Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-03-25


neighbors as the Ferralls TO observe.
but the sort he desired. However.
there were many things to be accom-
plished for him ana by him before he
could expect TO use his great yacht
and his estates and his shooting boxes
and the vast granite mansion recently
completed and facing Central park
just north OF the new palaces built on
the edges of the outer desert where
Fifth avenue fringes the hundreds
Meanwhile he had become In a meas
ure domesticated at Shotover. and
Shotover people gradually came to
ride. drive and motor over the Fels.
which was a good beginning, though
not necessarily promise for anything
definite I'm the future
Mortimer. riding n huge chestnut
he could still wedge himself into a
saddle-had now made II regular
practice TO affect the jocular early
bird squire and drag Plank out OF bed
Planks acquaintance among people
who knew Mortimer being limited he
had no means of determining the lat
ter's social value except through hear.
say and toadying newspaper or two.
Therefore he was not yet aware OF
Mortimer's perennial need of money.
and when Mortimer laughingly allud-
ed TO his poverty Plank accepted the
proposition In purely comparatl,
sense and laughed. too, his thrifty
Dutch soul untroubled by mlsgivlngs.
Meanwhile Mortimer had come.
among other things. on information:
how much, and precisely OF what ma
ture, he was almost too much ashamed
to admit definitely. even to himself
There was much about Plank that
was unaffected. genuine, even simple,
In one sense. He cared for people for
their own sakes. and only stubborn adj
herence to a logged ambition had en-
abled him 10 dispense with the society
of many people he might easily have
cultivated and liked-people nearer his
own sort. and that, perhaps, was the
reason he so readily liked Mortimer.
the polish when rubbed against by n
closer. finer fiber. And Plank liked
him aside from gratitude, and they got
on famously on the basis of such mu-
tual recognition. Then, one day, very
suddenly, Mortimer stumbled on some
thing valuable-a thread. a mere clew.
so astonishing that for an instant 1t alb
solutely upset all his unadmitted the
cries and calculations.
1t was nothing-a vague word or two
"a forced laugh-and the scared 81.
lence OF this man Plank. who had blum
dered on the verge OF a confidence TO
a man he liked.
A moment OF amazement, or half in
credulous suspicion. of certainty and
Mortimer pounced playfully upon him
like tiger-a big, fat friendly, jocose
tiger:
"Plank, is that what you're up tor
up to! Why, never thought OF
such a.
"Haw. haw" roared Mortimer. IF
you could only see your facer'
And Beverly Plank, red as beet.
comfortably suffused with reinsurance
under the reaction from his scare, at
tempted TO refute the others concu.
sions ut doesn't mean anything, Nor
timer. She's just the handsomest girl
ever saw. | know she's engaged.
bnly admired her q lot"
You're not the only man." said Nor
timer blandly. still striving TO recon.
cile his preconceived theories with the
awkward half confession of this great,
red listed. huking horseman riding at
his stirrup.
81 wouldn't have her dream" STAN
mered Plank. chat had ever thought
OF such "a
"why not? 1t would only fiatter
her"
"Flatter woman who is engaged to
marry another manv' gasped Plank.
Certainly Do you think any wom-
an ever had enough admiration In this
world?" asked Mortimer coolly. And
as for sylvia lands. she'd be tickled
to death II anybody limited that you
lad ever admired her"
GOOD Lordw exclaimed PLANK.
alarmed. You wouldn't make joke
of it. You wouldn't be careless about
such a thing. And there's Quarter!
I'm not on joking terms with him. I'm
OH most formal terms"
"Quarrieri" sneered The other. flick
| ing at his stirrup with his crop. He's
on formal terms with everybody, in
Guiding himself. He never laughed on
purpose in his life; once a month only
to keep his mouth in: that's his limit
DO you suppose any woman would
stand for him if a better man looked
sideways at herr And. reversing his
riding crop he deliberately poked Mr.
Plank In the ribs
GA better mani" muttered Plank
scarce crediting his ears.
| Certainly man who can make
| good. is good. but a man who can
make better is it with the ladies-God
bless 'emr' he added. displaying a
heavy set of teeth
| Beverly Plank knew perfectly well
that in the comparison SO delicately
suggested by Mortimer his material
equipment could be scarcely compared
TO the immense fortune controlled by
| Howard Quarter. and as he thought
IL his reflections were put into words
! by Mortimer. airily enough.
Nobody stands chance in a show
down with Quarter. But
Plank CAPPED until the tension be
came unbearable.
"But-whatT' he blurted out.
plank" said Mortimer solemnly
and his voice vibrated with feeling