The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-01-29
The Fighting
~ -. By.
Copyright Publishing
Copyright by Robert w. Chambers
,pyright 1905, by the Curtis Publishing Company.
Copyright, 1906, by Robert w. Chambers.

had been some time since he had
shaken hands with Major Belwether.
1t was apparent that the bird had not
aged any.
Slipping his arm through the pivot
sleeve of Lord Alderdene's shooting
Jacket, hooking the other in Siward's
reluctant elbow and driving Mortimer
ahead of him, Major Belwether went
garrulously away up the stairs, his
lordship's handy little legs trotting be-
side him, the soaking CATERS and shoes
stopping at every step.
Siward turned Off down his corri-
dor unaware that the Sycamore pup
was following close at his heels until
he heard Quarters even, colorless
voice, "Ferrall would you be good
enough to send Sycamore to your ken
nels?'
"Oh, he's your dog! 1 forgot" said
Siward, turning around.
Quarter looked at him, pausing
moment.
"Yes," he said coldly; "he's my dog"
For a fraction of a second the two
mems eyes encountered; then Siward
glanced at the dog and turned on his
heel with the slightest shrug, and that
is all there was to the incident-an
anxious, perplexed puppy logged off
by a servant, turning. jerking twist
ing, resisting, looking piteously back as
his unwilling feet slid over the pol
ished floor.
SO Siward walked on alone through
the long eastern wing to his room
overlooking the sea. He sat down on
the edge of his bed, glancing at the
clothing laid out for him. he felt
tired and disinclned for the exertion
of undressing. The shades were up.
Night quicksilvered the window panes
so that they were like a dark mirror
rejecting his face. He inspected his
darkened features curiously. The
blurred and somber tinted visage re
turned the stare.
mot a man at all-the shadow of
man." he said aloud, with no will. no
courage. always putting off the battle
always avoiding conclusions always
skulking. What chance IS there for
a man like that?"
As one who raises a glass to drink
wine and unexpectedly finds water. he
shrugged his shoulders disgustedly and
got up. A bath followed. He dressed
leisurely and was pacing the room,
fussing with his collar, when Ferral
knocked and entered. finding seat
on the bed
Stephen he said bluntly. Il have
not seen you since that break of yours
at the club"
Rotten. wasn't it," commented ST.
ward, tying his tie
Perfectly OF course it doesn't make
any difference to Grace or to me. but
! fancy you've already heard from it,"
"Oh, yes. All care about is how
my mother took it,"
"Of course she was cut up. | sup
pose?"
Yes You know how she would
look at thing Of that sOrt-not that
any of the nine and seventy Earring
sets would care. but those few thou.
sands invading the edges. butting in,
half or threc-quarters inside. are the
people who can't afford to overlook
the victim OF fashionable clubs dis
pleasure those and Il woman like my
mother and several other decent mind
ed people who happen to count in
town"
Ferrall. his legs swinging busily
thought again. then, "Who was the
girl, StephenY
II don't think the papers mentioned
her name" said Siward gravely.
"Oh, | beg your pardon. | thought
she was some notorious actress. Every
body said so. Who were those callow
fools who put you up to it? Never
mind If you don't care to tell. But it
strikes me they are candidates for club
discipline as well as you. 1t was up
to them to face the governors. think"
mo, | think not"
Ferrall legs swinging busily. con
sidered him.
TOO bad" he unused. They need
not have dropped you"
"Oh, they had to. But as long as
the Lenox takes no action l can live
that down"
Ferrall nodded: Il came in to say
something message from Grace
confound it. what was it? Oh, could
you before. dinner now-just sit
down and with that Internal facility