Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-06-24
The
Fighting
Chance.
By ROBERT W. CHAMBERS.
Copyright. iaOs, by the CuysaA PuhaishiAs
Company.
Copyright, 1905. by Robert w. Chambsrs-

IL am inclined TO think he Is bit
uneasy" said Plank cautiously. "Har
rington made secret trip to Albany
last week. II looks to me as though
there were going to be ghost of a
chances for an investigation. Suppose
meet QuarrierT
"All right Did he suggest q dateT'
AT 4 this afternoon. ! think" oh
served Plank. laying his half consumed
cigar on the silver tray. that Id bet
ter go downtown and see what our
preglacial friend Quarter wants. ST
ward, he is bad man and crafty
every inch OF him."
ooh, come, now! Only characters In
fiction have no saving qualities. You
never heard OF anybody In real life
being entirely bad"
mo, didn't, and Quarter isn't
For example. he is kind TO valuable
animals-I mean his own"
Good to animalsl The bad mans
invariable characteristics laughed ST
ward. I'm fond to 'em too What
else is he good tor
Everybody knows that he hasn't a
poor relation left-not one. He is 10y
al to them in rare way. He filed one
subsidiary company full of them. 1t
is known downtown as the Home For
Destitute Nephews.'
Seriously, Plank, the man must
have something good In him"
Because of your theory?'
LnI no f. m
tirely bad. SO do the great masters OF
fiction"
Plank said gravely: "IIe is a good
son to his father. That is perfectly
true-kind. considerate, dutiful, loyal.
The financial world Is perfectly aware
that Stanley Quarter is today the
most INSCRIPTIONS old scoundrel who
ever crushed a refinery or debauched
n railroad, and his son no more be-
lieves 10 than he credits the scandal
Gus history of the Red Woman of
Wall street"
Siward had never before seen Plank
aroused. and he said so, smiling
THAT is true" said Plank earnestly
81 waste little temper over my likes
and dislikes.e But what | know and
what ! egltimately infer concerning
the younger Quarter is enough TO
rouse any mans anger. | won't tell
you what | know. ! can't. It has
nothing 10 do with his financial meth
DDS, nothing to do with his business.
But il is bad-bad all through The
blow his father struck at the integrity
OF the bench the son strikes ut the
very keystone of all social safeguard.
/ must go now. Goodby. Take care
of that ankle Any books | can send
you anything you want? Nor All
right And don't worry over Amalga-
mated Electric. for | really believe we
are beginning to brighten them badly"
1t was exactly 4 o'clock when Plank
was ushered into Quarters private
suit in the great marble Algonquin
Loan and Trust building, the upper
stories Of which were all golden in the
sun against a sky of sapphire.
Quarter was alone, gloyed and hat
ted. as though on the point of leav-
ing He showed a slight surprise at
seeing Plank. as if he had not been
expecting him, and the manner Of Of
fering his hand subtly emphasized it
as he came forward with trace OF in
quiry i'm his greeting.
you said o'clock. / believer OBJ
served Plank bluntly.
"Ah, yes. IL was about that-ah-
matter ah- l beg your pardon can
you recollect"
Il don't know what It is you want
You requested this meeting" said
Plank, yawning.
mir. Plank" Quarter said. "there
should be some way for Us to come 60.
gether Have you considered it?'
"No haven't" replied Plank
Il mean for you and me to try to
understand each other"
"For u.s." asked Plank. raising his
blond eyebrows. do you mean Anal
gamated Electric aud Intercounty inn
personality
Il mean for us personally. We are
wasting opportunities. This whole
matter is involving us In tangle of
litigation requiring our constant ef-
forts, constant attention"
81 beg your pardon. Mr. Quarter,
but you take 1t too seriously. / have
found in this affair nothing except
rather agreeable mental exhilaration.
"Mr. Plank, II you are not inclined
to be serious
Il am,s said Plank so savagely that
Quarter. startled. could not doubt
him. Il Ike this sort OF thing. Mr.
Quarter Anything that IL hard to
overcome like TO overcome. The
pleasure In life TO me. is to win out.
am lighting you with the greatest pos
slble satisfaction TO myself"
Perhaps you see victory ahead"
said Quarter calmly.
81 do, Mr.. Quarter | do, but not IN
the manner you fear | may hope for
It."
Quarter said without emotion, Il
repeat that II would be easy for you
and me to merge our differences on a
basis absolutely satisfactory to you
and 10 ae-and to Harrington"
you are mistaken" said Plank, MS
ing. Good afternoon"
Quarter rose too. "You decline TO
discuss the matterY he asked.
1T has been discussed sufficiently"
"Then why did you come herer
ITO see for myself how afraid OF me
you really are" said Plank. Now
know. and so do you. Mr.. Quarter,