Image provided by: Independence Public Library; Independence, OR
About Independence enterprise. (Independence, Or.) 1908-1969 | View Entire Issue (July 8, 1910)
IIQHT PAQI$ The Fig'hting' Chance Copyright, 1900. by tun Copyright, JitnC, by (A continued story ) c Miiirrlfr'n characteristic junior u no index to hi feeling. " '"- M ley reticence. All t 1 1 might b boil ing bcloW. When anybody gave QitairltT n let ter to read he l"k long time rending II, hut If In- vh slow he a'"" until. Ilo went over every word again nml again, studying, nbnortiltitf each letter, each ihtIh.I. tlio coiifoniiittloii of cvciv word. Ami when '" ended lie had hi hi lira III n photograph t III. " letter which III' Would III'VIT forget. Ami now, slowly, minutely, method ically. Iio vim going over nnd over 1'lflltU'M Word. Hllll ill IIIIIIIMlT Of KII.V lug them, nml Ihclr Import, imil the hidden oiii'. If nny. If Plunk liinl spoken the truth-am! Hutu wan no reiioii t" doubt It Plunk timl quietly iit-iiirtI a controlling in terest In Amalgamated F-leetrle. That iiii'iint treachery In somHiody. Who? ITolmlily Siward, perhaps BHwcthcr. lie vonlil not Jook lit the hit tor JiiKt yet; tint for n minute or two. There was, time enough t' see through that withered, pink nml white ohl frauil. Itut why hml Plank dune thin? Anil why illil Plank suspect him of nny de sire to wreck hi own jiroperty? II did HUHpitt him. that whs certain. After a silence he oke quietly nnd without emotion: 'Ever)'lM,,'y coureTiied will tie Kind to see Amalgamated Electric declaring dividend, This U ihock to ua." be glanced Impassively at the shrunken major, "but a pleasant abock. I think It well to arrange a meeting aa eoon as possible." "Tomorrow." aald Plank, with a manner of cloalng discussion. And In bla brusque ending of the matter Quarrler detected the ringing under tone of an authority he never had and never would endure. If Tlank auapect ed blm. he must also susjtect him of complicity lu the Intercounty grab. He must suspect him of the ruthless crushing power that corrupt or anni hilate opposition, making a mockery of legislation, a Jest of the courts and an epigram of a people'a Inillgnntlou. . . yunrr or T IU,"re As Qunrrlor nut tuere meuuauug bla long wu.te lingers care--.,. soft, po.n eu nru. r.v i. erecting trie men coi eenveiy huh Srf nml offering her hand to Plank. 'Dinner Is announced." she said. Pie, go In farm fashion. Wait!" I leasi go in ' sMrr. uXX .'No yon go ahead, Howard, nnd you." to the major. J Left for a moment in uie room uu , riuuk, she stood listening to the others descending the stairs, then: "Have you seen Mr. Slwurd?" "Yes," snld Plank. "Oh! Is ho well?" "Not very." "Is he well enough to rend a letter and to answer one?" "Oh. yes; he's well enough In that way." " supposed so. That Is why 1 said to you, over the wire, nut to trouble him wllh my request." "You mean that I am not to say anything about your offer to buy the hunter?" "No. If I innko up my mind that I want the horse I'll write him per haps." Lingering still, she let one hand ran on the banisters, turning back toward ! Plunk, who was following. "I understood you to mean that that Mr. Slward's financial affairs were anything but satisfactory?" the sweet, trailing, upward Inflection making It n question. "When did I any that?" demanded Plank. "Once n mouth ago." "1 didn't," said Plank bluntly. "Oh, I had Inferred It, then, from Kunethlng you said or something you were silent about. Is that It?" "1 don't know." "Am 1 quite wrong then?" she asked, looking him In the eyes. And Plank, who never lied, found no answer. Considering