Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-04-25

The man he was afraid of had gone
directly to Quarters Office. missing
the gentleman he was seeking by such
a small fraction of a minute that he
realized they must have passed each
other in the elevators, he ascending
while Quarter was descending.
Furious to think of the time he had
wasted with Plank, he crawled into
hanson and babe the driver take him
to a number he gave, designating one
of the new limestone basement houses
ON the upper west side.
All the way up town as he jolted
about in his seat he angrily regretted
the meeting with Plank even in spite
of the check. What demon had pos
sessed him to boast-to display his
hand when there had been no neces-
sity? Plank was still ready to give
him aid at a crisis, had always been
ready. Time enough when Plank turn
ed stingy to use persuasion.
He lay back, rolling about in the
jouncing cab, scowling at space.
''I'll shake down Quarter" he said
TO himself. "I'Il make him pay for his
treachery-scaring me out of Amalga-
mated! That will be restitution. not
extortionp'
He was angry because he had been
for days screwing up his courage to
the point of seeking Quarter face to
face. He had not wished to do it. The
scene and his own attitude in 1t could
only be repugnant to him, although he
contil@ally explained to himself that
1t was restitution, not extortiOn.
"Oh,'' he groaned, what an ass 1
samv' And he got out of his cab in
Iront of very new limestone base
ment house with red geraniums bloom
ing on the window sills and let him
self in with a latchkey.
The interior of the house was attrac-
tive in a rather bright, new, clean
fashion. The maid, too, who appeared
at the sound of the closing door and
took his hat and gloves was as newly
groomed as the floors and woodwork
and so noiSeless as to be conspicuous
IN her swift. silent movements.
anybody hereT' he growled, leer-
ing into the drawing room at a tiny
sErand piano caSed in uEvarnished Cir
cassi;.n w8.nu,.
.'Tntse is nohody at home. sir" said
the mali
He g:n to ascend the stairway,
Urea liz %savily. thud thud over the
deep ve y strip. his fat hand grasp
ing the i'.,..i .er rail-
SoneJh,.e On the second floor a
small G32 arked. and Mortimer ira
versed the hal and opened the door
unto room hung with gold Spanish
Feather and pale green curtains.
Hello Tinto,'' he said affably as a
tiny Japanese spaniel hurled herself at
aim, barking furiously, then began
writing and weaving herself about
him, gurgling recognition and well
come
Presently another maid entered, with
an apple cut into thin waters and a
decanter of port, and Mortimer lay
back in his chair, sOpping his apple in
the thick, crimson wine and feeding
morSels of the combination to himself
and to Tinto at intervals until the ap-
ple was all gone and the decanter
Ghree-fOurthS empty.
It was very still in the room-so still
that Mortimer, opening his eyes at
longer and longer intervals to peer at
the door, finally opened them no more.
1t was still daylight when Mortimer
awoke, conscious of people about him.
As he opened his eyes a man laughed.
Several people seated by the windows
coined in. He yawned, laughed, turn
ing his heavy eyes from one to an
other, recognizing 4 couple Of young
girls at the window. He didn't want