Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-17
The Fighting
~ By...
@ nQn1R ROBERT w.
6ANSAAOO CHAMBERS.
Copyright, 1909 by the Curtis Publishing Company.
Copyright, 1905, by Robert w. Chambers.

There was something about his soft
warm hands which had always re
minded Siward of the temperature and
texture OF newly Matched bird. 1t
had been some time since he had
, shaken hands with Major Belwether
1t was apparent that the bird had not
aged any.
Slipping his arm through the pivot
sleeve Of Lord Alderdene's shooting
Jacket. hooking the other in Siward $
reluctant elbow and driving Mortimer
ahead Of him, Major Belwether went
garrulously away up the stairs, his
lordship's handy little legs trotting be
side him, the soaking CATERS and shoes
stopping at every step.
Siward turned off down his corri-
dor, unaware that the Sycamore pup
was following close at his heels until
be heard Quarters even. colorless
voice, 'Ferrall, would you be good
enough to send Sycamore to your ken
nels?'
"Oh. he's your dog! I forgot" said
Siward, turning around.
Quarter looked at him, pausing a
moment.
Eyes" he said coldly; "he's my dog.
For fraction Of a second the two
mems eyes encountered; then Slward
glanced at the dog and turned on his
heel with the slightest shrug, and that
is all there was to the incident-an
anxious. perplexed puppy lugged OIL
by servant turning, jerking, twist
Ing, resisting. looking piteously back as
his unwilling feet slid over the pol
ished floor
So Siward walked on alone through
the long eastern wing to his room
overlooking the sea. He sat down on
the edge of his bed, glancing at the
clothing laid out for him. He felt
tired and disinclined for the exertion
of undressing. The shades were up.
Night quicksilvered the window panes
so that they were like a dark mirror
rejecting his face. He inspected his
darkened features curiously. The
blurred and somber tinted visage re-
turned the stare.
"Not man at all-the shadow of u
man." he said aloud, with no will, no
courage, always putting off the battle,
always avoiding conclusions, always
skulking. What chance is there for
man like that?"
As one who raises glass to drink
/, wine and unexpectedly finds water. he
shrugged his shoulders disgustedly and
got up. A bath followed. He dressed
leisurely and was pacing the room,
fussing with his collar, when Ferrall
Knocked and entered, finding seat
on the bed.
Stephen" he said bluntly, II have
not seen you since that break Of yours
at the club"
Rotten, wasn't it?' commented ST
| ward. tying his tie.
Perfectly. OF course 1t doesn't make
any difference to Grace or to me, but
l fancy you've already heard from it.
ooh, yes. All care about Is how
my mother took it,"
"Of course she was cut up, sup
poser
Eyes. You know how she would
look ut q thing of that sort-not that
any of the nine and seventy Earring
sets would care, but those few thou
sands invading the edges, butting in,
half or three quarters inside, are the
people who can't afford to overlook
the victim Of fashionable clubs dis
pleasure-those and a woman like my
mother and several other decent mind
ed people who happen to count III
town."
Ferrall, his legs swinging bustly
thought again, then, who was the
, girl, Stephen?'
81 don't think the papers mentioned
her NAME" said Siward gravely.
"Oh, beg your pardon. l thought
she was some notorious actress. Every
body said SO. Who were those calloW
fools who put you up to it? Never
mind If you don't care to tell. But il
strikes me they are candidates for clut
discipline as we'll as you. 1t was VI
to them to face the governors, think. :
mo, l think not"
Ferrall, legs swinging busily, con
sidered him.
"Too bad,' he unused. "They need
not have dropped YOU
ooh, they had to- But as long as
the Lenox takes no action can live
that down.
Ferrall nodded 81 came in to say
something's message from Grace
confound it, what was it? oh, coulC
you-before dinner now-just si1
down and with that internal facility
Of yours make a sketch Of man chas
ing gun shy dog?"
"Why, yes, if Mrs. Ferrall wishes"
He walked over to the desk in hi:
shirt sleeves, sat down, drew blank
sheet Of paper toward him and, dip
ping his pen, drew carelessly guI
shy setter dog rushing frantically
across the stubble and after him. bare
headed, gun in hand, the maddest Of
men.
Put a vandyke beard on him.
grinned Ferrall over his shoulder
There! o Lord, but you have hit it
Put licked saddle on the cur-there"
"Who is this supposed to be?" begar
siward, looking up. But "Wait!' chuc
kled his host, Selling the still we
sketch and making for the door.
Siward strolled into the bathroom
washed a spot or two Of ink from his
fingers, returned and buttoned hi:
waistcoat, then, completing an unhur
ried toilet, went out and down the
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