him for a mo ment In silence, she turned ngain nnd descended the stairs. The dinner was one of those thor oughly well chosen dinners of few courses and faultless service suitable for card players, who neither care to stuff themselves as n preliminary to a battle royal nor to dawdle through courses, eliminating for themselves what Is not good for them. The men drank a light, sound, aromatic Irish of the major's; the women except Ma rlon, who took what the men took used claret sparingly. Coffee was served where they sat; the men smok ing, Agatha and Marlon producing their own cigarettes, ir OWU i-ismciico. . . .i ... n . "Good peop e, u you are rcuuj Wlllgo through the ceremony of cut- I ROBERT W. CHAMBERS Curtis publlnhlug Company. Hubert W. Chambers. ling Jor piiiliiiM- iiiiU-hm olliiTW ix you declile. I low any you?'' mi Id fyl- via. "I don't care In enter the m nimble fur n mail." cried i.'ni'O. "If H'" " chiiwe. I il w phi ! i boie Marlon. " Plunk lo'ki-ll nt I .Hhl. "h" hm-lied. "All rkhl: ilnw, ilien." .iM !-')l-via. "IIomiiiiI. nu'ii' dying, "f chium'. to piny llh me. but )"ii're bmKIng very guiltily lit Ait.ithii." 't in' iiiiijnr nsKeil I .Hhl nt nin e, so plunk fell to K.Uvlu, i It ted ntfaliit Ma rlon nnd linn o IVrrttll. - A few iiioiiient later the ipilel of the library was broken by the butler entering villi decaliter and le mid gliiNNes that llukleil frostily. Play hexau nt talilo No. 1 oil n pass ed make of no trump by Sylvia, nnd at llm other table on a doubled and re doubled heart make, which sent a delicate flush Into Agutha' face and drove the last vestige of lingering thoughtfuhiesH from ijuiirrlcr's, leav ing It a tense, pallid nnd expressionless mask, out of which looked the velvet fringed eyes of a woman. Of all the face there nt the two ta bles Hylvlu'a ulone had not changed, neither assuming the gambler's mask nor the Infuluiited glare of the ama teur. She was thoughtful, excited, de lighted or dismayed by turns, but al ways wholesomely so, the gnme for Its own sake ami not the atakea ab sorbing her. partly because she had never permitted herself to weigh mon ey and pleasure In the aame balauce. but kept a mental pair of acalea for each. A usual, the fever of gain waa flerceat In those who could afford to lose most. Quarrler. playing to rule with mercllese precision, coldly exact ed every penalty that a Inpse In his opiKinents permitted. Agatha, ber teeth act In her nether lip. her eyes like living Jewels, answered Quarrler'a every algnal. Interpreted every algn. her play lifting In exactly with his. aa though she were hia subconscious self bahinciiig the lerfectly adjusted mech anism of his body nnd mind. Now nnd then lifting tier eyes sue Ion, Humid glance nt Qunrrior " . .";, , .,,,, .,, un,,or - moment -- - his level gaze .-"countered "J ' "'w narrowing of I Ida as though there was more than one game In prog- ress, more than one slake being played rrri d,,n rose 8low of the und .. marines shimmered like the reflection ii,r ,.roKS her yti biihuw'v nftinii'-n - throat. A simile spliMRlId jewel glow ed on her left bund as her fmgera flash ed among the cards for the makeup. "A hundred aces," broke in Plank's heavy voice as he played the last trick and picked up the scoring card nnd pencil. Once Marlon, overintent, touched n card In the dummy wlieu she should have played from her own hand, ami .Sylvia would have let It pass had not r'hink calmly noted the penalty. "Oh, dear! It's too much like busi ness," RiK'lied Sylvia. "Can't we play for the sake of the sport? I don't think It good sportsmanship to profit by a blunder." ""Rule." observed Marlon laconically. 