Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-16

q rather liked Siward when I met him at Shotover," he ventured. I'm very sorry he's down and out"
 He drinks" shrugged Mortimer, di- luting his mineral water with Irish whisky. "He can't let 1t alone. He's like all the Siwards.''
 Mortimer doesn't care for Siward. but he's an awfully good fellow. all the same" said Fleetwood, turning to Plank. Hes been an ass, but who hasn't? like him tremendously, and feel very bad over the mess he made of 1t after that crazy dinner gave in my rooms. What? You hadn't heard of 1t? Why, man. it's the talk of the clubs"
 'I suppose that is why haven't heard" said Plank simply. My club life is still in the future"
 "Oh!" said Fleetwood, with an invol- untary stare, surprised. trine uncon- fortable, yet somehow liking Plank, and not understanding why. Mortimer continued desultory dis cussion with O'Hara concerning a very private dinner which somebody told somebody that somebody had given to Quarter and the Intercounty Electric people. which. if true. plainly indicat. ed who was financing the Intercounty scheme and why Amalgamated stock had tumbled again yesterday and what might be looked for from the Algon- quin Trust company's president.
 "Amalgamated Electric doesn't seem to like it a little bit" said O'Hara. "Ferrall, Belwether and Siward are in 1t up to their necks. and if Quarter is really the god in the machine and if he really is doing stunts with Amalga- mated Electric and is also mixing feet with the Intercounty crowd. why, he is virtually paralleling his own road. and why, in the name of common sense. is he doing that? He'll kill 1t. that's what he'll do."
 He can afford to kill it," observed Mortimer. punching the electric but ton and making a significant gesture toward his empty glass as the servant entered. "A man like Quarrier can af- ford to kill anything"
 "Yes, but why kill Amalgamated Electric7 Why not merge? Why, it's . crazy thing to do: it's devil of thing to do, to parallel your own liner in- sisted O'Hara. That Is dirty work. People don't do such things these days. Nobody tears up dollar bills for the pleasure of tearing"
 Nobody knows what ouarrier will do," muttered Mortimer. who had tried hard enough to find out when the first ominous rumors arose concerning Amalgamated, and the first fractional declines left the street speeches. and stupefied.
 O'Hara sat drowning and lingering his glass. "As a matter of fact" he said, "a little cold logic shows us that i Quarrier isn't in it at all. No sane man would ruin bis own enterprise when there is no need to. His people gre openly supporting Amalssmated and hammering Intercounty. and. besides, there's Ferrall in it. and Mira Ferrsil is Quarters cousin: and there's Bel wether in 1t. and ousrrier is engaged to marry Sylvia LAndis, who is Bel wethers niece. It's . scrap with Har- rington's crowd, and the wheels in- side of wheels are liks Chinese boxes. Who knows what 1t neansf Only it's plain that Amalsamsted s safe. if Quarter wants it to be. And unless hs does he's crazy"
 Mortimer, squinting sideways at Plank and seeing him stiIl occapied with Fleetwood. turned blunay ca O'Hara:
 See here, what do you mean by b. Ing nasty to PIsnkT" he Trowied- "Tu backing him. Do you understzndT
 Tt is curious" mussd O'Hara cool Iy. now much of . ed . fsfriy ds- cent man ean bs when he's cut of trm- per"
 You mean Plank or mef- demxnded Mortimer, esrkening snuily.
 NO: I mean myseif I'm not that way usually. took him fer bound CT. and he's caught nc with the 9oo6s on. I've been thinking thst ths men who bother with such questions srs usually open to suspicion thenselve& Watch ne do the civil nov. n ashamed of myself"
 "wsft ( moment wm ysa hs e4vH enough to do something for him at ths Patroonsi Thst vfn mean som< thing
 tTo be contfnuedy. If