Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-03-06
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(Continued.)


as though he had struck her, and he
turned on her again, grinning; AS for
you, you come home! And that,ll he
about all for yours."
Are you insane to make scene
like this" said Plank.
But Mortimer swung on him insult
ingly and said That's about all from
you. Leila are you comins!
He stepped heavily toward her but
Plunk's sudden crushing grip was on
his fat arm above the elbow. and he
emitted n roar of surprise and pain.
Don't touch him. Don't, in heav-
ems name"' stammered Leila as Plank.
releasing him. stepped back beside her
chair. cant you see that must so
with him? IL must CO.. She cast
one terrified glance around her where
scores of strange faces met hers. and
ut every table PEOPLE We're standing up
to see better.
Plank. who Lad dropped Mortimer's
arm as the latter emitted his below
Of amazement. stepped toward him
again, dropping his voice as he spoke.
You go. 10 you hear:' he said
quietly. "Tll do what you ask me to-
morrow Will do what you ask II
you'll go now
You come! Do you hear?' snarled
Mortimer. turning on his wife, who
had already risen. IF you don't III
make row here that you'll never hear
the end of as long as you live. And
there'll be nothing to talk over in
Quarters office If do"
Leila looked at Plank. rose and NOV
ed swiftly toward the veranda steps.
her head resolutely lowered. the burn
ing shame tlarning in her Moru-
mer cast one triumpha,. glance Mt
Plank, then v'addled unsteadily after
his wife
Hold on" he growled; 1--WE car
here! I'll drive you back-wait! Here
it is! Here we are!" And to Quar-
riers machiniBt he said: you get into
the tonneau. want to show Mrs.
Mortimer what night driving is. Do
you hear? ] tell you Pm going to
drive this machine and show you
how"
Leila scarcely heard him. She obey
ed the impulse of his hand on her arm
and mounted to the seat. staring
straight ahead of her with dazed and
straining eyes that saw nothing.
Then Mortimer clambcred to his seat
and without an instant's warning
opened up and seized the wheel.
UnprepareG, the machinist attempt
ed to swing aboard missed his foot
ing in the uncertain light and fell
sprawling or the gravel Plank saw
him from the veranda and instantly
vaulted the rail to the lawn below.
You d-n fool" yelled Mortimer.
looking around What do you think
you'll do?" And he clapped on full
speed as Plank made leap for the
car and missed
Mortimer laughed and turned his
head to look back. and the next in
slant something seemed to wrench the
steering wheel from its roots. There
was binding glare of light, scream.
and the great machine bounded into
the air full length, turned completely
over and lay across flower bed part
ly on one size.
Something was afire too. Men We're
rushing from the verandas. women
screamed and stood up wringing their
hands. A mounted policeman came
galloping through the darkness. Peo-
pie shouted: Throw sand on it. Get
shovels, for Gods sake! Lift that ton
neau There's woman under it,
But they were mistaken, for Leila
lay at the foot of the slope. one little
bloody hanl clutching the dead grass,
and Plank knelt beside her. giving his
orders quietly to those who came rum
ming down the hill from the roadway
above. which was now fiercely illu-
minated by burning gasoline. At last
they got sand enough to quench the
fire and men sufficient to lift the
weight from the dead mans neck and
drag what was left of him OIL to the
grass.
Don't look" whispered Siward.
drawing Sylvia back.
He and she both had put their shoul-
ders to the tonnea i along with the 9th
ers, and now they stood there together
in the shifting lantern light sickened.
shivering under the summer stars,
staring at the gathering crowd around
that shapeless lump on the grass.
Plank passed them, walking beside
an improyised stretcher, calm. almost
smiling, as Sylvia sprang forward with
little SOP Of inquiry.
There's the doctor over there. That
man is Il doctor. He knows" repeated
Plank with studied deliberation, look
ing down at Leila's deathly face. "He
says it's all right. He says he'll get a
candle ard that he can tell by the
flames effect on the pupils of the eyes
what exactly is the matter. No." to
Siward, beside
I: =: !: !: !:
- b IN, pressing
~>,.A.S1Iao forward through
Esj 1oS~AS E1 the crowd which
~ ETN eddied from the
II -, MD{ ! dead man to the
tYl E0 4 stretcher, mo,
n l,l there is not a
n a ~ T-tJ bone broken.
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