Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-05
Copyright 1905, By tho Curtis Publishing Company
Copyright 1905, by Robert w. Chambers.

dO.' muttereu Mortimer, WHO ndu tTleu
hard enough to find out when the first
ominous rumors arose concerning
Amulgamated, and the first fractional
declines left the street speechless and
stupefied.
O'Hara sat frowning and lingering
his glass "As a matter of fact he
said, "a little cold logic shows us that
Quarter isn't III it at all No sane man
would ruin his own enterprise when
there is no need to- His people are
openly supporting Analgamated and
hammering lntercounty, and, besides,
there's Ferrall In it, and Mrs. Ferrall
is Quarters cousin; and there's Bel
wether In 1t, and Quarter Is engaged
to marry Sylvia Lands. who is Bel
wether's niece It's scrap with Har-
rington's crowd. and the wheels In
side of wheels are like Chinese boxes.
Who knows what it means? Only It's
plain that Amalgamated is safe. If
Quarter wants 1t to be. And unless he
does he's crazy"
Mortimer, squirting sideways at
Plank and seeing him still occupied
with Fleetwood, turned bluntly on
O'Hara:
See here, what do you mean by be-
ing nasty to Plank?" he growled. "Fm
backing him Do you understands
ut is curious" unused O'Hara cool
ly, "how much of cad a fairly de-
cent man can be when he's out of tenn
per-"
"You mean Plank or me?" demanded
Mortimer, darkening angrily.
mo; I mean myself. Pm not that
way usually I took him for q bound
er, and he's caught me with the goods
on. I've been thinking that the men
who bother with such questions are
usually open to suspicion themselves,
Watch me do the civil now. I'm
ashamed of myself"
wait moment. VIII you be civil
enough to do something for him at the
PATRONS? That will mean some
thing"
as he up7 Yes, will" and, turn
Ing in his chair, he said to Plank:
lawfully sorry acted like bounder
just now after having accepted your
hospitality at the Fells. did mean
to be offensive, and I'm sorry for that
too. Hope you'll overlook 1t and be
friendly"
Plank's face took on the dark red
hue of embarrassment. He looked
questioningly at Mortimer, whose Wis
age remained noncommittal, then di,
rectly at O'IIara.
81 should be very glad to be friends
with you" he said, with an ingenu-
Gus dignity that surprised Mortimer.
1t was only the native simplicity of
the man, veneered and polished by
constant contact with Mrs. Mortimer
and now showing to advantage In the
grain. And it gratif1ed Mortimer, be-
cause he saw that it was going to
make many matters much easier for
himself and his protege.
The tall glasses were filled and drain
ed again before they departed to the
cold plunge and dressing rooms above.
whence presently they emerged IN
street garb to drive downtown and
lunch together at the Lenox club,
Plank as Fleetwoods guest.
Having O'Hara and Fleetwood to
give him countenance, Mortimer man.
aged to make Plank known personally
to several governors of the club and
to dozen members, then left him to
his fate, whence presently Fleetwood
and O'Hara extracted him, fate at
that moment being personified by a
garrulous old gentleman, one Peter
Caithness, who divided with Major
Belwether the distinction Of being the
club bore, and together they piloted
him to the billiard room, where he
beat them handily for dollar point
at everything they suggested.
"You play almost as pretty a game
as Stephen Siward used to play" said
O'Hara cordially. you've something
of his cue something of
his Internal facility and touch. Hasn't
he, Fleetwood?"
II wish Stward were back here, "
said Fleetwood thoughtfully, return
ing his cue to his own rack. II Won
der what he does with himself-where
he keeps himself all the while? What
the devil is there for man to do IL
he doesn't do anything? He's not go
ing out anywhere since his mother's
death. He has no clubs to go to, I I'M
derstand. What does he do-go to his
Office and come back and sit in that
shabby old lick house all day and