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About Independence enterprise. (Independence, Or.) 1908-1969 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 1910)
J SIGHT PACES INDCPENDENCC ENTERPRISE, INDEPENDENCE, OREGON. AUGUST 6. 1810. PAGE THREE The Fighting Chance ROBERT VV. CHAMBERS Copyright, 190fl, by the Curtis Publishing Company. Copyright, lo. by liobert W. Chambera, (A continued story.) "I mean for jou mid roe to try to Understand each other." 'Tor asked I'lHiik, raising hi blond eyebrow. "lo you mean Amal gamated i:iHtrlo Mini Intereouuly liu eronally ?" "I mean for u iHTHonully. We nre Wasting opportunities. Till whole matter In Involving u In a tangle of llllk'iilloii rtMjiilrliiic our constant ef- ftirlH, COIIStllllt ttclltllll." "I iH'ir your partlou. Mr. yuarrler, lut you take II too seriously. I have found In till affair uotlilnic except rather Bgrceablo mental exhilaration." "Mr. I 'lit iik. If you are not inclined to bo serious" "I inn." Kb Id Plunk no savagely that Quarrler. startled, could not doubt til in. "I like this sort of thing, Mr. Quarrler. Anything thrtt In liurd to overcome I like to overcome. Tho pleasure In lift) to me U to win out. I nui fighting you with the greatest po- Sllilf Kilt iHTlU'tloll to IllVfl lf." "Perhaps you see victory ahead." mild Quarrler calmly. I do, Mr. Quarrler, I do. but not In the milliner you four I limy hope for It." Quarrler said without emotion, "I repent that It would lie easy for you hii I uio to mew our difference!! on a basis absolutely satisfactory t you and to me-iuid to Harrington." "You nre mistaken." mild I'lnnk, ris ing. "(JimhI afternn." yuarrler row too. "You decline to discuss the mutter?" he aHked. . "It has Ihh-ii discussed eultlclently." "Then why did you come here?" "To nee for myself how afraid of me you really are," anld I'lank. "Now I know, and no do yon. Mr. Quarrler, I want to tell you something. Never le foro In business ill (Terences has pri vate Indignation against liny Individ ual Interfered or modified my course of action. It does now, but It does not dictate my policy toward yon: It mere ly., mi I any. module It. I am ierfeet ly aware of what I am doing, what oclal disaster I am inviting by this altitude toward you personally, what financial destruction I am courting lu arousing the wrath of the Algonquin Trust company and of the powerful Interests Intrenched behind Intercoun ty Klectrlc. I know what tho lobby Is; I know what Judge cannot bo counted on; I know my pc:-ll and my chances, every one, and 1 take them-every one. For It Is a goxl light, Mr. yuarrler. It will be talked of for years to come wonderlugty, not liecnuse of your ef frontery, not Is'tause of my obstinacy, but because such monstrous Immoral ity could ever have existed in this laud of ours. Your name, Harrington's, mine, will have become utterly forgot ten long, long before the horror of these present conditions shall cease to bo remembered." He stretched out one ponderous arm, pointing full between Quurrler's un winking eyes. "Take your fighting chance It is the cleanest thing you ever touched and use it cleanly, or there'll be no mercy shown you when your time comes. Let the courts alone. Do you hear me? Let the legislature alone. Keep your manicured hands oil the ermine. And tell Harrington to shove bis own cold, splay fin gers into his own pocket for a change. They'll be warmer than his feet by this time next year." For a moment he towered there powerful, bulky, menacing then lt arm dropped heavily, the old stolid expres slon came back Into his face. leaving It calm, bovine, almost stupid again. And he turned, moving slowly toward the door, holding his hat carefully in his gloved hand. Stepping out of the elevator on the ground floor, he encountered Morti mer and halted instinctively, ue , not seen Mortimer for weeks; neither , had Leila, and now he looked at him i Inquiringly, disturbed at his battered ! and bloodshot appearance. "Oh," said Mortimer, "you down here?" ' "Have you been out of town?" asked Plank cautiously. i Mortimer nodded and started to pass on toward the bronze cage of the ele vator, but something seemed to' occur to him suddenly. He checked bis pace, turned and waddled after