Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-16
Your mother is very i'll Come at once The signature was the name of their family physician, Grisby.
CHApTEp[1 !
 EIGHT Ml

0Y January the complex social N mechanism of the metropolis was whirling smoothly again. D The last ultra fashionable De- cember lingerer had returned from the country. Those of the same caste out ward bound for a southern or exotic winter had departed and the glittering machine, every part assembled, refur- bished. repolished and connected. hay ing been given preliminary speed tests the opera, was now running under full velocity, and it's steady, subdued whir quickened the clattering pulse of the city, keying it to sublimely synco- pated ragtime.
 It was an open winter in New York and financially prosperous one, and that meant a brilliant social season. Three phenomena particularly charac- terized that metropolitan winter-the reckless rage for private gambling through the mediums of bridge and roulette; the incorporation of con- pany known as the Intercounty Elec- tric company, capitalized at a figure calculated to disturb nobody and so far without any avowed specific policy oth- CT than that which served to decorate a portion of its charter which other wise might have remained ornately and comparatively blank; the third phenomenon was the retirement from active affairs of Stanley S. Quarter, the father of Howard Quarter, and the election of the son to the presiden- cy of the great Algonquin Loan and Trust company, with it's network sys- tenn of dependent, subsidiary and allied corporations.
 The day that the newspapers gave this interesting information to the west ern world Leroy Mortimer, on being bluntly notified that he had overdrawn his account with the Algonquin Loan and Trust, began telephoning in every direction until he located Beverly Plank at the Saddle club, an organiza- ton of wealthy men and sufficiently exclusive not to compromise Plank's possible chances for something better. Mortimer crawled out of his hanson, saying that the desk clerk would pay, and entered the reading room, where Plank sat writing letter
 Beverly Plank had grown stouter since he had returned to town from Black Fells, but the increase of weight was evenly distributed over his six feet odd, which made him only trifie more ponderous and not abdominally fat. But Mortimer had become enor- mous Rolls of flesh crowded hls mot tied ear lobes outward and bulged above his collar. Cushions of it pad ded the backs of his hands and fin gers. Shaving left his heavy. distend- ed face congested and unpleasanty shiny. But he was as minutely groom ed as ever, and he wore that satiated air of prosperity which had always been one of his most important assets.
 The social campaign inaugurated by Leila Mortimer in behalf of Beverly Plank had so far received no serious reverses. His box at the horse show, of course. produced merely negative results. His box at the opera might mean something some day. His name was up at the Lenox and the Patroons. He had endowed a ward in the new pavilion of St Berolds hospital. He had presented a fine Gainsborough. h. 1f ha fn hn ropolitan museum. and 1t was rumored that he had consulted several bishops concerning a new chapel for that huge bastion of the citadel of faith looming above the metropolitan wilderness in the north.
 Meanwhile he was doggedly docile. His huge house. facing the wintry park midway between the squat palaces of the wealthy pioneers and the outer hundreds. remained magnihcently emp ty save for certain afternoon confer ences of very solemn men, fellow di- rectors and associatec in business and financial matters-save for the peri odlcal presence of the Mortimers.
 Things are moving all the same" said Mortimer as he entered the read ing room of the Saddle club. "Quauier and Belwether have listened more re- spectfully to me since they read that column about you and the bishops and that chapel business"
 Plank turned his heavy head. with disturbed glance around the room. Cant you be carefulT' he said. There was a man here a moment ago." He picked up his unfinished letter, folded and pOcketed 1t. touched an electric bell. and when a servant came. Take Mir. Mortimer's order" he said. sup porting his massive head on his huge hands and resting his elbow on the writing desk.
 i've got to cut ous this morning bracer." said Mortimer. eying the serv- ant with indecision. but he gave his order nevertheless and later accepted a cigar. and when the servant had re- turned and again retired he half emp tied his tail glass. reflled 1t with min eral water and. settling back fin the padded armchair. said: If I manage this thing as it ought to be managed you'll go through by April. What do you think of thatT'
 Plank's phlegmatic features flushed "Tm more obliged to you than can say" he began. but Mortimer sileneed him with a gesture Don't interrupt. I'm going to put you through the Pa trOOus club by April That's thirty yards through
 the center. Dye
 see. you dundsr-
 headed Dutch IE
 man: It's solid NA n-