Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-04-15

d~nDped heavily. the old stOlid express
sion 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. He had
not seen Mortimer for weeks; neither
had Leila, and now he looked at him
inuuiringly, disturbed at his battered
and bloodshot appearance.
"Oh," said Mortimer, ''you down
here?''
"Have you been out of town. asked
Plank cautiously.
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 his pace,
turned and waddled after Plank, re-
Joining him on the marble steps of the
rotunda.
Look here" he said, 81 promised
you something once, didn't ~
"Did you?'' said Plank, with his
bland, expressionless stare of an over
grown baby.
ooh. cut that out! You know / did,
and when say thing 1 make good.
Dye seer
81 don't see,' said Plank, what you
are talking about"
I'm talking about what | said I'd
do for you Haven't l made good?
Haven't l put you into everything l
said l would? Don't you go every
where? Don't people ask you every
whereY'
eyes. in a way said Plank YEARLY.
II am very grateful. l always will be.
Can l do anything for you, Leroy?'
Mortimer had attended a 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
ters He had never approached Plank
in vain, and he did not do SO now, for
Plank had a pocket check book and
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
a scowl.
Plank was discreetly silent.
"And that is not what l chased you
for, either" continued Mortimer. "Bev-
erly, old boy, I've got a certain mealy
n
would like to have him by the scruff
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 'em's yours"
Plank looked at him.
81 told you once that I'd let you
know when to step up and say Good
evening" didn't II"
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 l want to under
stand you.'
"What do you mean" demanded
Mortimer thickly. Don't you want to
mdIIJ LudC Sll1 AOOL AC Sill ain AAo-
mayed under the slow blaze that light
ed Plank's blue eyes.
Call right he stammered, strug-
Cling to his fat legs and instinctively
backing away. 81 thought you meant
business. what the devil do l care
who you marry! It's the last time
try to do anything for you or for any,
body elsey'
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. l 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
hir " tended eyes and sat down, a
n AE to his emotions. ''To think"
he gaiped. ''that 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?"