The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-06-10

knew how. when or where-had be-
come suspicious of Agatha and him
self: with Major Belwether, who had
deserted him before he could sacrifice
the major and whom he now hated
and feared for having stumbled over
suspicious similar TO Mrs. Mortimer's.
He had to deal with Sylvia herself
and with Siward-reckOn with ST
wards knowledge of matters which it
were best that Sylvia should not know
But first of all and most important
of all he had to deal with Beverly
Plank And he was going to do it in
la manner that Plank could not have
foreseen. He was going to stop Plank
where he stood, and to do this he was
! deliberately using his knowledge Of
the man and paying Plank the COM
! pliment of counting on his sense of
honor to defeat him.
For he had suddenly found the OPP
pOrtunity to defend himself. He had
discovered the joint in Plank's old
| fashioned armOr-the armor of the old
paladins, who placed wOman's hon
or before ali else in the world. Now,
! through his creature, Mortimer, he
could menace Plank with n threat TO
! involve him and Leila in a vile pubici-
! ty. Plank must sign the truce or face
with Leila an action for damages and
! divorce.
First Of all he went to the LenOX
club and dressed. Then he dined spar
ingly and alone. The motor car was
waiting when he came out ready to
run down to the great Hotel Corona,
whittier the japanese steward had con-
Quoted Mortimer. Mortimer had dined
heavily but his disorganlzed physical
condition was such that 1t had scarce
ly affected him at all.
Again Quarter went over patiently
and carefully the very simple part he
had reserved for Mortimer that even
ing explaining exactly what to say to
Leila and what to say to Plank in case
Of insOlent interruption. Then he told
Mortimer to be ready at o'clock
turned on his heel with a curt word to
the Japanese, descended to the street,
entered his motor car again and sped
away to the Hotel Santa Regina.
Miss Caithness was at home, came
the message in exchange for his cards
| for Agatha and Mrs. Vendenning. He
entered the gilded elevator, stepped
/ out on the sixth floor into a tiny, ro-
coco, public reception room. Nobody
was there besides himself Agatha's
maid came presently, and he turned
and followed her into the large and
very handsome parlor belonging to the
suit which Agatha was occupying with
Mrs. Vendenning for the few days that
/ they were To stop in town.
Hello" she said serenely, saunter-
ing in, her long. pale hands bracketed
on her narrow hips. her lips disclosing
her teeth in n smile so like that merry
Gus muscular recession which passed
for a smile on Quarters visage that
for one moment he recognized it and
thought she was mOcking him. But
she strOlled up to him. meeting his eye
calmly, and lifted her slim neck, lips
passive under his impetuous kiss.
els Mrs. vendenning Quit" he asked,
laying his hands on the bare shoulders
of the tall, pallid girl-tall as he and
as pallid
"No, Mrs. Ven. is in, Howard"
"Now? You mean she is coming in
to interrupt
ooh, no! She isn't fond of you,
Howard"
"You said he began almost an
grily, but she laid her fingers across
his lips.
II said a very foolish thing, How
ard. l said that I'd manage to dis
pense with Mrs. Ven. this evening"
"You mean that you couldn't manage
it,"
mot at all. could easily have man.
aged It. Butt didn't care to-"
She looked at him calmly at close
range as he held her embraced, lifted
her arms and with slender white fin
gers patted her hair into place where
his arm around her head had disar-
EaAGRd It. watching him all the while