The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1908-11-19

o'clock Quarter offered Mortimer his
hand and held the trembling. puffy
fingers as he leaned closer. saying with
cold precision and emotionless empha-
sis something that appeared to require
the full concentration Of Mortimer's
half drugged faculties.
And when at length Mortimer drove
away in hanson Quarters Japanese
steward went with him-perhaps to
carry his suit case--a courtesy that
did credit to Quarters innate thought
fulness and consideration for others.
He was very considerate. He even
called Agatha up on the telephone and
talked with her for ten minutes. Then
he telephoned to Plank's Office learned
that Harrington was already there
telephoned the garage for car which
he always kept ready in town and |
presently went bowling away to con-
ference on which the last few hours
had put an entirely new aspect.
It had taken Plank only few min
utes to perceive that something had &C.
CURED to change point Of view which
he had believed 1t impossible for Quar-
rier to change. Something had gone
wrong In his own careful calculations
some cog had slipped. some rivet CIV
en- way. some bed plate cracked. And
Harrington evidently had not been
aware of 1t, but Quarter knew it.
There was something wrong.
It was too late now to go tinkering
In the dark for trouble. Plank under
stood that. Coolly, as though utterly
unaware that the machinery might not
stand the strain, he started 1t full
| speed And when he stopped 1t at last
Harrington's grist had been ground to
atoms and Quarter had looked on
without comment. There seemed to be
little more for them to do except to
pay the miller.
Tomorrow" said Quarter, rising
to CO. 1t was on the edge Of Plank's
lips to say To-day" but he was silent,
knowing that Harrington would speak
for him. And the old man did, with
out words, turning his iron vlsage on
Quarter with the silent dignity of
despair. But Quarter coldly demand
ed day before they reckoned with
Plank. And Plank, profoundly dis
turbed, shrugged his massive shoulders
In contemptuous assent.
So Quarter and Harrington went
away, the younger partner taking
leave of the older with a sneer for an
outworn prop which no man could
ever again have use for. Old and
beaten, that was all Harrington now
stood for in Quarters eyes. The least
Of his victims might now finish him
with a club where he swayed in his
loosened saddle or leave him to that
horseman on the pale horse watching
him yonder on the horizon.
For now. whether Harrington lived
or died, he must be counted as nothing
in this new struggle darkly outlining
its initial strategy in Quarters BRAIN
What was coming was coming be-
+ tween himself and Plank alone. The
result must be attained swiftly, with
secrecy and with the aid of no man
For he did not count Mortimer man
At the door Of Major Belwether's
house Sylvia's maid received Quarter
smilingly, saying that her mistress was
J not at home, but that Mrs. Mortimer
was-which saved Quarter the neces
} sity Of asking for private conference
with Leila. which was exactly what
! he had come for. But her first un
guarded words on receiving him as be
rose at her entrance into the darkene6
drawing room changed that plan, too
changed it all so utterly and SO muct
; for the better that he almost smiled Il
think Of the crudity of human combi
nations and inventions as compared tt
the mastery Vaccinations Of fate
Leila said. laughingly: "Oh, you arr
too late, Howard. We are dining will
i. Mr.. Plank at Riverside inn What ii
> the world are you doing in town 81
J suddenly 2"
: "A business telegram. might hav,
e come down with you and Sylvia II
r had known. Is Plank dining with W,
e aloneY
a II haven't seen him." smiled LeIl:
}, evasively. HE will tell us his plan
e Of course when he comes"
"Oh" said Quarter. dropping hi
e eyes and glancing furtively toward tn,
d curtained windows. At the instant
l. hanson drove up. Sylvia sprang out
c ran lightly up the low steps, and th
silent shrouded house rang with tn
d clamor of the bell.
d Leila looked curiously at Quarter
y who sat motionless, head partly avert
q ed, as though listening to something
l. heard by him alone. He believed per
= haps that he was listening to the voic
% Of fate again. and It NAV have bee
n 30, for already for the third time al
his plans were changing to suit thi
n new ally of his-this miraculous fat
y which was shaping matters for hir
e, as he waited. Sylvia had started ur
d stairs like '-r1kant- whirlwind,, ,bu
% her flying feet halted" ut Leila's cor
y strained voice from the dra wing roor
y and she spun around and came int
J. the darkened room like an April breez>
N11mt ~ A~~~