Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-06-19

camber lingerer had returned from the
country. Those Of the same caste out
ward bound for southern or exotic
winter had departed, and the glittering
machine, every part assembled, refur'
bished, repolished and connected. hav-
ing been given preliminary speed tests
ut the horse show and tuning up at
the opera, was now running under full
velocity, and its steady, subdued whir
uuickened the Gathering pulse OF the
city, keying 1t to sublimely synco-
pated ragtime.
It was an open winter In New York
and financially prosperous one, and
that meant q brilliant social season
Three phenomena particularly charac-
terized that metropolitan winter-the
reckless rage for private gambling
through the mediums Of bridge and
roulette; the Incorporation Of COM
pany known as the Intercounty Eiec-
trio company, capitalized at a figure
calculated to disturb nobody and so far
without any avowed specific policy 9th
err than that which served to decorate
q portion of its charter which other
wise might have remained ornately
and comparatively blank; the third
phenomenon was the retirement from
active affairs of Stanley S. Quarter,
the father Of Howard Quarter, and
the election of the son to the presiden-
cy of the great Algonquin Loan and
Trust company, with its network sys-
tenn of dependent, subsidiary and allied
corporations.
The day that the newspapers gave
this interesting information to the west
ern world Leroy Mortimer, on being
bluntly notified that he had overdrawn
his account with the Algonquin Loan
and Trust. began telephoning in every
direction until he located Beverly
Plank at the Saddle club, an organiza-
ton Of wealthy men and sufficiently
exclusive not to compromise Plank's
possible chances for something better.
Mortimer crawled out Of his hanson,
saying that the desk clerk would pay,
and entered the reading room. where
Plank sat writing letter.
Beverly Plank had grown stouter
since he had returned to town from
Black Fells, but the increase of weight
was evenly distributed over his six
feet odd, which made him only trifie
more ponderous and not abdominally
fat. But Mortimer had become enor-
nous. Rolls of flesh crowded his mot
tied ear lobes outward and bulged
above his collar. Cushions Of 1t pad
ded the backs of his hands and I'm
gers. Shaving left his heavy. distend-
ed face congested and unpleasantly
shiny. But he was as infinitely groom
ed as ever, and he wore that satiated
air of prosperity which had always
been one of his most important assets.
The social campaign inaugurated by
Leila Mortimer In behalf of Beverly
Plank had so far received no serious
reverses. His box at the horse show.
of course, produced merely negative
results. His box at the opera might
mean something some day. His name
was up at the Lenox and the PATRONS.
He had endowed q ward in the new
pavilion of st. Berold's hospital. He
had presented fine Gainsborough.
1.-THE Countess Of Wythe," to the Met
ropolitan museum, and 1t was rumored
that he had consulted several bishops
concerning O new chapel for that huge
bastion of the citadel Of faith looming
above the metropolitan wilderness In
the north.
Meanwhile he was doggedly docile.
His huge house. facing the wintry park
midway between the squat palaces OF
the wealthy pioneers and the outer
hundreds, remained magnificently emp
ty save for certain afternoon confer
ences of very solemn men. fellow di-
rectors and associates In business and
financial matters-save for the peri
odical presence of the Mortimers.
"Things are moving all the same"
said Mortimer as he entered the read
ing room of the Saddle club. "Quarrier
and Belwether have listened more re-
spectfully to me since they read that
column about you and the bishops and
that chapel business"
Plank turned his heavy head. with
disturbed glance around the room.
Cant you be carefulr he said. There
was a man here moment ago" He
picked up his unfinished letter. folded
and pocketed it. touched an electric
bell. and when servant came. Take
Mr. Mortimer's order" he said, sup
porting his massive head on his huge
hands and resting his elbow on the
writing desk.
ave got to cut out this morning
bracer," said Mortimer. eying the serv-
ant with indecision, but he gave his
order nevertheless and later accepted
cigar, and when the servant had re-
turned and again retired he half emp
tied his tall glass. refilled 1t with min.
eral weter and, settling back in the
padded armchair, said: "If l manage
this thing as it ought to be managed
you'll 60 through by April. What do
yeu think of that's"
Plank's phlegmatic features flushed.
'T'm more obliged to you than | can
say" he began, but Mortimer silenced
him with a gesture. Don't interrupt.
I'm going to put you through the Pa
,troons club by April. That's thirty
yards through
the center. Dye
see, you dunder-
headed Dutch w
man? It's solid Nh JMEn
gain, and it's \ S&u z I