Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-23

Hello, Plank! Glad to see yon."
 Hello! Are you all right"
 All right. Much obliged for pulling me through. Wish you'd pull me through this Amalgamated Electric knothole, too, some day"
 "Do-do you mean it?" ventured Plank, turning red with delight.
 Mean it? Indeed l do-if you do. Sit here. Ring for whatever you want. or perhaps you'd better go down to the sideboard. I'm not to be trusted with the odor in the room just yet"
 "I don't care for anything" said Plank.
 Whenever you please, then. You know the house, and you don't mind my being unceremonious, do you?"
 No" said Plank.
 "Goodw rejoined Siward, laughing. T expect the same friendly lack of ceremony from you.'
 But that for Plank was impossible. All he could do was to care the more for Siward without crossing the bor- der line so suddenly made free. All he could do was to sit there, rolling and unrolling his gloves into wads with his clumsy, highly colored hands, and gaze consciously at everything in the room except Siward.
 On that day at Plank's shy sugges- tion they talked over Siwards busi- ness affairs for the first time. After that day, and for many days, the sub- jecr became the keynote to their inter- course. and Siward at last understood that this man desired to do him a serv- ice absolutely and purely from a dis interested liking for him and as an ex- pression of that liking; also he was un- expectedly made aware of Plank's se- renely unerring business sagacity.
 As for the quid pro quo. Siward had insisted from the first on a business arrangement. The treachery of Major Belwether through sheer fright had knocked the keystone from the syndi- cate, and the dam which made the golden pool possible collapsed. shower ing Plank's brokers, who worked pa- tiently with buckets and mops.
 The double treachery of Quarter was now perfectly apparent to Plank. Siward, true to his word, held his stock in the face of ruin. Kemp Ferrall, fu- rious with the major and beginning to suspect Quarrier. came to Hank for consultation.
 Then the defense formed under Plank Legal machinery was set in motion, followed meeting, until Har- rington cynically showed his hand and Quarter smiled his rare smile, and the fight against Intercounty was on in the open. preceded by furious clamor of charge and countercharge in the col umns of the daily press.
 That Quarter had been guilty of or other was the vague i'm pression of that great news reading public, which. stunned by the reitera- ton of figures in the millions. turns to the simpler pleasures of q murder trial. Besides, whatever Quarter had done was no doubt done within the chalk marked courts of the game. though probably his shoes may have become a little dusty.
 
 Siward. at his desk, the May sun shine pouring over him, sat coming the heaps of typewriter sheets, striv- ing to see between the lines some sign of fortune for his investments. Gum ble knocked presently. Siward raised his perplexed eyes.
 Miss Page, sir"
 "Ohw said Siward doubtfully. Then. Ask Miss Page to come up"
 Marion strolled in a moment later, vigorous hand shake with Siward, pulled up chair and dropped into it. She was in riding habit and boots, faultlessly groomed. as usual. her smooth pale hair sleek in it's thick knot. collar and tie immaculate as her gloves.
 Well" she said, "any news of your ankle, Stephen?"
 "I inquired about my ankle." said Siward. amused, "and they tell me 1t Is better thank you"
 Sit horse pretty soon:" she asked, dropping one leg over the other and balancing the riding crop across her knee.
 Not for awhile. You have a fine day for a gallOp, Marion" looking nskance at the sunshine Altering through the first green leaves of the tree outside his window.
 It's all rlght-the day. Where are your cigarettes. Stephen? Oh, see. Don't try to mOve-don't be silly"
 SEe leaned over the desk. her fresh young face close to his. and reached for the cigarettes. The clean cut head, the sweetness of her youth and femi- ninity. boyish in its allure. were very to him-more so perhaps be- cause of his isolation from the atmOs- phere of women.
 Its alli very well. Marion. your com ing here. and it's all very sweet of you. and l enjoy it immensely" he said. I'm horribly afraid somebody will talk about you"
 What would you do then?7
 "IT' he asked. disturbed. What could l do?'
 Why. I suppose" she said slowly, you'd have 10 marry me"
 Then" he rejoined. with a laugh. "I should think you'd be scared into prudence by the prospect"
 '1 am not frightened" she said yravely.