Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-02-28
The Fighting
Chance. s sS ne, y:
Copyright Curtis Publishing Company
Copyright By w Chambers
CHAPTER.
SIX

BLK the ufst rev uhss w MS
N arrival at Shotover time had
threatened 10 hang heavily
4 Z on Mortimer's notified hands.
After the second day afield be recos-
mizcd that his shooting career was
practically over. Then Mortimer, not
yet done with self indulgence In more
convenient forms. cast about him with
In his new limits for occupation be-
tween thase hours consecrated TO the
rites of the table and the card room.
He drove four. but found that IL
nunibed his arms and that the sea air
made him sleepy. Motor cars agreed
with him only when driving with a
pretty woman. Forced through ennui
to fish of the rocks, he soon tired OF
the sea perch and rock cod and the
malodors Of pcriwinkie and clam.
Then he took up bis headquarters In
the reading room on the chance OF his
wires moving elsewhere. which she
did, unobtrusively carrying Captain
Voucher with her In sudden zeal for
billiard practice on rainy mornings
now too frequent along the coast
Mortimer possessed that mysterious
talent, 80 co.nmon among the financial
" insolvcnt, for living lavishly on an
invisible Income. but, plan as he would.
he had never been able to increase that
income though confidential gossip
with men like Quarter or Belwether
or even Ferrall. What information his
pretty life Iniglt have extracted he
did not know Der income had never
vlsibly increased above the vanishing
point, although, like himself. she de-
MED her.a.f no.hing. One short, lively
interview with her had been enough to
drive all partnership ideas out OF his
head
He was always studying women.
Years before. Grace Ferrall had snap
ped her slim fingers in his face, and
here at Shotover the field was limited.
Mrs. vendenning had left. Agatha
Caithness was still pale and reticent
puzzle Rena. Kathryn and Eileen
tormented him. Marion Page coolly
AL fait yawned in his face. There re
manned Sylvia. Who knowing nothing
about his species. met him halfway
with the sweet and sensitive Difference
due a somewhat battered and intirm
gentleman of forty eight. until sleek
aside from Major beiwether spoiled
everything as usual, for her, leaving
her painfully conscious aud perplexed
between doubt and disgust.
Meanwhile the. wealthy master Of
Blacks Fells. Beverly Plank. had found
encouragement enough at ShotOver to
venture Gu tentative informally. There
was no doubt that ultimately he must
be counted OH In New York but no.
body except him was impatiently cor
dial for the event, and 50 at the little
house party he slipped and slid from
every attempt at closer quarters until,
rolling smoothly enough. he landed
without much discomfort somewhere
between Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Nor.
timer And 1t was not question US
to (which would he good to him." OBJ
served Major Belwether. with his mis-
leading and benevolent mirth. 1T was
which would be coolest quickestv
And Mrs. Mortimer. abandoning Cap
tain Voucher by the same token. dis
played certain warning notices per
fectly comprehensive to her husband
and at first he was inclined to recOg
nize defeat.
But the general unsuccess which hat
so faithfully attended him recently
had aroused the long dormant desire
for general review Of the situation
with his wife-perhaps even the fur
tive hope of some conjuyal arrange
ment tending toward an exchange o
views concerning possible alliance.
The evening previous. to bis intens
disgust, host, hostess and guests ha'
retired early In view Of the poin
shooting at dawn, for not only wa
there to be no point shooting for him
but he had risen from the card tabl
heavily hit. and, besides. for the frs
time hiA apples and port had disagreed
with him.
As he had not risen until midday, b
was not sleepy. Books were an aver
sion equaled only by distaste for hi
own company. Irritated. bored, b.
had perforce sulkily entered the ele
vator and passed to his room. wher
there was nothing on earth for him t
do except to thumb over last week
sporting periodicals and smoke himsei
stupid.
But it required more than that to en-
snare the goddess Of slumber H
walked about the room haunted Of sloy
thoughts; he stood at the rain smeare,
pane. fat fingers resting Oh the glass
The richly favored cigar grew distaste
full, and II he could not smoke. what
In PHYS name. was he to do?
For hours he sat In his room 0
paced the four walls. doubtful. cha
grined, furious by turns. Once he drey
out memOrar
RI dun book an
Alo1 stood under
X lighted sconc
~ studying the zig
ures. His iOsse
HoA at Shotovs
~TA staggered hin
%I~ but hs had lo0l
&X1 ): !: $: !: : !: :: ;:
~ rion