'Ware barbed wire if you want the brusn. "I myself never was crazy for the brush," murmured Sylvia. . Grace whispered maliciously, "But you've got It, with the musk and pads," nnd her mischievous head bare ly tipped backward lu the direction of Quarrler. "Especially the mask," returned Syl via under her breath nnd laid on the table the last card of a Ynrborough. Toward midnight Sylvia, absorbed in her dummy, fancied she heard the electric bell ringing at the front door. Liter, having barely made the add, she was turning to look at the major v.-hen. beyond him, she saw Leroy Mor timer enter the room, sullen, pasty shinned, but perfectly sober nnd well Igroomed. "You are a trifle late," observed Syl via carelessly. Grace Ferrall and Ma rlon Ignored him. Plank' bade him good evening In a low voice. The people at the other table, hav ing completed their rubber, looked around nt Mortimer In disngreeable surprise. "I'll cut In If you wnnt me. If you don't, say so," observed Mortimer. It wns plain that they did not,, so he settled himself lu an armchair with an ugly glance at bis wife and an inso lent oue at Quarrler, and the game went on In silence. Leila and the ma jor still losing heavily under the sneer- . .. ., (no miA nf MorTimpr. b At last. "Who's carrying your he I . . a. ....,.-j-... o j" it ftj lit! W 1A1A l.mlta mil iiaiHrntcl. Biol III !li iKMkeil ulliticu l-ellil, vry white untile a in ncinciil h rl. but iilur-rl-r In ll hi loi'U ItiiKiT cn her arm. prvaninir her lmkwtl "Vim don't kiiu'v what ji.u're irni- lig." be reinniUisl. I.Mil.liig coldly t Hurt liner. PliinU laid !. II urK n.e mi l nlke) over to J. llmi r. Wl.iy I ini a tt'.i.l with .'iir be -kc, liluiitly "Von may. Anl I'll help myclf t" h oil or two you," rct'Ticd Mor- tlllHT. follow lig I'll litt out of I!"' rHiin, douu tint dtalr to the li'M'"l rii-pll"ii room, ttliiiu they wht-clel, onfroiiiliig oho niioiber. 'What I Ibe innttiT?" deininidccl I'hink. "At the Club tliev (old lit" oil were mnIci Ii In tbu rar.l Mom. I didn t It'll H'llil. lllil m whmiki I'm -I'm dm I broke" said Mortl uvr bar' lily. ""I'!y Fleet w.wmI tnk my paper. ( 'an uii help me out ? If d le tomorrow." Plunk looked at hi i gravely, but mane no nu it. Tan you?" rcpcatc.l Mortimer vio lently. "IIacn't I done enough for you? Haven't I done enough for ev vrylnMlyt I iiiiyUnly going to show im- any c-oiilderalluu? Look, nt Quar rler manner to me J"t now! And thl very day I did blm a service thai all hi million can't repay. And there you Klnnil. too. staring nt me n 1 hough I were some Importuning shabby gen tccl hinting iiroiind fr an opening to touch you. Ye, you do! And thl very day I have done for you the-the most vital thlng-the most sacred fa vor one mnn enn do for another" He halted, stammered omethlng In coherent, hi buttered eyes wet with tears. The man a wreck nerve, stamina, mlml on the very verge of collapse. "I'll help you. of course," snld Plank, eying him. "Go home now and sleep. I tell you I'll help you In the morning Hon't give way. Have you no grit? Pull up sharp. I tell you!" But Mortimer had fallen Into a chnlr. his ravaged face cradled In bis hands. He began to ramble and even to laugh weakly, passing hia puffy, shaking bands across his eyes. "It's good of you, Beverly. 