Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-02-22

mered Plank, ''that had ever thought
of such a.
"why not? 1t would only fiatter
her"
"Flatter a woman who is engaged to
marry another manp' gasped Plank.
Certainly. Do you think any WON
an ever had enough admiration In this
worldT asked Mortimer coolly. "And
as for Sylvia Lands, she'd be tickled
to death If anybody limited that you
had ever admired her."
"Good LordT exclaimed Plank,
alarmed "You wouldn't make joke
of it! You wouldn't be careless about
J such a thing! And there's Quarter!
/ I'm not on joking terms with him. I'm
| on most formal terms"
"Qlarrier!'' sneered the other. flick
| ing at his stirrup with his crop. Hes
on formal terms with everybody, In
| Guiding himself. He never laughed on
purpose in his life; once month only,
| to keep his mouth in; that's his limit.
Do you suppose any woman would
| stand for him If better man looked
sideways at herr" And, reversing his
riding crop, he deliberately poked Mr..
! Plank in the ribs.
GA better manv' muttered Plank,
scarce crediting his ears
Certainly. A man who can make
good, is good, but a man who can
J make better is it with the ladies-God
bless 'em!" he added, displaying a
heavy set of teeth
Beverly Plank knew perfectly well
that in the comparison SO delicately
| suggested by Mortimer his material
equipment could be scarcely compared
to the immense fortune controlled by
Howard Quarter, and as he thought
1t his reflections were put into words
by Mortimer, airily enough.
Nobody stands n chance in a show
down with Quarter. But
Plank gaped until the tension be-
came unbearable.
"But--what?' he blurted out
plank" said Mortimer solemnly,
and his voice vibrated with feeling
''let me do a little thinking before !
ask you "a vital question"
But Plank had become agitated
again and he said something so blunt
ly that Mortimer wheeled on him,
glowering:
Look here, Plank; you don't suppose
I'm capable of repeating a confidence.
do you-if you choose to make me I'M
derstand it's a confidence?"
at isn't a confidence; it isn't any
thing, mean 1t is confidential, of
course. All there's In it is what l
said, or, rather, what you took me
up on so fast" ended Plank, abashed.
about your being in love with
SyI"-
'Confound itr' reared Plank, Grim
son to his hair. And he set his heavy
spurs to his mount and plunged for
ward in a storm of dust. Mortimer
followed, silent, profoundly immersed
in his own thoughts and deductions.
And all that afternoon, having taken
to his room on pretense of neuralgia
he lay sprawled on his bed, thinking
thinking Not that he meant harm t.
: anybody, he told himself very fire.
quently. He had, of course, informa
ton which certain degraded meI
: might use In contemplate way, bu
he (Mortimer) did not resemble sucT
men in any particular. All he desired
was to do Plank a good turn. There
: was nothing disreputable In doing +;
wealthy man favor. And God knew
wealthy mans gratitude was neces
sary to him at that very moment
gratitude substantially acknowledged
He liked Plank, wished him well
That was all right, too, but a man 1
an ass who doesn't wish himself wei
!. also Two birds with one stone. Three
: for he hated Quarter! -Four, for b
: had no love for his wife! Besides,
would teach Leila a wholesome les
son--teach her that he still counted
serve her right for her disgustin
friendship for Plank.
No, there was to be nothing dis
2 reputable In his proceedings; that b
= would be very careful about Probe
!, bly, Major Belwether might express hi
gratitude substantially if he, Mortimel
went to him frankly and volunteers
- NOT to rnonti0u RI Ouarrtor tho Scon