Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-03
The Fighting
Chance. 9esE s Y:
Copyright 1908, by Publishing GompanH
Copyright W. Chambers
by -.
ROBERT w.
CHAMBERS.
Copyright, 1905, by tho Curtis Publishing Company
Copyright 1906, by Robert W. Chambers

frOnteu me Win my WdSeI 1 HeA
shut up And so did you. Quarter
so did YOU, seated there among the
governors between Leroy Mortimer
ALL Belwether. 1t was up to you, and
you did not STIR"
STIR echoed the other man, exas
| What did know about 1t? DO you
| think | care to give man like Morti-
| mer hold on me by admitting | knew
anything? Or Belwether, do you think
l care to have that man know any
| thing about my private and personal
business? 1id you expect me to say
| that l was In position to prove any
| thing one way or another? And,' he
! added, with increasing harshness, "how
! do you know what l might or might
| not prove? If she went to the Pa
troons club. l did not go with her;
| did not see her: don't know whether
| or not you took her"
II have already told you that did
| not take her. said Siward, turning
| whittier.
| you told that to the governors too
Tell them again If you like. decline
| to discuss this matter with you. de
cline to countenance your unwarranted
intrusion into what you pretend to be
lieve are my private affairs. l decline
| to confer with Belwether or Mortimer
| It's enough that you are inclined to
| meddle" His cold anger was stirring
!, He rose to his full, muscular height
slow, menacing. his long pale fingers
| twisting his silky beard. Its enough
that you meddlew he repeated "As
| for the matter in question. dozen
men, including myself, heard you
make a wager, and later l myself was
q witness that the terms Of that wager
had been carried out to the letter.
know absolutely nothing except that.
Mr.. Siward: nor, 1t appears, do you,
for you were drunk at the time, and
you have admitted 1t to me-"
IL have asked you" said Siward, ris
ing, and very grave, Il have asked you
| to do the right thing. Are you going
to do it?"
"Is that threatY inquired Quarter.
showing the edges Of his well kept
teeth. us this intimidation, Mr.. 81
ward? Do I understand that you are
proposing to bespatter others with
scandal unless am frightened into
going to the governors with the fimsy
excuse you attempt to offer me? In
: other words, MIR. Siward, are you bent
on making me pay for what you be-
I, 81 yNriNy 70
1t really intimidation?"
And still Siward stared into his half
yelled, sneering eyes, speeches..
'There is only one name used for
this kind of thing" added Quarter,
taking quick involuntary step back
ward to the door as the blaze Of fury
broke out in Siward's eyes.
Good God, Quarter" whispered ST.
ward with dry lips, what cur you
are! What cur!'
And long after Quarter had passed
the door and disappeared in the corri-
dor, Siward stood there, frozen mo-
tionless under the icy waves Of rage
that swept him.
Toward midnight, seated In his chair
by the window, deathly lassitude
weighing his heart he heard the steps
of people on the stairway, the click OF
the ascending elevator, gay voices call
ing good night, ripple of laughter. the
silken swish of skirts in the corridor,
doors opening and closing; then silence
creeping throughout the house on the
receding heels Of departure. For a
long while he sat there listening.
The cool wind from the ocean blew
his curtains far into the room, where
they bellied out, futtering, floating,
subsiding, only to rise again In the
freshening breeze. He sat watching
their silken convolutions, stupidity, for
awhile, then rose and closed his win
dow, and raised the window on the
south for purposes Of air.
AS he turned to adjust his transom,
something white thrust under the
door caught his eye, and he walked
over and drew it across the sill. 1t
was sealed note. He opened it,
reading it as he walked back to the
droplight burning beside his bed:
Did you not mean to say goodby? Be-
cause 1t Is to be goodby for a long. long
time-for all our lives-as long as we live
as long as the world lasts and longer
Goodby-unless you care to say 1t to me-
He stood studying the note fol
awhile. Presently, lighting match
he set fire to it and carried it blazing
to the crate and flung it in, watching
the blackened ashes curl up, glow
whiten and fall in fakes to the hearth
Then he went out into the corridor
and traversed the hall to the passage
; which led to the bay window. There
was nobody there. Moving swiftly, he
!: walked the length Of the corridor and
hating at her door, knocked once.
After a moment the door swung
open. He stepped forward into thu
room, closing the door behind him, ane
confronted the tall girl standing there
silhouetted against the lamp behint
her
"You are insane to do this" sht
whispered. II let you in for fear you'd
knock again.
81 went to the bay window" he said
y "You went too late. l was there al
hour ago. l waited. Do you know
!: what time it is?'
Come to the bay window" he said
} ''if you fear me here"
"Do you know it is nearly o'clock!
she repeated "And you leave at 81
"Shall we say goodby here?' he ask