1 ap preciate It But I've been good to you. You're all to the good, my ooy: j U w m uu v v - e - t Understand? All to the good. I fixed . j i i . . .... Vmi s-a n hnv II. I OIU II lur JUU. " mm-- your Innings now. You can have ber when you want her, I tell you.' What do you mean?" aald Plank "Mean! I mean what I told you that day at Black Fella, when we were . . . , ... riding. I tom you you nna a ruuuce win out. Now the cnance naa come same's I told you. Start In, and by the time you're ready to sny 'When? she'll be there with the bottle." "I don't think you are perfectly sane yet." said Plnnk slowly. "Let It go at that, then," sniggered Mortimer, struggling to his feet "Bring Leila back. I'm all In." I'm go ing home. You'll be around In the morning. Won't you?" "Yes," said Plnnk. "Have you got a cab?" Mortimer had one. The glass nnd Iron doors clanged 'behind him, nnd Plank, waiting a moment, sighed, raised his head nud, encountering the STYLE PLUS VALUE FOR THE SMART APPAREL YOU INTEND TO WEAR AT HOME OR ON YOUR VACATION. YOU HAD BETTER COME TO US. YOU HAVE THE POSITIVE ASSURANCE THAT STYLE AND VALUE ARE PRE-EMINENT. Suits $15, $1S, $20, Straw hats Cluett Shirts Arrow collars SALEM WOOLEN MILL STORE ail CM. OREGON m rnrlooii gatM of a uiwtnlra nuulil. The ginie bad ciide.1 at bolll table. Quarrler mel AiMtha stood by the win dow together, roiivernllig III low Voice. ItelH ether, lit a lle-k, ant muttering im. I fiis.lhg wllli a check bk. Tbo other weto In Hylvlu'a npurluii-nta. A few iiioinen! later Kemp I'crrall anlved hi the beM of uplrlt. very IuihIi Li. Ilrt d to coualder the night M till joiing. but Id eiitbulum met with iio rcMiut and preently be de puted It li hi wlff nud Million 111 their big cur. Leila. In ber wrap, emerged lu a few moment, looking at Plank ut of ncrl.ui cye, ami they mado their brief adieu and went away In Planks brougham. When Agatha's maid arrived Quar rler ubxi Mnrted to titke bis leave, but Sylvia, seated nt a card table, Idly iirringlng the card In geometrical de klgn find fanciful araln'KQiie. looked up nt blm, Maying: "I wanted to say aomethlug in you, Howard " Ag.itbu panned t belli, going Into Syl via' room for her wrap, and Quar rler turned to Sylvia. Well?" he said, with the slightest hint of Impatience. " "Can't you stay a minute?" asked Sylvia, surprised. "Agatha I going In the motor wl'.h me. I It anything Important?" Wip considered blm without replying. ,he had never before detected that manner, that hardness In a vob-e al ways so even In quality. "What is It?" he repeated. t She thought a moment, putting aside for the time bis manner, which she could not comprehend. Then: "I wanted to ask you a question a rather Ignorant one K-rhapa. It'sntxyt your Amalgamated Electric company May I nsk it. Howard?" After a second's stare. "Certainly." k.. a., 1,1 "It's only this: If the other people .. . .1 i .. ... ai.,n-u- I HP I nierCOIllll J . lucuw mi ....... -j ruining Amalgamated, why don't you stop itr Quarrler'a eyes narrowed. "Oh! And who have you been discussing the mat ter with 7' "Mr. Dank." abe said ainiply. "I asked blm. He shook hia head and said I'd better ask you. And I do phivs - a8t you; I , For a moment he stood mute. Then I rur ujvuirm urn; .-."'.. ... - ng pa igan to shrink back over his beautiful teeth In one of bla rare laughs "I'll lie very glad to explain It some (day." be snld. but there was no mirth In bla voice or eyes, oniy me sun kpr I . it. i..t.n.... . i li i ing up iiumipi i"- - "Will von nrt answer now?" she nskeil i not now r.ut I desire yon to understand It some day some day be fore November And one " " "'he' matters that It N nt-cessarj for yon to understand I want to explain them. Sylvia, lu such a manner tU.it you will never be likely to forget them. And 1 mean to. For they are never out of my mind, and I wL-sh them to lie ns In effaceably Impressed on yours. Good night." He took he limp hand almost brisk