The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-03-18

dence which you could have refuted.
and 1t was up to you to say something.
And you did not! And now what are
you going to do? The Lenox club has
taken this thing up. A man can't
stand too much of that sort of thing.
What am to do? l can't defend my
self by betraying my accidental knowl-
edge of your petty private affairs. So
l leave it to you. l ask you what are
you going to dO?"
do you mean"-Quarrier's voice
was not his own, and he brought it
harshly under command-"do you
mean that you think it necessary for
me to say | knew her? What object
would be attained by that? l did not
take her to the PATRONS"
"Nor did |. Ask her how she got
there. Learn the truth from her,
man.!
"What proof is there that l ever met
her before | took her into supper at
Fleetwoods?"
Proof! Are you mad? All ask of
you is to say to the governors what |
cannot say without using your name"
"You wisL me-" asked Quarter icily,
ito deny that you made that wager?
l can do that"
You can't do 1t! did make that
bet"
ooh! Then what is it you wish me
to sayT
Tell them the truth. Tell them you
know | did not take her to the club.
You need not tell them why you know
ii. You need not tell them how much
you know about her, whose brougham
she drove home in. l can't defend my
self at your expense-intrench mysel,
behind your dirty little romance. What
could l say? / denied taking her to
the club. Then Major Belwether con-
fronted me with my wager. Then 1
shut up. And so did you, Quarter
so did you seated there among the
governors between Leroy Mortimer
and Belwet .er. 1t was up to you, and
you did not stir"
Stir" echoed the other man, exas-
perated. "Of course l did not stir.
What did l know about 1t? Do you
think l care to give a man like Morti-
mer a 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? Did you expect me to say
that was in a 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"
81 have already told you that l did
not take her" said Slward, turning
whittier
you told that to the governors too.
Tell them again if you like. l decline
to discuss this matter with you. l de-
cline to cOuntenance your unwarranted
intrusion into what you pretend to be-
lleve are my private affairs. l decline
to confer with Belwether or Mortimer.
It's enough that you are inclined to
NEEDLE" 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 meddler he repeated. "As
for the matter in question, a dozen
men, inclu ling myself, heard you
make a wager, and later / myself was
a witness that the terms of that wager
had been carried out to the letter |
know absolutely nothing except that,
Mr.. Siward; nor, it appears, DO you.
for you were drunk at the time, and
you have admitted it to me-"
81 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?"
as that threat?" inquired Quarter
showing the edges of his well kent
teeth. rs this intimidation, Mr. 81
ward? Do | understand that you are
to bespatter others with
scandal unless l am frightened into
going to the governors with the fiimsy
excuse you attempt to offer me? In
other words, Mr.. Siward, are you bent
on making me pay for what you be
lieve you know of my private life? Is
1t really intimidation
And still Slward 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 Cod Quarter" whispered ST.
ward with dry lips, what a cur you
are! What a curl"
And long after Quarter had passed
the door and disappeared in the CORR.
dor, Siwarc stood there, frozen mo-
tionless under the icy waves of rage
that swept him.
Toward midnight, seated in his chair
by the window a deathly lassitude
his heart, he heard the steps
of people on the stairway, the click of
the ascending elevator, gay voices call
ing good night, a ripple of laughter, the
silken swish of skirts in the corridor
doors onanfno and cIoeipo. fbon cfIo,,oo