The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1908-09-24
Pm more obliged to
yOu than l can say"


elected, no mat q,ou than l can sau."
ter who he is"
Plank looked out of the window, his
shrewd blue eyes closing In RETROSPECT
ton.
"Another thing" continued Mortimer
thickly, "the Kemp Ferralls are dis
posed to be decent. l don't mean In
asking you to meet some intellectual
second raters, but In doing 1t hand
somely."
II want to say" began Plank, speak
ing the more slowly because he was
deeply in earnest, that all this you
are doing for me Is very handsome Of
you, Mortimer. I'd like to say, to con-
vey to you something of how l feel
about the way you and Mrs. Morti-
mer'-
"Oh, Leila has done 1t ALL"
"Mrs. Mortimer Is very kind and
you have been SO too. IL wish there
was something, some way Toto
''To what?' asked Mortimer so blunt
ly that Plank flushed up and STAN
mered:
ITO be--to do a-to show my graft
tude."
Glow? You're scarcely in position
to do anything for u.s." said Mortimer,
brutally staring him out of counte-
nance.
II know It," said Plank, the painful
flush deepening.
Mortimer, fussing and growing over
his cigar, vas nevertheless stealthily
intent on the game which had so long
absorbed him. His wits, clogged, dull
ed by excuses, were now aroused to
sort of gross activity through the men
ace of necessity. At last Plank had
given him an opening. He recognized
his chance.
"There's one thing" he said deliber-
ately, "that I won't stand for, and
that's any vulgar misconception on
your part of my friendship for you
Do you follow me-?
II don't misunderstood it," protested
Plank, angry and astonished. u
DON'T
'As though" continued Mortimer
menacingly, Il were one of those
needy social tipsters, one of those shah
by, pandering touts who
"For heavens sake, Mortimer, dom
talk like that! had no Intention
"-one Of those contemplate, para
site leeches," persisted Mortimer, get
ting redder and hoarser, "who live Oh
men like you Confound you, Flank
what the devil do you mean by it?''
Mortimer, are you crazy to talk te
me like that?"
mo, I'm not, but you must be! I've
mind to drop the whole cursed bust
ness! I've every inclination to drop 1t
II YOU haven't horse sense enough-i1
YOU haven't innate delicacy sufiicien
to keep you from making such
break
IT didn't. It wasn't break, Morti
mer. l wouldn't have hurt you
"You did hurt me! How can fee
the same again? l never imagined yol
thought I was that sort of a socia
mercenary. Why, so little did dream
that you looked on our friendship II
that light that l was-on my word
honor-I was just now on the point 0
uSkluk you lOI FC,OCO " FNiSSO ~ 49,
me to the months end and square m.
bridge balance"
~Mortimer, you must take 1t! 1o'
are q fool to think meant anything
by saying wanted to show my graft
tude. Look here; be decent and raj
with me. wouldn't offer you an al
front-would I-evcn II were cad
wouldn't do 1t now just when your
getting things into shape for me. IN
not fool anyway. This is In deadl
earnest, tell you, Mortimer, aud ~
getting angry about It You've got
show your confidence In nae. You'v
got to take Wild you want from me a
you would from 6ny friend.
There was a pause. A curious an
unaccustomed sensation had silence
Mortimer, something almost akin !
shame. 1t astonished him little. =
did not quite understand why IN u
very moment Of success over TN
stolid, shrewd young man ana 81
thrifty Dutch instincts he should ~