ly released it and stepped down the stairs as Agatia entered, cloaked, to BISHOP'S READY TAILORED CLOTHES ARE BEST BECAUSE THEY ARE MADE BY THE FOREMOST MAKERS. THEY POSSESS A PER SONALITY BECAUSE THEY ARE MADE UNDER THE PERSONAL DI RECTION OF THE BEST DESIGNERS. YOU WANT OUR PERSONAL SERVICE IN SELECTING YOUR CLOTHES, AND WE WANT YOU TO HAVE IT QUALITY CLOTHES, HATS, SHIRTS, NECKWEAR, UNDER WEAR AND ALL THE REST. NONE OF THEM HIGH PRICED. $25 and $30. $1-50 to $10.00 $l-r0 2 for .25 Fowne's Gloves $1-00 to $2.50 Roberts hats $3.00 Supberba ties 50 B. V. D. underwear, $1.00 to $1.50 PACE THREE ii r good nltflit. Thev kled Bt pnrtllig-"llf flU- brmiuit denth" MoiIIiikt bail j tueereil on a similar im mlon. Then i Fylvln. alone, t.od In ber licdrooin. bnud Hi ked Ublnl ber, her lovely ! b.'iid bent, groping with tbo very 1 gboM of thought w bb h eluded n-r. ' lb-Hug. viiiil-dilitg. real 'Ia ring, to peep ' out nt ber only to fade Into Holding 5 t-rf kbc roiild follow here Ibey tHUc'l through the d.irk labyrinth of mem ory. Uv major, craning hi lic k In the buy window, now A git ha nn.I guar- , rler cuter th big yellow motor nnd dixappeiir behind the llnionnliio. Ami It worried blm horribly, l-eciiuio b knew perfectly well that Quarrler hail li.il to htm nlimt a jeweled collar precisely like the collar worn by i Agatliil Cali'iue, nml what to du or ! miy to anybody on the snbjii t wn fur the firt time III Id life utterly be yond hi garrulous ability. Anolher matter, lie bad violated bis word and bad U-eu caught nt It by hi prospective iiepbew-lll ht w broken hi pledged word not to sell hi Amalga mated FleHrlc holding, and had dmi It. Yet bow could Plnnk dominate uti le another also hud done what ho had done? And It made him a llttb more comfortable to know be waa sharing the fault with somHody probably with Siward. whom be now bad the luxury of dct-plslng for tbo very thing he himself bad done. "Iirniikiird!" be muttered to himself. "He's In the gutter nt last!" And he repented It unctuously, al most reconciled to Ills owu shortcom ing, iHH-ause It was the first time, as far a be knew, that a Belwether might legitimately enjoy the pleasures of holding the word of a Siwnrd In contempt. Sylvia had dismissed her maid, the old feeling of distaste for the touch of another had returned aim the last mud. crushed embrace In Slwnrd's arms bad become a memory. ow, I I. Inn eves dreuminz under the bright . - - - ... . ! masses of her loosened hair, she sat watching the Inst glimmer amid the ashes whitening on ttie neartn. mint ing of Siward and of what had been between them and of what could never be never, never be! One red spark among the asbea her ambition, deathless amid the ashes of life! When that. too. went out life must be extinct What be bad roused in her had died when he went away. It could never awake again unless be returned to awaken It And he never would. He would never come again. One brief Interlude of love, of pas sion, in her life could neither tint nor taint the cool, normal sequence of her days. All that life held for a woman of her caste all save that was hers when she stretched out her hand for It bers by right of succession, of de sceut; hers by warrant unquestioned, by the unuttered text of the ukase to be launched if necessary, by that very, very old lady, drowsing, enthroned, as the endless pageant wound like a Jeweled river at her feet. So Siward could never come again, sauntering toward ber through the sunlight, smiling bis absent smile. She caught her breath painfully, straight ening up A single ash fell In the fire. The last spark went out i