to go to Plank Just yet. but when completing the vicious circle he found bin borrowing capacity exhoust ed and himself once more face to face with the only hope. l'lank. be aat down to consider seriously the possl blllly of the mutter. Of course Plauk owed him more than he could (W pay-the ungrateful par-venu!-but what l'lank hud thought of that check transaction he had never licen able to discover. Somehow or other lie nmst put riunk under fresh obligations, and that might have been possible had not lella Invaded the ground, leaving uothlng. iuw thnt l'lank waa secure In club life. Of course tlio first thing that pre sented Itself to Mortimer's considera tion was the engineering of rinnk's matrimonial ambitions. Clearly the man had not changed. He waa al ways at Sylvia's heels. Ho was seeu with her In public. lie weut to the Itelwether house u great deal. No pos sible doubt but that he was as infat uated as ever. And Qunrrier was go ing to marry her next Novemlier that Is. If he. Mortimer, choso to keep si lent about a certain midnight episode at Shotovor. Several times he called up Qunrrier on tho phone and made appointments to lunch with hlni, but these meetings never resulted In anyihlng except luncheons which Mortimer paid for. nud matters were Wyoming desperate. So one dny. lifter having lunched too freely, lie sat down and wrote Plank the following note: My Dear rteverly You will remember that I once promised you my aid in se curing what, to you, Is the denrest object of your exlstnnce. 1 have thought, I have pondcrod, I have Riven tho matter deep unit. I may add without Irreverence, pray erful consideration, knowing that the life's happiness of my closest friend de pended on my Judgment and wisdom and Intelligence to secure for him tho oppor tunity to crown his life's work by the ac quisition of tho brightest Jewel In the dia dem of old Manhattan, - Iiy tfeorge. that's wickedly good, though!" chuckled Mortimer, refresh ing himself with his old standby, an apple, quartered and soaked In very old port, (so Tie sopped his npplo nud wallowed It mid picked Up his pen again, chary of overdolngjt All I say" to you iSj be. read y I The time ! bloso at hand when you may boldly make your avowal, twit be ready! All depends upon the psychological moment An Instant too soon, an instant too lae, and you are lost. And she Is lost forever Remember! Be faithful; trust lnn. wait. And the Instant I say. Speak! pour out your soul, my dear bo certain you are not pouring It out In vain. Agreeable vnli and he went on lei sunly explaining the mlutsof the new mall conch which had been built lt purls after plans of bis own. while Mortimer gulped glass after glass of chilled wine, which H-ciucd only to make hint 'tblrsHer. Meantime he lis tened, really Interested, except that his fleshy bend was tuo full of alcohol and his ow project to contain addi tional statistics concerning coiu hln Itesldo. Quarrler. who had never been overcordlal to lilm. was more so now euoiigli for Mortimer to venture on few tentative suggestion of finan cial nature, and though. o usual, Quarrler wa not responsive, he did not, a usual, get up and go away. A vague hope stirred Mortimer that It might not b beyond his persuasive tongue to moke this chilly, reticent young man Into friend some day helpful friend. Once or twice he thought Quarrler looked at him rather strangely, but he would show Quar rler tbot he was a friend a good, stanch frlend-and that Quarrler had long, long undervalued him. Waves Of sentiment spread through and through him. His nfrectlon for Quar rler dampened his eyes, and still he blabbed on and on, ga.lng with brltn- A t',t 7 " , '...JT "By out" made VIlLlllB ... i him thirsty, so be fortified himself several times, and then, sealing the letter, went out to a letter box and stood look ing at It. "If I mull It I'm In for It." he muttered. Aft er awhile hep.ut the lrtter In his pocket and walked on. lift. I. A II I I T QcorgVt that doesn't commit i. - .1-1 j imnd ""' ' me to any tnouoM tWng ne re. fleeted at last, halting before another letter box. And as he stood there hes itating, he glanced up and saw Quar rler entering the Lenox club. The next moment he flung up the metal box lid, dropped In his letter and fol lowed Quarrler Into the club. Then events tumbled forward al most without a push from him. Quar rler was alone in a window corner, -drinking vlchy and milk and glancing over the afternoon papers. He saw Mortimer and invited him to join him. and Mortimer, being thirsty, took champagne. Tve been trying a new coach, said Quarrler in his cohprless and rather room 1 hi tfiiil t Cry. a id a llltle Inter attempting to push the electric biitt'-u. hit fell over lounge nud lay there, ins shirt front sdhd with Inc. one fit leg Hulling l the tt"r. H"t the Me l llioii for fbiniU-r crhap. but hl dlfferetHC do altitude Biol p ture and p in.iKe when a gentleman, In the s.iered ecillo of hi own club. Is w.s. lug the drowsy gistdess with blaxls of votive miisli- llnniiuli his em purpled IIOII'V In Hie iii.