Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-07-17

lAe uDut WHyt bDihthe ~ o~'SN,
Ing how pleasant II WAS to COME DOWN
ready for the evening and find MN
there, as though he belonged where
he sat and was part of the familiar
environment.
Recently she had grown younger IN
a smooth skinned, full Tipped way-so
much younger that it was spoken OF.
Beverly" she said, II am ready"
Plank stood up, dazed from his rev.
erie, and walked toward her. HIS
white tie had become disarranged.
She raised her hands, hating him, and
pulled it into shape for him, conscious
ly innocent of the intimacy.
"Thank you," he said. do you
know how pretty you are this even
ingT
"Yes. | was very happy at my mir
ror. Do you know, the withered years
seem to be dropping from me like
leaves from an autumn sapling. And
feel young enough to say SO poetic
ally. Did Sylvia try to firt with you
over the wire?"
Eyes. as usual" he said drily, de-
scending the stairs beside her.
"And really you don't love her any
more?' she queried.
Scarcely" His voice was low and
rather disagreeable and she looked up.
II wish knew what you and Sylvia
find TO talk about so frequently, If
you're not In love-"
But he made no answer, and they
drove away to the Belwether house, a
rather wide, old style mansion OF
| brown stone, with stoop dividing its
ugly facade, and series of unneces-
sary glass doors blockading the vesti-
bule
A drawing room and a reception room
| flanked the marble tiled hall. Behind
these the dining room ran the width
Of the rear.
There were half dozen people there
lounging informally between the living
room on the second floor and Sylvia's
apartments In the rear-the residue
from luncheon and bridge party CIV
en- that afternoon by Sylvia to score
or so of cardinal women. A few OF
| these she had asked to remain for an
informal dinner and a desperate game
later-the sort of people she knew well
enough to lose to(heavily or win from
| without remorse-Grace Ferrall. Ma
rion Page, Agatha Caithness. Trusting
| to the telephone that morning. she had
secured the Mortimers and Quarter.
| failing three men, and now the party.
with Plank as Mortimers substitute.
was complete. all thorough gamesters
sex matterlng nothing in the prepa-
ration.
In Sylvla's boudoir Grace Ferrall
and Agatha Caithness sat before the
! fire; Sylvia, at the mirror Of her dress
err, was correcting the pallor incident
to the unbroken dissipation of a bril-
liant season. Marion. with her inevita-
BILE cigarette. wandered between SyE
Was Quarters and the library, where
Quarter and Major Belwether were
sitting in low voiced confab.
Leila. greeted gayly from the bou-
doir, went in. Plank entered the libra
ny, was mauled effusively by the ma
jor, returned Quarters firm hand
shake and sat down with an inquiring
smile.
"Oh, yes. we're out for blood to-
night" Uttered Major Belwether,
grasping Quarters arm humorously
and shaking 1t to emphasize his words
"a habit that Quarter thoroughly dis
liked Sylvia had lot OF women
here playing for the season score, so
suggested she keep the pick of them
for dinner and call in few choice
ones to make night Of 1t"
"It's agreeable to me-" said Plank.
still looking at Quarter with the same
inquiring expression. which that gen.
tleman presently chose to understand.
IT haven't had a chance to look into
that matter" he said carelessly. Some
day when you have time to go over
it,
81 have time now" said Plank.
There's nothing to go over. There's 40
reason for any secrecy. All ! wrote
you was that proposed to control the
stock of Amalgamated Electric and
that | wished your advice In the mat
ter"
Il could not give you any advice
offhand on such an extraordinary sug-
gestion." returned Quarter coldly. IF
you know where the stock is you'll
understand"
do you mean what 1t is quoted at
or who owns IT.? interrupted Plank.
"Who owns 1t. Everybody knows
where 1t has dropped to. suppose.
Most people know. too. where 1t is
held
Eyes. | do"
"And who is manipulating It," added
Quarter indifferently.
do you mean Harrington's peo-
ple?"
81 don't mean anybody in particular,
Mr. Plank"
"Ohr said Plank. staring. II was
sure you couldn't have meant Harring-
ton. because" be went on deliberately.
"ahere are other theories floating about
That mysterious pool, one of which
I've proved"
Quarter looked at him out of his
velvety lidded eyes. (
"What have you provedw
"I'll tell you if y,u'il appoint an In
terview"
"I'll come, too" began Belwether,
who had been listening. loose mouthed
and intent Were all in it-Howard,
I Kemp Ferral and r.
L nd StnIAhnn Cirnr I'd - nhSqrYpl