Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-03-07

cy Ol the great Algonquin Loan anu
Trust company, with it's network sys-
tenn of dependent, subsidiary and allied
corporations.
The day that the newspapers gave
this interesting information to the west.
err world Leroy Mortimer, on being
bluntly notified that he had overdrawn
his account with the Algonquin Loan
and Trust, began telephoning in every
direction until he located Beverly
Plank at the Saddle club, an organiZa-
ton Of wealthy men and sufficiently
exclusive not to compromise Planks
possible chances for something better.
Mortimer crawled out of his hanson,
saying that the desk clerk would pay,
and entered the reading room, where
Plank sat writing a letter.
Beverly Plank had grown stouteI
since he had returned to town from
Black Fells, but the increase of weight
was evenly distributed over his six
feet odd, which made him only trife
more ponderOus and not abdominally
fat. But Mortimer had become enor.
nous. Rolls Of flesh crowded his mot
tied ear lobes outward and bulged
above his collar. Cushions OF it pad
ded the backs Of his hands and fin.
gers. Shaving left his heavy, distend-
ed face congested and unpleasantly
shiny. But he was as infinitely groom
ed as ever, and he wore that satiated
air of prosperity which had always
been one of his most important assets.
The social campaign inaugurated by
Leila Mortimer in behalf of Beverly
Plank had so far received no serious
reverses. His box at the horse show,
Of course, produced merely negative
results. His box at the opera might
mean something some day. His name
was up at the Lenox and the PATRONS.
He had endowed a ward in the new
pavilion of ST. BeroIds hospital. He
had presented a fine Gainsborough,
1.-THE Countess of Wythe," to the Met
ropolitan museum, and it was rumored
that he had consulted several bishops
concerning a new chapel for that huge
bastion of the citadel Of faith looming
above the metropolitan wilderness in
the north.
Meanwhile he was doggedly docile.
His huge house, facing the wintry park
midway between the squat palaces Of
the wealthy pioneers and the outer
hundreds, remained magnifcently emp
ty save for certain afternoon confer
ences of very solemn men, fellow d.
rectors and associates in business and
financial matters-save for the peri
odicaI presence Of the Mortimers.
Things are. moving all the same"
said Mortimer as he entered the read
ing room of the Saddle club. "QuarrieI
and Belwether have listened more re-
spectfully to me since they read that
column about you and the bishops and
that chapel business"
Plank turned his heavy head, with a
disturbed glance around the room.
Cant you be carefulY he said. There
was a man here moment ago." He
picked up his unfinished letter, folded
and pocketed it, touched an electric
bell, and when a servant came, "Take
Mr.. Mortimer's order" he said, sup
porting his massive head on his huge
hands and resting his elbow on the
WIIIluS ueSk.
"T've got to cut out this morning
bracer," said Mortimer. eying the serv-
ant with indecision, but he gave his
order nevertheless and later accepted
a cigar. and when the servant had re-
turned and again retired he half emp
tied his tall glass, refilled it with min
eral water and, settling back In the
padded armchair said: "If / manage
this thing as it ought to be managed
you'll go through by April. What do
you think Of thatY'
Plank's phlegmatic features flushed.
"Im more obliged to you than l can
say" he began. but Mortimer silenced
him with gesture, Don't interrupt
I'm going to put you through the Pa
troons club by April. That's thirty
Yards thpOuUh