The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1908-10-08
CONTINUED From Page 81

want him to like me If it's possible.
But one thing you and l may be sure
OIL ne does not care to return the
friendship ] offer him he will never
accept anything else from me, though
ne might give at my request, and that
Is the sort Of man he is. and that is
why he is every inch man. and SO
like him, Miss Landis Do you won
der?"
She did not reply.
do you wonder?' he repeated
sharply.
mo" she said.
Then He Strengthened up. and
the silent significance of his waiting
attitude was plain enough to her.
But she shook her head impatiently,
saying: II don't know whose dance 1t
Is, and don't care. Please go on. 1t
Isis pleasant. / like Mr. Siward; l
like to hear men speak of him as you
do. l like you for doing it. If you
should ever come to care for my
friendship that Is the best passport to
it-your loyalty to Mr.. Siward."
mo man can truthfully speak other
wise than l have spoken" he said
gravely.
"No not of these things. But you
know w-what isis usually said when
bis name comes up among men"
"Do you mean about his habits 2" he
asked simply.
Eyes. Is 1t not an outrage to drag
in that sort Of thing? 1t angers me
Intensely, Mr.. PLANK. Why do they
do it? Is there q single one among
them qualified to crlticise Mr.. Siward :?
And, besides, 1t is not true any more,
as It, what was once said Of him with
-A@th some truth? Is ltw
r"1hanul red blood mantled Plank's
heaV>sSeisage. The silence grew grim
as he did his slow, laborious thinking,
the while his eyes, expressionless and
almost Opaque in the dim light, never
left hers until under the unchanging,
merciless inspection the mask dropped
for an instant from her anxious face,
and he saw what he saw.
He was no fool. What he had come
to believe she at last had only con-
armed And now the question became
simple, Was she worth enlightening
And by what title did she demand his
confidence?
"You ask me if it is true any more
You mean about his habits If | answer
you, it is because | cannot be lndif
ferent to what concerns him. But be
fore l answer l ask you this, Would
your interest In his fortunes matter tt
him?'
She waited, head bent, then
II don't know, Mr.. Plank" very low
did your interest in his fortunes
ever concern him?"
Eyes, once"
He looked at her sternly, his jaw
squaring until his heavy under lip pro
jected. "Within my definition of friend
ship, is he your friendT'
"You mean he"-
"No; / mean you. | can answer 70
him. How is 1t with you? Do yo'
return what he glves-if there Is reall,
friendship between you, or do you TAX
what he offers, offering nothing in re
turn?'
She had turned rather white unde
the direct impact Of the questions
The Earring repetition of his voice Il
pelf was like the dull echo of distan
blows. Yetlt never occurred to her tt
resent 1t nor his attitude nor his sell
assumed privilege She did not care
She no longer cared what he said tt
her or thought about her, nor did sh,
care that her mask had fallen at last
No nxrtv hYI
what her own heart repeated so heav
lily that drove the color from her face
Not he, but she herself had become thu
pitiless attorney for the prosecution
not his voice. but the clamoring con
science within her demanded by wha
right she used the name Of friendship
to characterize the late relations be
tween her and the man to whom sh'
had denied herself.
Then a bitter Impotence swept he
and a dawning fear, too, for she hat
set her foot on the fallen mask, ant
the impulse rendered he.tHeckless.
"Why don't you speak?" she said
eyes, l have a right to know. | car
for him as much as you do. Why don
you answer me? l tell you | care TO
himv'
"Do you?" he said in dull voice
-'Then help mei out, If you can, for
don't know what to do, and If did
haven't the authority of FRIENDSHIP
as my warrant. He Is in New York
He did go to the country, and Mt hi
home the servants suppose he IS sti
away hut he isn't He Is here 0lOn
and sick-sick of his old sickness
saw him, and"-Plank rested his hea
on his hand, dropping his eyes-"an
he didn't know me- IL do not thin
he will remember that he met me G
that spoke. And could do nothing
absolutely nothing. And l don't kno'
where he is. He will go home afte
awhile call every day to see-se
what can be done, but If he wer
<horo 7 wOuId not know what to d.