Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-03-04
The Fighting
| Chance. eo9E + y.
Cupyrgh y tho
Copyright w.
(Chapter Nine-Continued.)

", she made the effort to keep up
desultory conversation, particularly
when anybody to whom she owed an
explanation hove darkly in sight on
the horizon. But Planks appetite was
IN proportion to the generous lines on
which nature had fashioned him, and
she paid less and less attention to con-
yention and trifle more to the beauty
OF Agatha's jewels, until the silence at
the small table in the corner remained
nnbroken except by the faint tinkle Of
silver and crystal and the bubbling
hiss Of glass reflled.
Major Belwether, his white, fluffy.
chop whiskers brushed rabbit fashion,
. peeped in at the door. started to tiptoe
out again, caught sight of them and
came trotting back, beaming rosy eff
fusion. He leaned roguishly over the
table, his moist eyes a-twinkle with
suppressed mirth, then, bestowing a
Eprightly glance on Plank, which said
very plainly, I'm up to one of my ir-
repressible jokes again. he held up a
smooth, white and aforementioned fore
finger
was IL ilaony = JGDAGtahys hG
said, "and saw young man in there
who didn't see me, and peeped over
his shoulder and what do you think he
was doingf'
She lifted her eyes little YEARLY.
II don't know" she said
II do he chuckled. "He was choos-
1ng a collar of blue diamonds and
aqlamarines-te-he- probably to wear
himself-te-he! Or perhaps he was go
Eng to be married -he-he-next win
ter-ahem- ember-ha-hai I
don't Know. I'm sure. what he meant
10 do with that collar only
Something Ia Sylyia's eyes stopped
him. and, following their direction, Es
turned around to find Quarter stand
Ing at his elbow, ley and expressions
Less.
s'Oh," said the aged jester, little
disconnected, I'm caught talking out
An church, I see! 1t was only harm
less little run, Howard"
"Do you MEAN you saw me?" asked
Quarter, pale as sheet "You are in
error. have not been In Tiffany's in
months
Belwether. crestfaIlen under the
white menace of Quarters face, nod
Aed and essayed chuckle without
guccess.
Sylvia. at first iistless aud uninter-
ested. looked inquiringly from the ma
Tor to Quarter. surprised at the sup
l pressed feeling exhibited over so triv-
aaI gaucherie II Quarter had chosen
a collar like Agatha's for her, what of
1T? But as he had not, on his own
statement, what did it matter? Why
should he look that way at the foolish
major, to whose garrulous gossip he
was accustomed and whose inability
10 refrain from prying was notorious
enough
Turning dlsdainfully, she caught a
glimpse OF Plank's shocked and al
tered face. 1t relapsed instantly into
the usual inert expression, and queer,
uncomfortable perplexity began to In
wade her. What had happened to stir
mp these three men? OF what impor-
4ance was an indiscretion of an old
gentleman whose fatuous vanity and
consequent bluntlers everybody was
familiar with? And, after all, How
ard had not bought anything at Tiff
fany's He said so himself. But it
was evident that Agatha had CHANGED
on the collar that Belwether thought
ne saw somebody else examining.
She turned and looked at the dead
white neck of the girl. The collar was
wonderful-a miracle of pale fire. And
Sylvia, musing, let her thoughts run
on. dreamy eyes brooding. She was
glad that Agathas means permitted
her now TO have such things. 1t had
been understood for some years that
the Caithness fortune was in rather an
alarming condition. Howard had been
able recently to do a favor or two for
old Peter Caithness. She had heard
the major Dragging about it. Evident
~ Mr.. Caithness must have improved
the chance If he was able TO present
such gems to his daughter. And now
somebody would marry her Perhaps
Captain Voucher. perhaps even Alder
dene. perhaps. as rumor had it now
and then, Plank might venture into the
arena Poor Plank! More of a man
than people understood She under
stood. She
And her thoughts swung back like
the returning tide to Siward, and her
heart began heavily again, and the
slightly faint sensation returned, She
passed her ungloved. unsteady fingers
across her eyelids and forehead, look
ing up and around The major and
Howard had disappeared. Plank, be-
side her, sat staring stupidity into his
empty wineglass
s.Isn't Mrs. Ferrall coming?" she said
weariiy.
Flank gathered his cumbersome bulk
ana stood up, trying to see through the
entrance into the ballroom, After a
moment he said: They're in there,
talking to Marion. It's a good chance
to make our adieus."
AS they passed out OF the supper
roam sylvia nausea behind Agatha's