Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-08
The 7 lighting
Chance. sG;5 E: y:
the Curtis Publishing
Robert W. Chambers.
-. BY 80.
ROBERT w.
CHAMBERS.
Copyright, 1906 by the Curtis Publishing Company.
Copyright, 1905. by Robert W. Chambers.

| thy for mans quest Of what he him
self did not understand the lack Of
| He was, now that he knew Plank, con-
tented to accept him anywhere he met
him. but Plank's upward evolutions
upon the social ladder were Of no in
terest to him, and his naive snobber.
was becoming something Of bore.
SO Siward directed the conversation
| into other channels. and Plank, accept
| ing another cup of tea, became very
communicative about his stables and
| his dogs.
would you'll should like to ask
on to try some shooting at the Fells,
itammered Plank, next season If you
would care to"
YOU'RE very good. ! should like to
| If were going to shoot at all, but l
fancy my shooting days are over for
awhile"
overt"
Business" nodded Siward, absently
grave again II see no prospect of
"You are in-in Analgamated Elec-
trio, think" ventured Plank.
Very much in" replied the other
frankly. you've read the papers and
heard rumors. suppose?'
Some don't suppose anybody
quite understands the attacks on Anal
gamated'
Il don't-not yet. Do you?"
Plank sat silent; then his shrewd
under lip began to protrude.
I'm wondering" he began cautious
| ly. "how much the Algonquin crowd
understands about the matter?"
Siwards troubled eyes were on him
as he spoke, watching closely, mar
rowly.
1--WE heard that rumor before" he
| said
80 have L." said Plank. land it
seems incredible" He looked warily
| at Siward. Suppose it is true that
the Algonquin Trust company Is god
father to Intercounty That doesn t
explain why Il man should kick his
| own door down when there's a bell to
| ring and servants to let him inland
out again too"
81 have wondered" said Siward.
whether the door he might be inclin,
ed to kick down is really his own door
any longer"
II. too,' said Plank simply. at may
belong to personal enemy-if he has
any. lie could afford to have an enc
my, suppose
Siwnrd nodded.
"Then hadn't you better-I beg your
pardon! You have not asked me to
! advise you"
I mo. I may ask your advice some
day. Will you give 1T when do?"
with pleasure" said Plank, SO
warmly disinterested, so plainly proud
and eager to do service that Siward,
| surprised and touched, found no word
| to utter
Plank rose. Siward attempted to
stand up, but had trouble with his
| crutches.
please don't try" said Plank, com
ing over and offering his hand. MAY
stop in again soon? Oh, you are off
to the country for month or two? l
see. You don't look very well. hope
it will benefit you. Awfully glad to
have seen you. IL hope you won't
forget me-entirely."
II am the man people are forget
ting" returned Siward. mot you. 1t
was very nice of you to come. You
are one of very few who remember me
at ALL"
IT have very few people to remem
ber," said Plank. land If l had as
many us 1 could desire should re
member you first"
Here he became very much embar
raised. Siward offered his hand again.
Plank shook it awkwardly and went
away Oh tiptoe down the stairs, which
creaked. decorously under his weight.
| And that ended the first interview
between Plank and Siward in the first
days Of the latter's decline.
! The months that passed during ST.
wards absence from the city began
| to prove rather eyentful for Plank.
He was FREELY elected member Of
the PATRONS club without serious op-
position; he had dined twice with the
Kemp Ferralls; lie and Major Bel
wether were seen together at the Cath
ness dance and in the Caithness box
at the opera. Once respectable news
paper reported him at Tuxedo for the
weeks end; his name, linked with the
clergy, frequently occupied such space
under the column headed "Ecclesias-
teal News as was devoted to the
progress of the new chapel, and many
old ladies began to become familiar
with his name.
At the right moment the Mortimers
featured him between two fashionable
bishops at a dinner Mrs. Vendenning,
who adored bishops, Immediately re-
membered him among those asked to
her famous annual bal poudre, q cele-
brated yacht club admitted him to
| CHI af nvon1