Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-20

"Bu George, that's aooa,,4 oo,,,,,,i 4.
wfck cdly good, uoes" 0oulrl''
though r. III 10
thing" he re-
fected at last, hating before another
letter box. And as he stood there, hes
itating. he glanced up and saw Quar-
rier entering the Lenox club. The
next moment he flung up the metal
box lid, dropped In his letter and fol-
lowed Quarter into the club.
Then events tumbled forward al
most without push from him. Quar-.
rier was alone in window corner,
drinking vichy and milk and glancing
over the afternoon papers. He saw
Mortimer and invited him to join him,
and Mortimer, being thirsty, took
champagne.
"I've been trying new coach" said
Quarter in his colorless and rather
agreeable voice, and he went on lei.
surely explaining the points Of the new
mail coach which had been built In
Paris after plans OF his own. while
Mortimer guped glass after glass OF
chilled wine, which seemed only TO
tened, really interested, except that
his feshy head was too full OF alcohol
and his own project to contain add
tional statistics concerning coaching.
Besides, Quarter, who had never been
overcordial TO him, was more so now
enough for Mortimer to venture on a
few tentative suggestions of a finan.
cial nature, and though. as usual,
Quarter was not responsive, he did
not, as usual, get up and go away.
A vague hope stirred Mortimer that
II might not be beyond his persuasive
tongue to make this chilly reticent
young man into a friend some day-a
helpful friend. Once or twice he
thought Quarter looked at him rather
strangely, but he would show Quar-.
rier that be was a friend-a good.
stanch friend-and that Quarter had
long. long undervalued him. Waves
Of sentiment spread through and
through him. His affection for Quar-.
rier dampened his eyes, and still he
blabbed on and on, gazing with brim
ming eyes upon Quarter, who sat
back silent and attentive as Mortimer
circled and blundered nearer and near.
er to the crucial point of his destination.
Midway in one Of his linguistic ell
npses Quarter leaned forward and
caught his arm In grip Of steel. An
other man had entered the room.
Mortimer made partly conscious by
the pain of Quarters viselike grin.
was sober enough to recognize the i'm
propriety of his continuing aloud the
yelled story he had been constructing
with what he supposed to be a cum
ming as matchless as II was ilnpenetra.
BILE.
Later he found himself upstairs In a
private cardroom, facing Quarter
across a table, and still talking and
quenching bis increasing thirst. He
knew now what he was telling Quar-
rier. He was unwilling the parable.
He was stripping metaphor from a
carefully precise story. He used 81
wards name presently; presently he
used Sylvia's name. A moment later
--or was 1t an hour?-Quarrier stopped
him, coldly, without a trace of passion.
demanding corroborative detail. And
Mortimer gave II, wagging his head
and one fat forehnger as emphasis.
"You saw that?" repeated Quarter,
deadly white OF a sudden.
"Yes, and u
"At in the morningr
"Yes, an ! want
"You saw him enter her room?"
"Yes, an l wan tersay thish to you.
because I'm your fr'en'. Don wan
amy fr'en's mine get fooled on WON
en- See? Thash how feel respec'
the sect. See? Women. lovely wom-
en-. See? Respec' sect. Gimme y'han',
buzzer er - brother Quarter. Your
m fr'en': I'm your fr'en'. I know how
\ is. Gotter wife m'own. Rotten
one Stingy. Takes money outer m
pockets. Dam 'stravagant. Ruin me.
Say, ole boy, what about dividend due
morrow on Orange County Eclectic
mean Erlextic - no - mean 'Letric!
Damn.-Wasser masser tongueg"
Opening his fond and foggy eyes
and finding himself alone I'm the card
room he began to cry, and a little later,
attempting to push the electric button,
he fell over lounge and lay there, his
shirt front soiled with wine one fat
leg trailing to the floor, not the ideal
position for slumber perhaps, but what
difference do attitudes and postures
and poses make when a gentleman, In
the sacred secluslon OF his own club,
Il wooing the drowsy goddess with
blasts Of votive music through his en-
purpled nose?
In the meantime, however, he was
due to dine at the Belwether house,
and when s O'Clock approached and he
had not returned to dress Leila called
MP Sylvia Lands on the telephones:
my dear. Leroy hasn't returned, and
I suppose he's forgotten about the
bridge. I can bring Mr.. Plank, II you
IKE"
VERY WELL" said Sylvia, adding, III
Mr.. Plank - there may I speak to him
q momentr
So Leila rose. setting the receiver on
the desk. aad Plank came In from the
library and settled himself heavily In
~A-I~