Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-23


 > the May sunshine Streamed, his
 crutches laid against his chair, 0 sat boring over the piles of pa pers left there by Beverly Plank some days before with a curt recommenda ton that he master their contents.
 The curious persistence of youth in his features seemed unaccountable in view of the heavy marks imprinted there. In every movement every turn of his head, there still remained much of that indefnable attractive ness which had always characterized his race-much of the unconscious charm usually known as breeding.
 In men of Mortimer's fiber dissipa- tion produced cOarser Symptoms-dis tended veins and sagging fiesh-where in Siward it seemed to bruise and harden, driving the color of blood out of him and leaving the pallor of mar ble and the bluish shadows of it staining the hollows. Only the eyes had begun to change radically; some thing in them had been quenched.
 That he could never hope to become immune he had learned at last when he had returned, physically whole some, from his long course of training under famous Irish specialist on the Hudson.
 He had been a fool. He had imag- ined that he could control himself and practice the moderation that other men practiced when they chose. The puerile restraint annoyed him; his i'm piled inability to master himself hu' initiated him, the more so because se' cretly he was horribly afraid in the remote depths of his heart.
 Exactly how it happened he did not remember except that he had gone downtown on business and had lunch ed with several men. There was claret Later he remem bered another cafe farther uptown and another more brilliantly lighted. Gumble had found him again, this time in the area, and this time the same ankle, not yet strong, ndu been DrOken.
 Through the waning winter days as he lay breeding in bitterness, realiz- ing that it was all to do over again, Plank's shy visits became gradually part of the routine. But it was many days before Siward perceived in the big, numbering. pink listed man any thing to attract him beyond the faint ly amused curiosity of one man for another who is in process of estab- fishing himself as the first of race.
 As for reciprOcation in other forms hitting d personal note to sound ever so discreetly. Siward tolerated no such idea Even the tentative ad- vances of Plank limiting on willing ness and perhaps ability to help Si- ward in the Amalgamated tangle were pleasantly ignored. Unpaid services rendered by men like Plank were i'm possible; any obligation to Plank was utterly out of the question. Mean while they began to like one another at least Siward often found himself looking forward with pleasure to visit from Plank. There had never been any question of the latter's at- titude toward Siward.
 Plank began to frequent the house, but never informally. Ii is doubtful whether he could have practiced in- forulality in that house event at s. wards invitation.
 One very had night Plank came to the house and was admitted by Gum ble Wands. the second man, stood behind the aged butler. Both were frightened.
 That something was amiss appeared plainly enough, and Plank. instinctive- ly producing a card. dropped it on q table and turned 10 go. It may have been that the old butler recognized the Innate deiicacy Of the motive or 1t may have been a sudden confidence born of the necessities of the case. for he asked Plank 10 see his young mas fer
 It vas a tad night outside. and it was q bad night for Siward. The mas ter vice had him by the throat He. sat there clutching the arms of his chair. his broken leg in it's plaster casing extended in front Of him. and when be saw Plank enter he glared at him.
 Hour after hour the two men sat there. the one white with rage. but helpless: the other stolid. inert. deaf tO demands for iniercessipn with the arch vicr. dumb under pleadlngs for a com promise. He refused to interfere with the butler. and Siward insulted him He refused to go and ind the decan- te-s himself. aud Siwari deliberately cursed him
 Oace toward morning Siward feign- ei sleep. and Plank. Navy head On his b7past. EaiEnei it too Then Siward bent over steaIthily and opened drawer in his desk. and Plank was on his feet like a fash. jeTkinz the nor phine fron SIwauTs fingers
 The dgetor arTired si daylight re spcnlflzE to PIsnk-s suuuSzs by teae- uEpae- ard Plank vent away win the and SIEauITs revolver buIg- Ing i8 tlle siis pockets of his dinner coat