tlCMT PACSS
INDEPCNOCNCC CNTERPRISC. INDEPENDENCE. OWtGON, JULY 18. 1010.
PACK THRU
The Fighting'
Chance
ROBERT W.
CHAMBERS
Copyright, 1908, If Ike Curtli publishing Company.
Copyright, 1BI, by Hubert V. Chamber.
(A conCluu'd glory.)
ytf Jfc and.
T?iC duili'd Ooulilr, ijill-
In) of inr m miiinii li.
EL&VEN gggj
Till: pink wn very misty and
i1uii)t nml silll Unit February
morning. Far away on (In
wooded bridle 'it t It Hid (lulled
double gallop of horse sounded, now
iniiilled In n IkiIIiiw. now louder, Jnr
ring the rising ground, nearer, heavier.
then suddenly
T WrT checked to H
V 'IV . IrmnnU n. Kit.
drew bridle
(liu reservoir
straighten-
liii In her mill-
,-Ju?,1 die. raised her
flushed fiica to
the sky.
"Ituln?" she
usked n h Qunr
rlrr. controlling
bis hen ul If ill,
restive ho rie,
rnnged " alongside, of ber,
"Probably." It hii Id. scarcely glanc
ing lit the sky. where, nlsive tlio great
rectangular lagoons, hundreds of sea
gulls, high In the Blr. hung (I n i i 1 1 1 nr.
stemming hoiiiu rushing upper gnlo
uufelt In-low.
On their iliilly rides together It wns
her custom to discuss practical Hint
ter concerning their future, nml It
wns his custom to listen until pressed
for ft suggestion, nn assent or a reply.
Sparing words cautious, cluiry of
mlf commitment and seldom offering
to assume tlie Initiative this wns the
surface character which hIio hud come
to recognize tiiid acquiesce In. Tills
wns Qunrrier n ho hud been develop
ed from her hazy, preconceived Ideas
of the man lieforo she had finally ac
cepted him at Shotover the nutiimn lie
foro. Slip alm knew him ns a meth
odical man. exacting from others tho
orderly precision which characterized
his own drilling. A mini of educ ation
mid little learning, of attainments and
little cultivation, conversant with
Usages, formal. Intensely sensitive to
ridicule. Incapable of humor.
1'hls was Quarrler us she k tew blm
r had known him Itecentlv -she had.
little ly little. become awj.ra of ju In
dell liable change In the man. For one
thing, he had grown more reticent. At
times, too, his reserve seemed to have
something almost surly ahout It. Un
der his cold composure n hint of some
thing concealed, watchful and very
quiet.
Confidences she had never looked for
In hltn nor desired. It appalled her nt
momenta to realize how little they had
In common and that only on the sur
face n communion of superficial In
terest Incident to the fllltlllmeut of so
clnl duties and the pursuit of pleasure.
Beyond that she knew nothing or him,
reipilred nothing of him. What wns
there to know? What to require?
Now that the main lino of her route
through life hnd heen surveyed and
carefully laid out. what was there
more for her In life than to set out
upon her progress? It was her own
road. Presumptive leader already,
logical leader from the day she mar
riedleader. In fact, when the ukase,
her future legacy, so decreed. It wns
n royal road laid out for her through
the gardens nnd pleasant places. A
rond for her alone, and over It she had
chosen to pass. What more wns there
to desire?
From the going of Slward nil that
he had aroused In her of love, of Intel-
Billy Fleetwood.
Hgence. of wholesome desire and sane
curiosity the Intellectual reMlt'smie.
Ihn ciipaclty for pimlon, the renal
aimed) of the simpler luiiocenei'-hnd
ulihliliil Into tlui liilM'g fah of dull
iuliKi'eiict.
lil.llnif there, lii-ad U'lit her uli-e-i
tliului; tin- slow pin ing of her liaise,
he presently liei-auie iiware, wIMiout
looking up. Hint tuarrler was watching
her. Mie iiiommI hllghtly In her Middle
lo look nt htm nud for an Inxtant fan
led Hint there was soiiiethliig furtive
In hN eyes. Only fur nn Inxtant. for
he quietly picked up Hie thread of con
versation ttlnve Hhe had dropped It.
anyliig Hint It had lecii raining for (lie
last ten minutes nud that they might
us well tniu their horses toward Khcl
ter.
