Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-08-21

selves out TOO SWntly.
"Do you think that's best?' he fat
tered, looking about for his hat. Tell
Merkle that nobody has been here II
Quarter should ask him. Do you
think we're doing it in the best way,
Lydia? By God! 1t smells of put up
Job to me. But I guess it's all right.
It's better for me to just happen in,
isn't it? Don't forget to put Merkle
wise"
He descended the stairs hastily. Mer-
kle, the butler, held his hat and gloves
and opened the door for him.
Once on the street his impulse was
to fiee-get out, get away from the
whole business. A sullen shame was
pumping the hot blood up into his neck
and cheeks. An electric hanson flew
noiselessly past him. He shrank back
into the shadow Of porte cochere.
The hanson halted before the lime
stone basement house. A tall figure
left it, stood a moment In the middle
of the sidewalk, then walked quickly
to the front door. 1t opened and the
man vanished.
The hanson still waited at the door.
Mortimer, his hands shaking looked
at his watch by the light Of the cleo
trio bulbs thanking the gateway under
which he stood.
There was not much time in which
to make up his mind, yet his fright
was increasing to pitch which began
to enrage him with that towards cour.
age which it is impossible to reckon
with.
Fumbling with his latchkey, but with
sense enough left to make no noise, he
let himself in, passed silently through
the reception hall and up to the draw
ing room floor, where for second he
stood listening. Then something of the
perverted sportsman sent the blood
quivering into his veins. He had him.
He had run him down. The game was
at bay.
An thrush of exhilaration steadied
him. He laid his hand on the banister
and mounted. gloves and hat brim
crushed In the other hand. When be
entered the room. he pretended to see
only Lydia.
Hello, little girl" he said. laughing.
"are you surprised to-
At that moment he caught sight OF
Quarter, and the start he gave was
genuine enough. Never had he seen in
mans visage such white concentration
OF anger.
Rather unexpected. isn't TT" said
Mortimer, staring at Quarter
"Is itT' returned Quarter In low
voice.
81 suppose So" sneered Mortimer.
"Did you expect to find me here?"
"No. Did you expect to find me"
asked the other. with emphasis unmis-
taxable.
what do you mean?" demanded
Mortimer hOarsely what the devil
do you mean by asking me If ! expect
ed to find you here? If had, I'd not
have travelled down to your office to-
day to see you; I'd have come here for
you. Naturally people suppose that an
engaged man is likely to give up this
sort of thing"
Quarter, motionless, white to the
lips, turned his eyes from one to the
other. He looked at Lydia, and his
lips moved. "YOu asked me to come"
he said.
"No: you offered to. wished to
talk to you over the wire, but''-her
lip curled, and she shrugged her shout
ders-"you seemed to be afraid or
or other"
81 couldn't talk to you In my own
house, with guests in the ROOM"
Zone moment" interposed Mortimer
blandly. "As long as I travelled down
town to see you and find you here so
I may as well take ad-
vantage of this opportunity to regu-
late a little matter. You don't mind
our talking shop for moment, Lydia?
Thank you. It's just little business
matter between Mr.. Quarter and my
self, matter concerning few shares
of stock which 1 once held in one or
his companies bought at par and tum-
bled to ten and What is the fraction,
Quarter? forget"
Quarter thought deeply for mo-
ment; then he raised his head, looking
full at Mortimer, and under his silky
beard an edge Of teeth glimmered.
'Did you wish me to take back those
shares at par" he asked.
Exactly! l knew you would!
knew you'd see it in that way" cried
Mortimer heartily. "COnfound 1t all,
Quarter, I've always said you were
that sort of man; that you'd never let
a friend in on the top floor and kick
him clear to the cellar AS matter OF
fact, I sold out at 1O3s. Wait! Here's
a pencil. Lydia, give me that pad on
your desk. Here you are, Quarter.
It's easy enough to figure out how
much you owe me. Lydia, would you
mind hunting up that check book l
left here before dim
He had made a mistake. The girl
flushed. He choked up and cast star
tied glance at Quarter. But Quarter
If he heard made no motion of under
standing. Perhaps it had not been
necessary to convince him of the con-
spiracy.
When he had finished his figures he
reviewed them, tracing each total with
his pencils point: then quietly handed
the pad to Mortimer, who went over
It and nodded that it was correct.
Lydia rose. Quarter said, without
looking at her: II have blank check
x,;th mo Nov uSe one of these