Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-08-07

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nlled Inability Ia master Himself M.
mlilatsa him, tho mere 10 because go
tsetls lie was horribly afraid In ths
temuta DEPTHS Of Ills heart,
Exactly how it happened he did hot
remember except that he had gone
downtown OH business and had lunch
ed with sercral men. There was
claret. Later lie remembered 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, had been broken.
Through the waning winter days as
he lay brooding in bitterness. realiz.
ing that it HGs all to do over again,
Plauk's shy visits became gradually
part of the routine. But 1T was many
days before Siward perceived III the
big, numbering, pink listed man any
thing to attract him beyond the faint
iy 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
except the most superficial or of per-
hitting a personal note to sound ever
10 discreetly, Siward tolerated no
such idea Even the tentative ad-
yances OF Plank limiting on willing
ness and perhaps ability to help 81
ward Ia the Amalgamated tangle were
pleasantly ignored. Unpaid services
rendered by men like Plank were Inn
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 a
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. 1t Is doubtful
whether he could have practiced In
formality in that house event at 81
| WarQS lnVltatlon.
One very bad night Plank came to
the house and was admitted by Gum
BILE. Wands, the second man, stood
behind the aged butler. Both were
apparently frightened
That something was amiss appeared
plainly enough, and Plank, instructive
ly producing card, dropped 1t on a
table and turned to go. 1t may have
been that the old butler recognized the
innate delicacy of the motive or II
NAV have been q sudden confidence
born of the necessities Of the case, for
he asked Plank to see his young mas
| ter.
1t was bad night outside, and 1t
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 its plaster
casing extended in front OF him, and
when he saw Plank enter he glared at
him.
Hour after hour the two men sat
! there, the one white with rage, put
HELPLESS: the other stolid, inert, deaf TO
demands for intercession with the arch
vice, dumb under pleadings for COM
promise. He refused to interfere with
the butler, and Siward insulted him.
He refused to go and find the decan-
ters himself and Siward deliberately
cursed him.
Once toward morning Siward feign-
! ed sleep, and Plank, heavy head ON his
| breast, fe;gncd it too, Then Siward
bent over stealthily and opened q
drawer In his desk and Plank was on
his feet like fash, Jerking the NOR
phine from Siward's fingers.
The doctor arrived at daylight, re-
spending to Plank's summons by teie-
phone, and Plank went away with the
morphine and Siward's revolver Dulg-
Ing In the side pockets of his dinner
coat.
He did not come again for a week.
A short note from Siward started him
toward lower Fifth avenue.
There was little said when he came
into the room.
"Hello, Plank! Glad to see you"
"Helio! Are you all rightT'
"All right Much obliged for pulling
me through. Wish you'd pull me
through this Amalgamated Electric
knothole, too, some day"
"Do-do you mean it?" ventured
Plank. turning red with delight.
"Mean It? Indeed | do-if you do.
Sit here. Ring for whatever you want.
or perhaps you'd better go down to the
sideboard. I'm not to be trusted with
the odor in the room just yet"
81 don't care for anything said
Plank.
whenever you please, then. You
know the house, and you don't mind
my being unceremonious, do your
mo" said Plank.
Good" rejoined Siward, laughing
81 expect the same friendly lack OF
ceremony from YOU
But that for Plank was impossible
All he could do was to care the more
for Sward without crossing the Dor
der line so suddenly made free. All he
could do was to sit there, rolling and
unrolling his gloves into wads with his
clumsy, highly colored hands. ana gaze
consciously at everything In the room
except Siward.
On that day at Plank's shy sugges-
ton they talked over Siwards bust
ness affairs for the first time. After
that day. and for many days. the sub