Without reason, through and through
ber ahot n shiver of louollnit.s utter
lonellnesa nnd Isolation. Without rw
aou, Ik-cihimc from til in alio expected
nothing, required niitlilnc, except whnt
he offered Hie emotionless reticence
of Indifference, the composure of per
fect forum Illy. What did she want,
(hen companions? She had tlieui
l-'rlenils? She could scarcely escape
from them. Ii.tliiintes? She hnd only
to choose one or n hundred attuned
revponslve to her every mood, every
caprice. Lonely? With the men of
New York crowding, slioulclerlus
crushing ilielr way to her feet? Ini.'
ly? With the woi'ien of New Vork
struggling already for precedence In
her favor? ouien algtillleHiit of tin
days to come, of those future years
diamond linked In one unbroken, tri
umphant glitter.
"About that Amalgamated Klectrle
company." Mie began without prelude.
"Would you mind answering n ques
tion or two. Howard?"
"Yon could not understand It." he
said, unpleasantly dlsturlied by her
nbruptness.
"As you pifiise. It Is quite true I
ran make nothing of whnt the newspa
pers are saying aliout It. except that
Mr. Plank seems to be doing a number
of things."
"Injunctions nnd other matters," ob
served Quarrler.
"Is anybody going to Iorb nny money
In It?"
"Who, for example?"
Whyyou. for example," she said,
laughing.
"I don't expect to."
"Then It Is going to turn out nil
right? And Mr. I'lank nnd Kemp lor-
rail and the major and the other peo
ple Interested are not going to he al
most ruined by the Intercounty peo
ple?" "Do you think a man like Tlank Is
likely to he ruined, ns you say, by
A ma lga mated Klectrle ?"
"No. But Kemp and the mnjor"- .
"I think the major Is out of danger,"
replied Qunrrier, looking at her with
the new, sullen narrowing of his eyes.
"I am glad of that. Is Kemp ami
(he others?"
'Terrnll could stand it If matters go
wrong. What others?"
"Why the other owners nnd stockholders"-
"What others? Who do you menu?"
"Mr. Slward. for example." she snld
In an even voice, leaning over to pat
her horse's iwck with her gloved hand.
"Mr. Si ward uuist take the chances
ive nil take." observed Qunrrier.
"But. Howard. It would really mean
uiu for hhu If matters went badly.
iVouhln't It?"
"I am not familiar with the details
of Mr. Slward's InvesUnents."
"Nor am I." she safd Flowly.
She spoke a limit Mother things. He
responded In hi liitHHive manner.
Presently she tiij'bi;il her horse, and
qunrrier wheeled lil; facing a warm,
line rain shuitltij; tt'lilckly from the
sr.iith. : V ;. t:"
Ills silk, nniivl-e 'heard wa:s all wet
with the nooislure Mie noticed it. and
unhidden nrosv the vision of the gun
room nt f'hotover - Qtinrrler's soft
ber.rd w't v( lib ruin, the phantoms of
peopl" passing and repassing, Slwaid's
straight Jlgiii.e-swinging past, silhou
etted rtiBiinstUUe. glare of litfit from the
billiard roovu And here she made an
effort to' c.Tce the vision, shutting ber
eyes ns she rode there In the ralu. hut
clearly against the closed lids she saw
the phantoms passing specters of
dead hours, the wraith of nn old hap
piness masked with youth nnd wear
ing giw'fi'iJ'S features!
She sivv herself beside blm among
the cus . ins,;- tasted again the rose
petals that her Hps hnd stripped from
the blossoms; saw once more the
dawn of sMuethlng in his steady eyes;
felt bis arm about her, his breath
ed forward through the rain, and she
rode breathless, with her Hps half part
ed. If afraid, turiibiK In r bend lo
look behind though h rolild nut
ride tb phantom rlliigiiiif to her tlr
rup, niRKknl Ilk youth, wearing the
liNdowjr eye of love!
An hour Inter, fre-ib from her bnth.
luxurious In Iimiw- and tlliny luce. Iter
iiinII while feet Iiik1 with UU, klm
lunclml alone, cradled ainong lhoruli
loim of tier couch.
