Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-25


SssI> "a uestion--
where were you
- t, ~ ~ '''''' going when
'''''' met your
"What do you want to know for?'
asked Mortimer sullenly.
"Why, I'll tell you, Leroy. If you
have any idea of identifying yourself
with Quarters people. of seeking him
at this juncture with the expectation
of investing any money in his schemes,
you had better not do So"
"Investingr' sneered Mortimer. well,
no, not exactly, having nothing to in
vest. thanks to my being swindled in
to joining his Amalgamated Electric
gang. Don't worry. If there's any
shaking down to be done I'll do it, my
friend" And he rose and started to-
ward the elevators
wait" said Plank. why, man,
you can't frighten Quarter. What did
you sell your holdings for? Why didn't
you come to us-to me? What's the
use of going to Quarter now and
scolding? You can't scare man like
that"
Mortimer fairly grinned in his face.
Your big mistake" he sneered, lis
In undertaking others. | want you to
understand a few things, my friend,
and one of them is that I'm not afraid
of Quarter. and another is I'm not
afraid of you.''
Leroy
mo, not afraid of you either" re-
peated Mortimer. with an ugly stare.
you keep a civil tongue in your head
after this-do you understand?-and
we'll get on all right. If you don't,
I've the means to make you!"
Are you crazy?"
Not bit of it. Too sane for you
and Leila to hoodwink"'
You are crazy" repeated Plank.
aghast
Am I? You and Leila can take the
matter into court if you want to-un-
less | do. And"-here he leaned for
ward, showing his teeth again--"the
next time you kiss her close the door"
Then he went away up the marble
steps and entered an elevator, and
Plank. grave and pale. went out into
the street and entered his big touring
car. But the drive up town and
through the sunlit park gave him no
pleasure, and he entered his great
house with n heavy, lifeless step, head
bent. as though counting every creviCe
in the stones under his tagging feet.
For the first time in all his life he was
afraid of man
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 lie 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 n crisis. had always been
ready. Time enough when Plank turn
cd stingy to Use persuasion.
He lay back, rolling about in the
jouncing cab. scowling nj space.
"I'll shake down Quarter" he said
to himself. I'll make him pay for his
treachery me out Of Amalga
mated, That will he restitution, not
extortion"'
He was angry because he had been
for days screwing up his courage TO
the point ~ seeking Quarter face TO
face. He had not wished to do it, The
scene and his own attitude in it could
only be repugnant 10 him. although he
continually explained to himself that
It was restitution. not extOrtiOn.
oh he groancd what an ass
am And he got ont % his cab in
front 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-
five in q rather bright. new. clean
fashion. Tie maid. too. who appeared
1T the SOUND ~ the closing door and
tons dis bat and gloves was IS newly
z-oomei aS the floors and woodwork
and 50 uoiSe.cSs IS 70 le conspicuous
in her swift. silent movements.
~Anrboiy here ~ ErDwled. Ieer-
ing into the drawing room at a tiny
grand piano cased in UnvaTnished Cir
cassiau walnut.
There is Eoi,oly at home. sir" said
the maid
He te-sn 70 ascend the stairway.
i.rezthln- heavily. thud- thgd over the
aesp velvet strip. his fat hand grasp
tnz the IzuiSter rail
Somewhere ol the second floor a
snail DIX bzrke,i- AMI Mortimer trs-
vsrsef the bail and opened the door
into a rOo-n hung with Eold Spanish
kszsFrz- srIT r7rga r-raa- curtains