Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-05-22
The Fighting
Chance. sS,s ;;;:, y:
II COPYRIGHT 1854 Uy the Publishing Company
III Copyrfrt lad by W. Cnambers
Copyright, 1870, py the Curtis Publishing Company
Copyrfrht lsa by Robert W Cnambers-

waited a long time. ! have taken my
fighting chance again, and I've won
out so far"
He looked up at Plank. curiously EN-
barrassed.
Your body Is normal; your intrlli-
gence wholesome balanced. sane, and
| want to ask you II you think that
perhaps without understanding how
have found In her or through her IN
some way the spiritual source that
think might help nie Ia help myself!'
You ask me II believe il possible
that she can he the medium
YES"
Plank said deliberately. YES, | do
think So"
The slleace was again broken 10y
Plank: "Siward. you have asked me
what think. Now you must listen To
the end. u you believed that through
her-her love, marrying her-you stood
the best chance In the world Ia win
out. 1t would he cowardly To ask her
to take the risk. As much as ! car"
for you | had rather see you loSe tile
fight than accept such risk from her.
Now YOU know what think, but you
don't know all. Siwarj, | say 10 you
that II YOU are man enough To take
her. take her. And ! say that Of the
two risks she is running today the
chance she might take with YOU Is in
finitely the lesser risk. for with you.
II you continue slowly losing your
fight the mental suffering only will be
! hers. But if she closes this bargain
with Quarter. selling TO him her body,
the light viii go out Of her soul for
ever"
He rose, stridinS the length OF the
room once or twice, turned, holding
out his broad hand.
"GoOdby," he said. Harrington Is
about due at my Office, Quarter will
probably turn up tonight | am not
vindctive. shall he just with them
as Just as know how. which is to lie
as merciful as | dare he. Goodby,
Siward."
When he had gone Siward lay back
in his chair. very still, eyes closed. a
faint color had mounted TO his face
! and remained there.
1t was late in the afternoon when
he went downstairs. using his clutches
| lightly. Gumble handed him straw
! hat and opened the door. and Siward
| cautiously descended the stOop, stood
| for a few moments on the sidewalk,
| looking up at the blue sky. then wheel
ed aud slowly made his way toward
! Washington square. The avenue was
deserted. His own house appeared TO
be the only remaining house still open
! In all that old fashioned but respecta
bic quarter.
A cab, driven smartly, passed
through the park. the horses feet
slappng the asphalt till the echoes
ratified back from the marble arch He
followed it idly with his eyes up Fifth
avenue, saw ii suddenly halt IN the
middle of the street, saw II woman
spring out. stand for d moment talk
Ing to her companion, then turn and
look toward the square.
She stood so long and she was so far
away that he presently grew tired Of
watching her. A dozen ragged ur-
chins were prowling around the foun-
tain, casting sidelong glances at dis
tant policeman. But it was not hot
enough that evening to permit the
children TO splash in the water and
the policeman drove them off.
"Po0r little devils.' said Siward to
himself and he rose. adjusted his
crutches and started through the park