Twice h atltilli-d through the rooina
leisurely, iiinmoiied by ber inn Id lo
the telephone, the flint time to (lint
wild tJrace l errall. who. It apicnred.
wan a victim of dissipation, being Ntlll
rImhI. and out of humor with the rainy
world; (he aecoiid time to answer In
lh negative Mnrlon'a miggcHtluii that
she motor to I-nkcwood with ber for
I ho week' end In-fore they cIomhI their
house,
Siunterlng back again, she alpped
her milk and vb by. InMed (he (draw.
U-rrles. lasted a big black grn. ills
carded I 'th nud lay bin k iiuioug the
cushion, ber naked arms clasped Is
hind ber bead, and. dropping one kins
over the other. Mured at the celling.
The room was very still and dim, but
the clamor In her brain unnerved her,
and she ant up among the cushions,
looking vi tly iilMiut her with the
blue, confused eyes, (he direct, unsee
ing gaze of a child roused by a half
heard call.
The call low. Imperative, sunlalnel
continued softly persistent ni;alui-t
ber windows, the summons of the
young year's ralu.
She went to the window ami slood
among the filmy curtains, looking out
Into the mist. A springlike nrouin pen-c-t
rated the room. She tqictied the
window a little way. and the aweet,
virile odor enveloped ber.
A thousand longings rose within her.
('uniimU'red wistful question sUrred
ber, sighing, unanswered. Every breath
was drawing her backward, nearer,
nearer to the source of memory. Ah.
(he cliff chupel lu the ralu: The woiiN
of a text mumbled denfly the yearly
service for those who died at sea. Ami
she, seated there lu the chapel dusk
thinking of him who sat Is-slde her
nud bow he feared a heavier, stealth
ler. more secret tide crawling, purring
about hl feet!
Always, always at the eud of every
thing, he! Always, reckoning step by
step, tmekwnrd through time. he. the
source, the Inception, the meaning of
all!
Unmoored nt last, ber spirit swaying,
euveloped in memories of blm, she
gave herself to the flood, overwhelmed
us tide on tide rose, rushing over her,
body, mind unit soul.
She close 1 her eyes, leaning there
heavily ami J the cloudy curtains. She
moved back luto tho room and stood
staring nt space through wet lashes.
The hard, dry pulse in her throat hurt
ber till her under lip, freed from the
tyranny of her small teeth, slipped
free, quivering rebellion.
She had boon walking her room to
and fro, to and fro. for a long time
liefore she realized that she hnd moved i
nt all.
And now impulse held the helm. A
blind, unreasoning desire for relief hur
ried Into action on tho wings of im
pulse. There was n telephone at ber elbow.
No need to bunt through lists to find
MM
number she bad known so long by
heart, the three figures which bad re
iterated theiiuttlveii no often, luuiioto
lioimly IiiMlntriit. alyly lewuaUe, re
penting Ihciowlu-K eveu lu Iter dreams,
o thnt h a oka at tlmmi shivering
With Ihn vlnlou In which be bad listen,
ed to temptation and bad railed to
b I in acruw the wlldcrucrs of street
lid men.
"Is be at bonier
-!
"Would you
ask blm to come
to Ibe tele
phone?"
"Please say to
bbu thnt It U
a a friend.
t..v Tbnnk you."
f. V In the throb-
blllg quiet of ber
" he nt hointt" Mom she heard
the fingers of (he prying ralu busy at
her windows. Hie licking of Hie auiall
(reiich clock, very dull, very fur awny
-or was It ber heart?
"Who Is It?"
Her voice left ber for an Instant
Her dry lips made no answer.
"Who Is It?" be repeated In hi
ktendy. pleasant voice.
"It Is I."
There was absolute silence, so Uiii.
thst It frightened her, but before she
could speak again hi-i voice was sound
Irg III her ears, patiel.t, Ulieotivlu'-eil:
"I don't rorogak.e your voice. Who
iim I speaking to?"
"Sj Ivla."
There was no response, and she rpoUe
n km in :
"I only wanted to say good morning
It Is rftenioon now. Is It too bite t
say good morning)"
"No. I'm biu!!y rattled. Is It you
Sylvia?"