Tlank. re- "Take your fighting chance." Joining lilm on the marble step of" the rotunda. "I.iMik here." he said. "1 promised you something once, ilMu't 1?" "I Mil you?" mild Think, with his bland, expreshloiilem stare of au over grown baby. till, cut that out! You know I did. and when I say a thing I make good. !) see?" I don't nee. ' raid riauk. "w hat you are talking about. " 'Tm talking alsiut what I mild J'd do for you. Haven't I made good? Haven't 1 put you Into everything I aald I would? Dou't you go every where? I hurt people ask you every where?" "Yea, In a way." said Hank wearily. "I am very grateful. I always will le. Can I do anything for you. U-royT Mortimer hud attended a "killing" at Desmond' and. as usual, had pro vided the piece do resistance for his oft voiced host. All lie wanted was a temporary deposit to tide over mat ters. He had never approached Plauk In vain, and he did not do so now, for I'lank had a pocket check liook and a stylograph. It's little to ask. Isn't it?" lie mut tered resentfully. "That will only square matters with Desmond. It doesn't leuve me anything to go on with." And he pocketed his chock with a scowl. I'lank was discreetly silent. "And that Is not what I chased you for, either." continued Mortimer. "Hev erly. old Imi.v, I've got a certain mealy fai-ed hypocrite w here any decent man would like to have hlm-by the scrnfl of his neck. He's tit only to kick, and I'm going to kick him good and plenty, and lu the process he's going to let go of several things. One of 'em's yours." I'lank looked at him. "I told you once that I'd let you know when to step up aud say 'Good evening,' didn't I?" I'lank continued to sture. Didn't I?" repeated Mortimer iev Ishly, begluiilng to lose countenance. I don't understand you." said I'lank. "and I don't think I want to under stand you." "What do you mean?" demanded Mortimer thickly. "Don't you want tc marry that girl?" But he shrank dis mayed under the slow blaze that light ed Plunk's blue eyes. "All right," he stammered, strug gling to his fat legs and instinctively backing away. "I thought you meant business. I what the devil do I care who you marry! Its the last time 1 try to do anything for you or for any body else!" plunk gazed ut him for a moment. The anger lu his face died out. "I am not ungrateful," he said. "You may say almost anything except that, Leroy. I am uot disloyal, no matter what else I may be. But you have made a bad mistake. So let up forget the matter." But Mortimer, keenly appreciative of the pleasures of being misunder stood, squeezed some moisture out ot his distended eyes aud sat down, a martyr to his emotions. "To think," he gulped, "that you of all men should turn on me like this!" "I didn't mean to. Can't you under stand. Leroy. that you hurt me " "Hurt nothing!" retorted Mortimer nndictlvely. "You've had sensation battered out of you time. by this I guess society has lauded you a few w hile 1 was boosting y o u over the out works. There's another lady, that's all." "Let it go at that, then," snld Plank, reddening.- "And now let me ask you a question where wore you when I going "Let it (ii U that men. - . xnei ,ou. "What do you want to know for?" asked Mortimer Bullenly. "Why. I'll tell you, Leroy. If you have any Idea of identifying yourself with Ouarrler's neoule. of seeklug hlin at this Juncture with the expectation of investing any money in his schemes, you had better not do so." "Investing!" sneered Mortimer. "Well, no. not exactly, having nothing to in vest, thanks to my being swindled In to Joining his Amalgamated Electric gang. Don't worry. If there's any shaking down to be done I'll do it, my friend." And he rose and started to ward the elevators. "Walt." said Plank. "Why., man. you ruu't frighten Quarrler. What till you 4ll your holdings fur? Why didn't you come to us- to iiib? Wlwt'a llm tlx of going In Qiiarrlttr How mi l scolding? Von run't mare a limn like thai." Mortimer fairly (.'I'liiin-d lu hi fine. "Your I.Ik mistake," he mo-cred. "In lu undervaluing others. I want oii to mi.li-rM.iml a few thliiirs. luy friend. and one uf litem Is that I'm mil afraid of Quarrler, aud auotlicr I I'm not frtild of you!" U-ruy"- "No, not afraid of you either!" re peated .Mortimer, with an ugly stare. "You keep a civil tongue In your head after IIiIh-iIk you understand? and we'll get ou all right. If ytui dou't, I've the uieaiis to make you!" "Are you cray ?" "Not a bit of It! Too aano for you mid l-lla to hoodwink!" "You are crazy!" regaled Plauk. aghast. "Am I? You mid l'lla can take tho matter Into court If you want to wi le I do. And" here he leaned for ward, showing his teeth again "tho next time you kls her close the door!" Then he went away up the uiarble step and entered an elevator, and Plank, gravo and pale, went out Into the street and entered his big louring car. But the drive up town and through the sunlit park gave lilm no pleasure, and he entered his great house with a heavy, lifeless step, head lietit, a though counting every crevice In the stones under hi lagging feet. Tor the first time In all tils life lie was afraid ufa man. The mau he was afraid of had gone directly to yuarrler'a otlice. missing the gentleman he was seeking by such a small fraction of a minute that be realized they must have passed each other lu the elevators, he ascending while Quarrler was descending. I'urlous to think of the time he had wasted with Plank, he craw led Into a hansom aud bade the driver take lilm to a iiunilier he gave, designating one of the new limestone baseineut houses ou the upier west side. All the way up town as he Jolted about lu his seat he angrily regretted Mi., iiiiK'ilni; with Pluuk even lu spite of the check. What demou had pos sessed him to Ismst to utspiay uis hiuid when there had lieen lu neces sity? Plank was still ready to give him aid at a crisis, bad always ueen rudv. Time enough when Plauk turn ed stingy to use persuasion. He lay back, rolling about lu tue jouncing cab, scowling at space. "I'll shake down Quarrler," he said to himself. "I'll make him pay for his treachery scaring me out of Amalga mated! That will lie restitution, uot extortion!" He was angry necause he had beeu for days screwing up his courage to tho point of seeking Quarrler face to lie had not wished to do It. The scene aud his own attitude in it could only be repugnant to him, although be continually explained to himself that It was restitution, uot extortion. "Oh," he groaned, "what an ass I am!" Aud he got out of his cab In front of a very uew limestone base ment house with red geraniums bloom ing ou the window sills and let hini- M-lf lu w itb a latchkey. Tho Interior of tha lions was attrac tive In a niiher bright, new, cleau fashion. The maid. too. w ho Bpls ared at tlie tni'l of the cloning disir and iMk hi hat and glove was a newly groomed a the floor ami woodwork and 'J imlseles n to I conspicuous In her w Ift, nlU-iil inoveiueiilH. "AnylMxlv here?" he growled, leer ing Into the drawing n-iii at a tiny g. .iuil piano casel In unvarnished dr I iisslilli w illlillt. "There I nolssly at home. lr," said tho maid. Ho begun to lisceiid the stairway, breathing heavily, thud, thud over the deep vcHet strip, hi fat hand grasp ing tlm liiniUti r rail. Home where on the aecond floor a ttniill dog barked, and Mortimer tra versed tlio hall mid oiened tho door Into a riHiin hung with gold Hpaulsb. leather and pule green curtain.. "Hello. Tlnto!" be snld affably a a tiny Japanese spaniel hurled hernelf at him, harking furiously, then Is-gao writhing and weaving herself alsmt him, gurgling recognition and wel come. Presently another maid entered. ltll ao apple rut Into thin wafers and a decanter of port, and Mortimer luy buck In his chulr, sopping his apple in the thick, crimson wine and feeding iiiomi.lM nt the combination to himself and to Tluto at Intervals until the ap ple wa all gene and toe decanter three-fourths empty. It was very still In the room so still thut Mortimer, owning his eyes at longer aud longer Intervals to ocr at the door, finally opened them no more. It wns still davllzht when Mortimer awoke, conscious of people about hi;n. As he oieiied his eyes a man lungheJ. Several people seated by the windows Joined In. lie yawned, laughed, turn ing his heavy eyes from one to au other, recognizing a couple of youni i?lrl nt the window. lie didn't want to get up. but there la lu the society he now adorned a stringency of etiquette known as "re-tlneinent ' and whit u to Iguore Is to liecouie unpopular. So he eot ou to his massive legs aud went over to shake hands with a grav ity becoming the ceremony. How d've do. Miss UuUlikno.rr Thought you were at Asbury Park. How de do. MlfS Del Cnrciu Have you lieea out lu Millbaiik's motor yet?" "We broke down at Mcdowan's mia" .iM Miss Del (iarcin. laughing the laugh that had made her so at tractive In "A Word to the Wise." "Miitlnv irasollne." maided Mill, inn.; tersely, au Iron Jawed, overg: oo.ne J man of forty with a tloiid face shave 1 blue. ' "We passed Mr. Plank's big touring car." observed I.ydla Y.rse. shifting Tluto to the clinch and brushing the black ami white hairs from her auto mobile coat. "How much does a car like that cot-t. Leroy?" About twenty-five thousand." he said gloomily. Then, looking up: "Hold ou, Millbank. Dou't be going. Why can't you all dine with us? Never mind your car. Ours is all right, aud we'll run out Into the country for dinner. How about It. Miss Del Garcia?" But both Miss Del Garcia and Miss Hutchinson had accepted another In vitation, lu which Millbank wa also Included, They stood about, veil floating, leather decorated coat thrown bsk, lingering for awhile to talk the garaeo I. ilk Which fast dilate sti.le of their VN'. Then Millbank looked at tho t lis k, Hindu hi adieu to Lydltt, nodded tdgiilucaiitly to Mortimer and fallowed the other tlow ntalr. Time wa something amis with bin motor, for It made a startling racket hi the street, finally plunging forward with a kick. Lydlu laughed a the two young girl in the touiieaii turned to nod to her In mock despair. Then she cum running back upstairs, holding hep klrt free from her hurrying little feet. "Well?" she Inquired, a Mortimer turned back from the window to con front her. "I missed him," mild Mortimer. She flung the tat over a chair, stissl a niomeut, her flnger busy with her Hair pegs, men at down ou the couch, taking: Tlnto into her lap. She wa very pretty, dark, slim, mar velously grace ful In her every movement. "Can't you see bi:u tomorrow?" she asked. "I suppose so," said Mortimer lowly. "Oh. Lord! How 1 bate this busi ness V "Hasn't he misused your confidence? Hasn't he taken your money?" she a.:!;ed. "It may lie unpleasant for you to make him uulielt, but you're a cow aid If you dou't r "I wish I'd held fast now. I never supposed Plauk would take hold. It was that driveling old Bel wether who scared me stiff! The minute I saw him scurrying to cover like a singed cat I was fool enough to climb the Erst tree. I've had my lessou, little girl." "I hope you'll give Howard his. Soweliody ought to." she said quietly. About half past 8 they dined lu a white and ,luk dining room furnished in dull gray walnut aud served by a stealthy, white haired, pink skinned butler. They had planned to go for a spin lu Mortimer's motor after dinner, but ini view of the Quarrier fiasco neither was in the mood for anything. "Do you know, Leroy." she observed as they left the table and sauntered back into the pale blue drawing room, "do you know that the servants haven't been paid for three months?" "Oh, for heaven's sake," he expostu lated, "don't begin that sort of thing. I get enough of that at home. I get It every time I show my nose!" (To be continued.) "Cnn't jou r him to morrowt" thtimked. Miss Myrtle Parker of Independence is go'ng to Port'and to work as a. trimmer in a wholesale millinery es tablishment. She will room with Miss. Bertha Bohannon who is also working; there. I ftatlorcfc Clothe Men's and Boy's Suits Discounted One-Fourth to One-Half DON'T WAIT FOR THEM TO GET CHEAPER IN PRICE. WE ARE OFFERING OUR -HIGH GRADE LINE OF MEN'S SUITS TO YOU AT ABOUT COST PRICE. MANY WE ARE SELLING AT LESS THAN MANUFACTURERS' COST. BISHOP'S READY TAILORED LINE AS FOLLOWS: $35.00 SUITS NOW $28.00 $30.00 SUITS NOW $24.00 . $25.00 SUITS NOW $20.00 $20.00 SUITS NOW $16.00 $15.00 SUITS NOW $12.50 BOYS' SHORT PANTS SUITS, INCLUDING SOME PATTERNS IN THE THREE P.ECE SUITS, WE ARE SELLING AT ONE-HALF PRICE. THEY Ik OUR LEADING BRANDS OF SCHOOL SU.TS. EVERY MOTHER SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE REDUCT.ONS, THE LIMIT ED NUMBER NECESSITATES QUICK BUYING. SALEM WOOLEN MILL STORE 8ALEM, OREGON