-mitlme. however, he wa due to dine at the 1 lei wet her huse. and w hen K oVbs-k appri-a. lHil ami be hud lnt reliinied lo dies I.ellu called up Sylvia l.anills on the telepl : "My dear. I.eny hasn't returned, and I siipMse he's forgotten als.ut the bridge. I can bring Mr. Plank. If you IILe." "Very well." said Sylvia, adding. "If Mr. Plank Is there muy I sak to him moment?" So I-elbi rose, setting the receiver on the desk. Olid Plank came lu from the llbrsry and settled himself heavily In the chair. "Hid you wish to speak to me, kllss Undlsr "Is tbot you. Mr. Plank? Te. Will fou dine with us at 8? Rrldge after yard, If you don't mind." "Thank you." "And. Mr. Plunk, you had note from me this morulug?" "Yes." "Please disregard It." "If you wish." "I do. It is not worth while." And as Plank made no comment. "1 have no further Interest lu tho matter. Do you understand?" "No." said Plank doggedly. "I bare nothing more to say. I sm sorry. We dine at 8." concluded Syl via hurriedly. riu nk bung up the receiver and sat eying It for awhile In silence. Then bis Jaw began to harden and his under Hp protruded and be folded bis great hands, resting them In front of hlm on tho edge of the desk, brooding there, with eyes narrowing like a sleepy giant at prayer. When Leila entered lu her evening wraps she found hlm there, so Im mersed In reverie that he failed to hear her. and she stood a moment at the doorway, smiling to herself, think ing how pleasant It was to come down ready for the evening nnd find him there, as though he belonged where he sat and was part of the familiar environment. Recently she had grown younger In a smooth Kklnuod. full lipped woy-so much younger that it was spoken of. Iteverly," she said, "I am ready." Plank stood up, dazed from his rev erie, and walked toward her. His white tie had become disarranged. She raised her bands, halting hlm, and pulled It Into shape for him, conscious ly Innocent of the Intimacy. "Thank you," he said. "Do ymi know how pretty you are this even ing?" "Yes. I was very happy nt my mir ror. Do you know, the withered years seem to Ihj dropping from me like leaves from nn autumn sapling. And I feel young enough to say so poetic ally. Did Sylvia try to flirt with you over the wire?" "Yes, as usual," he said drily, ue ci-n1Iiitt the stulr l-esl !e her "Aiol nnlly u don't hue her any Mure?'' she qiictlcd. "Scarcely." II' lce wait )" ami Miller lll'llgtvenhle. Iltld h lin ked lip. "I wUh I knew what y"i r.ud Sylvl.i Hoi bilk ni'iit o frequently. If yi u're in it l.i li.e." pi.t he made ii answer, on I they dr-e oway to the tVlweilicr b uie. a rnthcr wide, old ntyle uiunI"U of blown stmie. Willi II slisip lIUMiug It ug'y fieade. Mid II M-rle of uliiiiif Miry gin disir hl sluidlng the vesti bule. A draw Ing risun and a reception room flunked the ui.irMe tiled ball. Pc!ilud these the dining room ran the width of the rear. There were half n dor.en snple there lounging Informally Is-tweeii the living room on the second f!isr and Sylvia's apartments lu the rear-the residue from a luncheon at.d bridge party giv en that afternoon by Sylvia to a score or ao of card-mad womeu. A few of these she had asked to remain fir an Informal dinner and a desperate game later the sort of people she knew well enough to lose to heavily or win from wlthoHt remorse Grace Fcrrall. Ma rlon Pago. Agatha Caithness. Trusting to the telephone that morning, she had secured the Mortimers and Quarrler. falling three men. and now tho party, with Plauk Mortimer" substitute, was complete, all thorough gamester -ex muttering nothing In the prepa ration. In Sylvia' boudoir Grace Ferrall and Agatha Caithness sat before the Ore: Sylvia, at the mirror of her dress er, was correcting the pallor lucldent to the unbroken dissipation of a bril liant season; Marlon, with her Inevita ble cigarette, wandered between Syl via's quarter and the library, where Quarrler and Major Itelwether were sitting In low voiced confab. liella. greeted gnyly from the bou doir, went In. Plauk entered the libra ry, was mauled effusively by the ma jor, returned Quarrler' firm hand shake und sat down with an Inquiring smile. "Oh. yes. we're out for blood to night." tittered Major Relwether. grasping Quarrler' arm humorously and shaking It to emphasize his words -a habit that Quarrler thoroughly dis liked. "Sylvia hud a lot of women here playing for the season score, so I suggested she keep the pick of them for dinner and call in a few choice ones to make a night of It." "It's agreeable to me." said Plauk. still looking ut Quarrler with the same Inquiring expression, which that gen tleman presently chose to understand. "I haven't hud a chance to look into that matter." he said carelessly "Some day when you have time to go over lt"- "I have time now." said l'lank. "There's nothing to go over. There's no reason for any secrecy All I wrote you was that I proposed to control the stock of Amalgamated Electric and that I wished your advice In the mat ter." "1 could not give you any advice off hit ml on such an extraordinary sug gestion." returned Quarrler coldly. "If you know where the stock Is you'll understand." "Do you mean what it is quoted at or who owns It?" Interrupted Plauk. "Who owns it. r.verybtsly know where It has dropped to. I UPknm. Miwt icp!e know. too. where It t held" "Y.