"Indeed it Is. I nui lu my own room
I - I thought"
"Yes; I nui Ii.--tenl;ig."
"I don't know what I did think. I"
It necosiiry for me t teleplioiie you a
minute account of the mental proc
esses which elided by my cubing yo.i
up ait of the vasty liecp)"
The old ring In her voice, hiir.lng o
the laughlu c.ndertoae. i!j k.i.'i trac
ing sweetness of l:i.ice:i i co::;.l he
doubt bis rem es n:iy o:i.' ?
"I know you now," he sai l.
"1 should thin!. ; on iiit-iii. I sliouM
very much like to know how you are
If you don't ni!:id sir Xv.a'i"
"Thank you. I seem to he nil rig'.it
Are you all rlg!it, Sylvia?"
"ShnniefuHv nu 1 o'l r s-i-o-irfly wel'
What a seao i to i! i: . . '. !.v e re N
in rng-i ma'. !! -"g : I-a't Put a .
agreeable remar!.? P-ut I II come I i
the iiiilnt li;u:!i. toi. o. o:;.-m' W
nil do. Doen-.'t niijbooy ever see you
any more)"
She heard bi n laugh to himself mi
pleasantly then. "lines anybody want
to?"
"Everybody, of course! You know It
Y'ou always were spoiled to death."
"Yes to death."
"Stetdien!"
"Yes?"
"Are you becoming cynlcnl?"
"I? Why should I?"
"You are! Stop it! Mercy
If that Is whnt is going on in a
house on .ower Fifth avenue.
on lis!
certain
facing
the corner of eertalu atrwU, It's time
omelsMly i1rpd In to"
"To-what r
"To Ibe rescue! I've tnlud to do It
myself. They say you are not well,
cither."
"W bo auys Ibat?"
"iih, the usual little ornithological
rorkatrlee-ir. rather, cantatrb. !on't
ak me. iMHause I won't tell you. I
always tell you too much anyway,
ixm t ir
"Io you?"
Of course I do. Everybody pol!e
you, and so do I."
"Yes-1 am rather la that wajr, I
suppose."
What wayT
"Oh-solled."
"Stephen!"
"Yi-?"
And In a lower voice, "Please don't
say such things will your
"No"
"li-ls-claPy to mi'."
"IM'da!ly to you. No, 1 won't,
Sylvia. "
And. nfter a hesitation, she continu
ed sweetly:
"l wonder wh it you were doing, all
alone lu (hat old bouse of yours, when
I called vou up?"
I? Let me see. Ob. 1 was superin
tending some parking."
"Are you going off somewhere?''
"I think so." -
"Where?"
"I don't know. Sylvia."
"I decline to be snubbed. I'm shame
less, and 1 wish to be Informed. Please
tell me."
"I'd rather not tell you."
"Very well. tiotdhy! But don't ring
off Just yet. Stephen. Do you think
that some time you would care to see
any people I mean when you begin to
go out again':"
"Who. for example?"
"Why, nnylwidy!"
"No: I don't think I should care to. '
Pin rather too busy to go about, even
If I were Inclined to."
"Are you really busy, Stephen?-'
Yes-waiting. That Is the very
hardest sort of occupation, and Pin
obliged to he on hand every minute."
"But you said that you were going
out of town."
"IMd I? Well, I did not say It exact
ly, but I nm going to leave town."
"For very long)" she asked.
"Perhaps. I can't tell yet."
"Stephen, before you go. If you are
going fopn ery, very long while per
haps you will you might care to say
good by."
"Do you care to have me?"
"Yes, I do."
There was a silence, and when hl3
voice sounded again it had altered.
"I do not think you would care to
see me, Sylvia. I they say I am I
have changed since my since a slight
Illness. I am not over it yet, not cured
not very well yet, and a little tired,
you see a Utile shaken. I am leaving
New York to to try once more to tie
cured. I expect to be well oue way or
nnot her"
"Stephen, where nre you going? An
swer me!"
"I can't answer you."
"Is your Illness serious?"
"A it Is it requires some some
care."
(To be continued.)
;-4.".'i'S''t'
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