The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-04-15
The Fighting
Chance. sGs5 f. Y.
Copyright Publshins
W. Chambers
Copyright, 1900 by the Curtis Publishing Company.
Copyright, 1900, by Robert w. Chambers.

Then a bitter Impotence swept her
and a dawning fear, too, for she had
set her foot on the fallen mask, and
the impulse rendered her reckless.
"Why don't you speak?" she said.
eyes, / have a right to know. | care
for him as much as you do. Why don't
you answer me? l tell you l care for
him.
"Do your" he said in a dull voice
'Then help me out, If you can, for
don't know what to do, and If l did
haven't the authority of friendship
as my warrant. He is in New York.
He did go to the country and at his
home the servants suppose he is still
away, but he isn't. He is here alone
and sick-sick of his old sickness. J
saw him, and"-Plank rested his head
on his hand, dropping his eyes-"and
he didn't know me. II do not think
he will remember that he met me or
| that / spoke. And / could do nothing.
absolutely nothing And l don't know
where he is. He Will go home after
awhile. ! call every day to see-see
what can be done, but if he were
there l would not know what to do.
When he does go home l won't know
what to say, what to try to do And
that is an answer to your question,
Miss Lahdis. l give it because you
say you care for him as do. Will you
advise me what to do, you, who are
more entitled than l am to know the
truth, because he has given you the
! friendship which he has as yet not ac-
corded to me?"
But Sylvia, dry eyed, dry Tipped,
could find no voice TO answer, and aft
er a little while they rose and moved
through the fragrant gloom toward the
sparkling lights beyond.
Her voice came back as they en-
tered the brilliant rooms. q should
like to find Grace Ferrall," she said
very distinctly. please keep the 9th
ers off, Mr. Plank"
Fleetwood had missed his dance with
her, but she scarcely heard his eager
complaints Quarter, coldly inquir-
ing, confronted them, was passed al
most without recognition and left be-
hind motionless, looking after them out
of his narrowing, black fringed eyes
of a woman.
Then FerraI came, and, hearing his
voice. she raised her colorless face.
"Wil you take me home with you,
Kemp, when you take Grace" she
asked.
"Of course. don't know where
Grace is. Are you in hurry to go?
It's only o'clock"
They were at the entrance TO the sup
per room. plank drew up a chair for
her. aud she sank down, dropping her
elbows on the small table and resting
her face between her fingers
"Pegged out Sylvia?' exclaimed Fer
rail- incredulously. You? What's the
younger set coming to-" and he mo-
toned a servant to fill her glass. But
she pushed it aside, with a shiver, and
gave Plank a strange look. which he
scarcely understood at the moment
more caprices. All sorts Of 'em on
the programme" muttered Ferrall
looking down at her from where he
stood beside Plank. 80 tempora! O
Sylvia! Plank would you mind hunt
ing up my wife? I'll stay and see that
this infant doesn't fall asleep"
But Sylvia shook her head, saying:
please 90, Kemp. I'm a little tired,
that's all. When Grace is ready III
leave with her" And at her gesture
Plank seated himself, while Ferrall,
Struggling his square shoulders, saun-
tered off i'm quest of his wife, stopping
a moment at a neighboring table to
speak to Agatha Caithness. who sat
there with Captain Voucher, the collar
Of superb diamonds and aquamarines
on her slender throat a pale blaze Of
splendor.
Plank was hungry, and he said so in
his direct fashion. Sylvia nodded and
exchanged a smile with Agatha, who
turned at the sound of Plank's voice.
For awhile, as he ate and drank large
ly, she made the effort to keep up a
desultory conversation, particularly
when anybody to whom she owed an
explanation hove darkly in sight on
the horizon. But Plank's appetite was
in proportion to the generous lines on
which nature had fashioned him, and
she paid less and less attention to con-
vention and a trife more to the beauty
Of Agatha's jewels, until the silence at
the small table in the corner remained
unbroken except by the faint tinkle Of
silver and crystal and the bubbling
/ hiss Of a glass reflled.
Major Belwether, his white, fluffy,
chop whiskers brushed rabbit fashion,
peeped in at the door, started to tiptoe
out again, caught sight of them and
came trotting back, beaming rosy eff
fusion. He leaned roguishly over the
table, his moist eyes a-twinkle with
suppressed mirth, then, bestowing a
sprightly glance on Plank, which said
very plainly. I'm up to one of my r.
repressible jokes again" he held up
smooth, white and overmanicured fore
| finger.
81 was in Tiffany's yesterday" he
said, "and / saw young man in there
who didn't see me, and | peeped over