-. I do." -A rid elm Ii manipulating It." added Qimrrler I i.;i.terentl.v. !, yi ii iiieim Harrington' io- pie?" I l ei'f menu snjUily In particular. y.r Plank." "I'll"' said Plauk. staring "I ' I- j-.li couldn't have meant Harring- "I, lilM'HUHe. " he went oft deliberately, there are other theories floating olrfxit Jiut mysterious p'd. one of which ,'ve proved." Quarrler I.m led lit hlm out of lib relvety lidded e, e. "What have you proved?" "I ll tell you If you'll appoint on In terview," "III come, too." Is-gau Itelwether. who bad lieell listening. h-'So mouthed and Intent. "We're all lu It Howard. Kemp Ferrall and I" "And Stephen Slwnrd," observe.! Plank, so qulotly that Quarrler never even raised his e to read tho etolhl face oinsislie. Presently he said: "Do you know onylKMly who cou deliver you any con siderable block of Amalgamated Elec tric at the market figures?" "I could deliver you several block. If you care to bid." sold Tlank bluutly. Itelwether grew red. then pale. Quarrler stiffened In bis chair, but hi eyes were only skeptical. Plank' under Up bad begun to protrude again. He swung bis massive bead, Imiklng from, Belwether back to Quarrler. "Pool or no pool," be con tin ned. "you Amalgamated people will want to see the stock climb back luto tlio hrnncheH " could deliver v"" from which ci-crol bl cks if 80lIlebotiy shook you cure tn hid, , . mid riankblurMy. H out' ?"a propose to put It there. That Is all I hud meant to say to you, Mr. Quarrler. I'm not averse to saying It here to you. and I do. There's no secrecy about It. Fig ure It out for yourself how much stock I control und who let It go. Settle your family questions and put your house in order, then Invite me to call and I'll do it. And I have an idea that we are going to stand on our own legs again and recover our self respect and our fighting capacity, and I rather think w e'll stop, this holdup business and that our Intercounty friend will let go the sand bag and pocket the Jimmy and talk business across the line fence." (To be continued.) Will Sell at Auction Horses, cattle, sheep, goats, farm ing Implements, etc., are to be sold at my auction sale, one mile south ot Luckiamute (Helmick) bridge, July 1, 1910, at 10 a. m. Six months time on all sums of more than ten dollars. G. B. Suver 8'5 Lclld Mortimer. ming eyes upon Quarrler. who sat i..,i- uiion nml attentive as Mortimer circled and blundered nearer nud near er to the crucial point of his destination. Midway hr one of his linguistic el lipses Qunrrier leane forward md cshlgTit TiirisKnTu "a grip of steel. An other nmu had entered the room. Mortimer, mndo partly conscious by the pain of Qunrrler's viselike grip, was sober enough to recognize the im propriety of his continuing aloud the veiled story he hud been constructing with what he supposed to be a cun ning as matchless as it was impenetra ble. Later he found himself upstairs in n private enrdroom. facing Qunrrier I ni.io nnd still talking and UClur,B ii hjw - - quenching his increasing thirst. lie knew now what he was renins w""' rler. He was unveiling the parable, lie was stripping metaphor from n carefully precise story. He used Si ward's 'name presently; presently he used Sylvia's name. A moment later -or was It an hour?-Quarrier stopped him. coldly, without a trace of passion, demanding corroborative detail. And Mortimer gave It. wagging uis ue..u and one fat forefinger us emphasis. "You saw that?" repented Quarrler, deadly wliite of a sudden. "Y'es, nnd I" "At 3 In the morning?" "Yes. an' I wnut"- "Y'ou saw him enter her room?" "Yes, an' I wan" tersny thteh to you, because I'm your fr'eu'. Don' wan nnny fr'en's mine get fooled on wom en. See? Thash how I feel. I respec' the sect. See? Women, lovely wom en. See? Respec' sect Gimme y'hau', buzzer er-brother Quarrler. Your ra' fr'en': I'm your fr'en'. I know how It is. Gotter wife m'own. Rotten one. Stingy. Takes money outter m' pockets. Dam 'stravagant Ruin me. Say. old boy. what about dividend due morrow on Orange County Eclectic mean Erlextlc no-mean 'Letrlc! Damn! Wasser tnasser tongue?" Opening bis fond and foggy eye and finding himself alone In the card I A h ! (tailored lothC0 I STYLE PLUS VALUE FOR THE SMART "P.R.LVOU .TO "" CIf STB YOU HAD BETTER COME TO US. YOU HAVE THE '''V. YUU nw AND VALUE ARE PRE-EMINENT. RECTION OF THE BEST DESI"' J AN WE WANT YOU TO St SSSFSXSii ATS , S h' RT5? nTcKR UNDER WEAR AND aCl THE REST. NONE OF THEM HIGH PR ICED. Suits $15, $18, $20, $25 and $30. Straw hats $1-50 to $10.00 Cluett Shirts '" Arrow collars 2 for Fowne's Gloves ....$1-00 to $2.50 Roberts hats 3-J Supberba ties B. V. D. underwear, $1.00 to $1-50 SALEM WOOLEN MILL STORE CAkK-l"! w '