Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-08-14

"Tdke your fighting bulky, menacing
chdHc9' then his arm
dropped heavily. the old stolid express
sion came back into his face. lowing
II calm, bovine. almost stupid again.
And be turned, moving slowly toward
the door, holding his hat carefully In
bis gloved hand.
Stepping out of the elevator on the
ground floor, he encountered Morti-
mer and halted instinctiyely. He had
not seen Mortimer for weeks; neither
had Leila, and now he looked at him
inquiringly, disturbed at his battered
and bloodshot appearance.
"Oh." said Mortimer, you down
hereT,
"Haye you been out of town. asked
Plank cautiously.
Mortimer nodded and started to pass
on toward the bronze cage of the ele-
yator, but something seemed to occur
to him suddenly. He checked his pace,
turned and waddled after Plank, re-
Joining him on the marble steps of the
rotunda.
Look here" he said, II promised
you something once, didn't ~
"Did your said Plank, with his
bland, eypressionless stare of an over
grown baby.
ooh. cut that out! You know l did.
and when say thing / make good.
Dye seer
81 don't see,' said Plank. what you
are talking about"
"Tm talking about what | said ia
do for you. Haven't | made good?
Haven't put you into everything
said would? Don't you go every.
where? Don't people ask you every.
where%
eyes, in a way" said Plank YEARLY.
81 am very grateful. always will be.
Can do anything for you. Leroy"
! Mortimer had attended "killing"
at Desmond's and, as usual, had pro-
yided the piece de resistance for his
soft voiced host. All he wanted was
a temporary deposit to tide over mat
tiers. He had never approached Plank
In vain, and he did not do so now, for
Plank had a pocket check book and a
stylograph.
'Its little to ask, isn't it?' he NUT
tered resentfully. That will only
square matters with Desmond. 1t
doesn't, leave me anything to go ON
with" And he pocketed his check with
q scOwl.
Plank was discreetly silent. )
sand that Is not what chased you
for, either" continued Mortimer. "Bev-
| erly, old boy, I've got certain mealy
faced hypocrite where any decent man
would like to have him-by the scrnf
of his neck. He's fit only to kick, and
I'm going to kick him good and plenty,
and in the process he's going to let go
Of several things. One Of ems yours" "
| Plank looked at him.
81 told you once that Id let you
know when to step up and say Good
evening" didn't n"
Plank continued to stare.
"Didn't II? repeated Mortimer peev-
ishly, beginning to lose cOuntenance.
81 don't understand you" said Plank.
"and don't think i want to under
stand you."
"What do you mean" demanded
Mortimer thickly. Don't you want to
marry that girl" But he shrank dis
mayed under the slow blaze that light
ed Plank's blue eyes.
Cali right" he stammered, strug-
Cling to his fat legs and instinctively
backing away. Il thought you meant
business. I-what the devil dO ! care
who you marry! It's the last time |
try to do anything for you or for any
body else!"
Plank gazed at him for a moment.
The anger in his face died out.
81 am not ungrateful." he said.
"You may say almost anything except
that, Leroy. / am not disloyal, no
matter what else may be. But you
! have made bad mistake. So let US
forget the matter"
But Mortimer, keenly appreciative
of the pleasures of being misunder-
stood, squeezed some moisture out OF
his distended Dyes and sat down. a
martyr to his emotions. ITO think"
he gulped, chat you Of all men should
turn on me like this"
81 didn't mean to. Can't you under
stand, Leroy, that you hurt me?"
"Hurt nothingw retorted Mortimer