The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1908-10-15

bridge. / can bring Mr.. Plank, If you
like"
Very WELL" said Sylvia, adding, III
Mr.. Plank Is there may l speak to him
momenty
So Leila rose, setting the receiver on
the desk, and Plank came in from the
library and settled himself heavily In
the chair
"Did you wish to speak to me, Miss
Landis?"
us tlat you, Nj. Plank? Yes. VIII
you dine with us at s? Bridge after
ward, If you don't mind"
"Thank you" ,s
"And. Mr.. Plank, you had note
from me this morning.?
Eyes"
"Please disregard it, t
"If you wish"
81 do. 1t Is not worth while" And
no further interest In the matter. Do
you understand"
"No," said Plank doggedly. SD
81 have nothing more to say. l am
sorry. We dine at s." concluded Syl-
via hurriedly.
Plank hung up the receiver and sat
eying it for awhile in silence Then
his jaw began to harden and his under
| lip prctruded and he folded his great
| hands, resting them in front of him
on the edge Of the desk, brooding there,
| with eyes narrowing like a sleepy
giant at prayer.
When Leila entered in her evening
wraps she found him there, so i'm
mersed In reverie that he failed to
hear her, and she stood a moment at
the doorway, smiling to herself, think
ing how pleasant 1t was to come down
ready for the evening and find him
there, as though he belonged where
he sat and was part of the familiar
environment.
Recently she had grown younger in
a smooth skinned, full Tipped way-so
much younger that it was spoken Of.
Beverly" she said. Il s.n ready"
Plank stood up, dazed from his rev.
erie, and walked toward her. His
white tie had become disarranged.
She raised her hands, halting him, and
pulled it into shape for him. conscious
Iy innocent Of the intimacy.
"Thank you" he said "Do you
know how pretty you are this even
mgr F
"Yes. l was very happy at my mir
ror. Do you know, the withered years
seem to be dropping from me like
leaves from an autumn sapling. And
feel young enough to say so poetic
ally. Did Sylvia try to flirt with you
over the wire?"
"Yes, as usual" he said drily, de
scending the stairs beside her.
"And really you don't love her any
more?" she Queried.
Scarcely" His voice was low and
rather disagreeable, and she looked up
II wish knew what you and Sylvia
find to talk about so frequently, II
J you're not In love-"
But he made no answer, and they
drove away to the Belwether house, {
rather wide, old style mansion o.
brown stone, with a stoop dividing it!
J ugly facade. and series Of unneces
sary glass doors blockading the vesti
bule. ed
, A drawing room and reception room
fanked the marble tiled hall. BEHIND
these the dining room ran the widtl
Of the rear.
There were half a dozen people Their
lounging informally between the livinl
: room on the second floor and Sylvia
l apartments in the rear-the residu
from luncheon and bridge party Civ
en- that afternoon by Sylvia to a scOr
: or so of cardinal women. A few 0
I, these she had asked to remain for al
: informal dinner and desperate gam
2 later-the sort Of people she knew wei
: enough to lose to heavily or win from
: without remorse-Grace Ferrall, Ma
: rion Page. Agatha Caithness. Trustin
to the telephone that morning, she hal
4 secured the Mortimers and Quarter
r failing three men, and now the party
1 with Plank as Mortimer's substitute
e was complete, all thorough gamester
; sex mattering nothing in the prepa
J. ration.
a In Sylvia's boudoir Grace Ferra
/ and Agatha Caithness sat before tn
e fire; Sylvia. at the mirror Of her dress
r err was correcting the pallor inciden
d to the unbroken dissipation of bri
i. liant season; Marion. with her inevits
d BILE cigarette. wandered between Sy
Was quarters and the library, wher
Quarter and Major Belwether wer
:, sitting in low voiced confab.
Leila, greeted gayly from the DO,
doir, went in. Plank entered the librt
ry, was mauled effusively by the ms
jor returned Quarters firm han
shake and sat down with an inquirin
], smile. ss
i "Oh. yes, we're out for blood t.
l. night" Uttered Major Belwethe
= grasping Quarters arm humorous
l. and shaking 1t to emphasize his word
} "a habit that, Quarter thoroughly di
If liked. sylvia had lot OF wome
y here playing for the season score, {
~. l. L. -t<>V~ - IL