Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-07-01

"Let 10 90 at that. going whan
met your
~What do you want to know for?'
asked Mortimer sullenly.
"Why. I'll tell you, Leroy. II you
have any idea OF identifying yourself
with Quarters people, of seeking him
at this juncture with the expectation
OF investing any money In his schemes
you had better not do So"
"Investlng!' 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.
Wait" said Plank. why, man.
you can't frlghten Quarter What did
you sell your holdings for? Why didn't
you come TO us-Ato me? What's the
use of going to Quarter now and
scoldingf You can't scare a man like
that"
Mortimer fairly grinned in his face.
your Dig mistake. he sneered lis
In Undertaking. others. | want you to
understand few things, my friend.
and one of them is that I'm not afraid
Of Quarter. and another is I'm not
afraid of your
Leroy
"No not afraid of you either!' re-
peated Mortimer. with an ugly stare.
you keep a civil tongue In your head
after this-do you understand ?-and
Wen get on all right. If you don't
I've the means TO make your
Are YOU crazyT'
Not bit Of it! Too sane for you
and Leila TO hoodwink!"
you are crazy? repeated Plank
aghast
Am /? You and Leila can take the
matter into court II you want to-un-
less do And"-here he leaned for
ward, showing his teeth again-"the
next time you kiss her close the door"
Then he went away up the marble
steps and entered an elevator, and
Plank. grave and pale. went out into
the street and entered his big touring
car. But the drive up town and
through the sunlit park gave him no
pleasure and he entered his great
house with a heavy, lifeless step, head
bent, as though counting every crevice
IN the stones under his tagging feet
For the first time In all his life he was
afraid of man.
The man he was afraid or had gone
directly to Quarters office. missing
the gentleman he was seeking by such
small fraction of a minute that he
realized they must have passed each
other in the elevators, he ascending
while Quarter was descending.
Furious to think of the time he had
wasted with Plank he crawled into =
hanson and babe the driver take him
to a number he gave, designating one
of the new limestone basement houses
on the upper west side
All the way up town as he jolted
about in his seat he angrily regretted
the meeting with Plank even In spite
OF the check. What demon had pos
sessed him to boast-to display his
hand when there had been no neces-
sity? Plank was still ready TO give
him aid at crisis. had always been
ready. Time enough when Plank turn
ed stingy to use persuasion.
He lay back, rolling about In the
jouncing cab, scowling at space.
"I'll shake down Quarter" he said
to himself III make him pay for his
treachery- soaring me out of Amalga-
mated. That Will be restitution. not
extortionr'
He was angry because he had been
for days screwfng up his courage TO
the point of seeking Quarter face to
face. He had not wished to do IL. The
scene and his own attitude In II could
only be repugnant to him. although he
continually explained to himself that
1t was restitution. not extortion.
"Oh." he groaned, what an ass
ann And he got out OF his cab In
front of very new limestone base
ment house with red geraniums bloom
ing on the window stills and let him
self In with latchkey.
ut VI lut uOuSt Was
tive I'm rather bright, new, clean
fashion. The maid, too who appeared
at the sound Of the closing door and
took his hat and gloves was as newly
groomed as the floors aud woodwork
and so noiseless as to be conspicuous
In her swift. silent movements.
Anybody hereT" he growled, leer-
Ing into the drawing room at a tiny
grand piano cased In unvarnished Cir
cassian walnut.
There Is nobody at home. SIR" said
the maid
He began to ascend the stairway.
breathing heavily, thud. thud over the
deep velvet strip. his fat hand grasp
ing the banister rail-
Somewhere on the second floor a
small dog barked, and Mortimer ira
versed the hall and opened the door
into a room hung with gold Spanish
leather and pale green curtains
"Hello. Tintor' he said affably as q
Tiny japanese spaniel hurled herself at
him, barking furiously, then began
writhlng and weaving herself about
him. gurgiing recognition and vel
somo