Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-28

! darby cook, forcing his way straight
into the private car. Quarter, read
ing magazine, looked up In astonish.
ment. For full moment neither
spoke. Then Mortimer dropped his
suit case. sat down In an armchair op.
posite Quarter and leisurely mopped
his reeking face and neck.
Scotch and lithiav' he said hoarss-
ly. The japanese steward looked at
| Quarter, then, at that gentleman's al.
most imperceptible nod, went away to
execute the commission. -
He executed great many similar
commissions during the trip to New
York. When they arrived there at 8
o'clock Quarter offered Mortimer his
hand and held the trembling, puffy
fingers as he leaned closer, saying with
cold precision and emotionless empha-
sis something that appeared to require
the full concentration of Mortimer's
half drugged faculties.
And when at length Mortimer drove
away in hanson Quarters Japanese
steward went with him-perhaps to
carry his suit case-a courtesy that
did credit to Quarters innate thought
fulness and consideration for others.
He was very considerate. He even
called Agatha up on the telephone and
talked with her for ten minutes. Then
he telephoned to Plank's Office, learned
that Harrington was already there,
telephoned the garage for a car which
he always kept ready in town and
presently went bowling away to con-
ference on which the last few hours
had put an entirely new aspect
1t had taken Plank only a few min
utes to perceive that something had &C.
CURED to change point of view which
he had believed it impossible for Quar-
rier to change. Something had gone
wrong in his own careful calculations
some cog had slipped, some rivet CIV
en- way, some bed plate cracked. And
Harrington evidently had not been
aware Of it, but Quarter knew it.
There was something wrong.
1t was too late now to go tinkering
in the dark for trouble. Plank under
stood that Coolly, as though utterly
unaware that the machinery might not
stand the strain, he started it full
speed And when he stopped 1t at last
Harrington's grist had been ground to
atoms and Quarter had looked on
without comment. There seemed to be
little more for them to do except to
pay the miller.
Tomorrow" said Quarter, rising
to go. 1t was on the edge of Plank's
lips to say To-day" but he was silent,
knowing that Harrington would speak
for him. And the old man did, with
out words, turning his iron vlsage on
Quarter with the silent dignity of
despair. But Quarter coldly demand
ed a day before they reckoned with
Plank. And Plank, profoundly dis
turbed, shrugged his massive shoulders
in contemptuous assent.
So Quarter and Harrington went
away, the younger partner taking
leave Of the older with sneer for an
outworn prop which no man could
ever again have use for. Old and |
beaten, that was all Harrington now
stood for in Quarters eyes. The least
Of his victims might now finish him
with a club where he swayed In his
oosened saddle or leave him to that |
horseman on the pale horse watching
him yonder on the horizon.
For now, whether Harrington lived
,r died, he must be counted as nothing
n this new struggle darkly outlining
is initial strategy in Quarters brain.
What was coming was coming be-
ween himself and Plank alone. The
'esult must be attained swiftly, with
secrecy and with the aid of no man.
FOR he did not count Mortimer man.
At the door Of Major Belwether's
louise Sylvia's maid received Quarter
milingly. saying that her mistress was
lot at home, but that Mrs. Mortimer
saved Quarter the neces-
lily OF asking for private conference
With Leila, which was exactly what
Ie had come for. But her first I'M
'uarded words on receiving him as he
ose at her entrance into the darkened
rawing room changed that plan, too
hanged it all so utterly and so much
or the better that he almost smiled to
hink Of the crudity of human combi-
ations and inventions as compared to
be mastery Vaccinations of fate.
ella said, laughingly: "Oh, you are
DO late. Howard. We are dining with