The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-06-10

;rayed them. At all events whoever
had seen or heard. had informed Nor
timer, and now the man was equipped,
the one and only man in all the world
who could with truth accuse Plank.
the only man of whom he stood in
honest fear.
And it was characteristic of Plank
that never for one moment had it oc-
cured TO him that the sheer fault of
It all lay with Leila; that it. was her
lmprudence alone that now threatened
herself and the man she loved-that
threatened his very success in life as
Ong as Mortimer should live.
All this Plank, i'm his thorough, pains
hking review of the subject, had TAX
en into account, and he could not see
how 1t could possibly bear upon the
matters now finally to be adjusted be-
tween Quarter and himself, because
Quarter was in New York and Nor
timer in Saratoga, and unless the lat
ter had already sold his information
the former could not strike at him
through knowledge Of 1t.
Anu yet a. Nil lOho a hNoA-
.ation inexplicable-unless overwork
explained it-had come over him when
Siward had proposed their dining to-
yether on the very eve of his complet-
ed victory over Quarter
1t seemed absurd, and Plank was
100 stolid to entertain superstitions,
but he could not, even with Leila
laughing there beside him, shake off
The dull instinct that all was not well;
hat Quarters attitude was still the
attitude of a dangerous man; that he
| Plank should have had this evening
in his room alone to study out the
matters he had so patiently plodded
through in the long hours while ST.
ward slept.
Yet not for one instant did he dream
Of shifting the responsibility-f re-
sponsibility entailed blame-On Siward,
who, against Plank's judgment and
lesire, had on the very eve Of con-
summation drawn him away from that
sleepless vigilance which must forever
De the price Of business mans safety.
Leila. gay and excited as a school
girl, chartered on ceaselessly to Plank;
all the silence, all the secrecy of the
arid years turning to laughter on her
red lips, pouring out in broken phrases
Of delight words strung together for
The sheer pleasure of speech and the
happiness of her lot to be with him
unrestrained.
"And would you believe it, Bever-
w." she said Il formed the habit at
Shotover Of walking across the bound
airy and strolling into your greenhouses
and deliberately helping myself. And
every time l did it l was certain one
Of your men would march me out"
He laughed, but did not tell her that
MS men had reported the first episode
and that lie had instructed them that
Mrs. Mortimer and her friends were
TO do exactly as they pleased at the
Fells. However, she knew 1t, because
garrulOus gardener, proud Of his
service with Plank, had informed her.
Beverly" she said, you are dear.
II people only knew what 1 know!
He began to turn red. She could
see 1t even in the pickering lamp shot
darkness. And she teased him for
awhile, very gently, even tenderly, and
their voices grew lower in a half seri-
ous badinage that ended with a quiet,
lndrawn breath, a sigh and silence.
And now the river swept into view,
a darkly luminous sheet set with re-
6ected stars. MirrOred lights cleaned
In it. Sudden bright yellow flashes
Eigzagged into it's somber depths. The
foliage edged it with a deeper gloom.
over which, on the heights, twlnkled
the multicolored lights Of Riverside
inn.
Up the broad, gentle grade they sped,
curving in and out among the clumps
Of trees and shrubbery, then on a level,
sweeping In great circle up to the
steps Of the inn.
Now all about them from the bril-
liantly lighted verandas the gay tu-
multi broke out like an uproarious well
come after the swift silence of their
Journey. The stir of jolly people keen
for pleasure, the clatter Of crockery,
the coming and going of walters, OF
guests, of hansoms, coupes, victorias
and scores OF motor cars wheeling and
turning through the binding glare Of
their own headlights.
Somewhere a gypsy orchestra, full Of
atful crescendoes and throbbing sus-
pensions of caprice, furnished resonant
accompaniment to the joyous clamor.
The scent OF fountain spray and fow-
ers was IN the air.
81 didn't know you had telephOned
for a table," said Siward as a head
waiter came up smiling and bowling to
Plank. 81 confess in the new excite
ment OF things 1 clean forgot 1t.
What a man you are to think Of other
peoplep
Plank Redeemed again. muttering
something evasive, and went forward
with Leila.
Sylvia, moving leisurely beside ST.
ward, who was walking slowly, but
confidently, without crutches, whis-
pered to him, II never really liked Mr..
I