Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-06-12
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and Belwether. 1t was up to you, and
you did not stir!"
"Stirl'' echoed the other man, exas-
perated. "Of course I did not stir.
What did | know about it? Do you
think care to give man like Morti.
mer hold on me, by admitting knew
anything? Or Belwether. do you think
care to have that man know any.
thing about my private and personal
business? Did you expect me to say
that | was in a position to prove any.
thing one way or another? And" he
added. with increasing harshness. how
do you know what ! might or might
not prove? If she went to the Pa
troons club. did not go with her; |
did not see her; | don't know whether
or not you took her,"
81 have already told you that did
not take her," said Siward, turning
whittier.
"You told that to the governors too.
Tell them again If you like. decline
to discuss this matter with you. de-
cline to countenance your unwarranted
intrusion into what you pretend to be-
lieve are my private affairs. decline
to confer with Belwether or Mortimer.
It's enough that you are inclined TO
meddle." His cold anger was stirring.
He rose to his full. muscular height,
slow menacing. his long pale fingers
twisting his silky beard. 'It's enough
that you meddlew he repeated. "As
for the matter in question, a dozen
men, including myself, heard you
make a wager, and later | myself was
a witness that the terms Of that wager
had been carried out to the letter
know absolutely nothing except that.
Mr.. Siward; nor, 1t appears, do you,
for you were drunk at the time, and
you have admitted it to me-"
81 have asked YOU" said Siward, ris-
ing, and very grave. 81 have asked you
to do the right thing. Are you going
to do it?"
"Is that threat?" inquired Quarter,
showing the edges Of his well kept
teeth. "Is this intimidation, Mr. 81.
ward? Do understand that you are
proposing to bespatter others with
scandal unless | am frightened into
going to the governors with the f1imsy
excuse you attempt to offer met In
other words, Mr.. Siward, are you bent
on making me pay for what you be-
lieve you know Of my private life! Is
1t really intimidation"
And still Siward stared into his half
yelled, sneering eyes. speeches..
There Is only one name used for
this kind of thing" added Quarter,
taking a quick involuntary step back
ward to the door as the blaze of fury
broke out in Siward's eyes.
"Good God, Quarter" whispered 81
ward with dry lips, what cur you
are. What a curl"
And long after Quarter had passed
the door and disappeared in the corri.
dor, Siward stood there, frozen mo-
tiOnless under the icy waves of rage
that swept him.
Toward midnight. seated in his chair
by the window. deathly lassitude
weighing his heart. he heard the steps
Of people on the stairway, the click of
the ascending elevator. gay voices call
ing good night, ripple OF laughter, the
silken swish of skirts In the corridor,
doors opening and closing: then silence
creeping throughout the house on the
receding heels Of departure. For
long while be sat there listening
The cool wind FROM the ocean blew
his curtains far into the roolf, where
they bellied out, futtering. floating,
subsiding, only to rise again In the
freshening breeze. He sat watching
their silken convolutions, stupidity, for
awhile, then rose and closed his win
dow, and raised the window on the
south for purposes of air.
AS he turned to adjust his transom,
white thrust under the
door caught his eye. and he walked
over and drew it across the sill. II
was sealed note. He opened 1t,
reading 1t as he walked back to the
drOplight burning beside his bed:
Did you not mean to say goodby? Be-
cause it Is to be goodby for long. long
time-for all our lives-as long as we live
as long as the world lasts and longer.
Goodby-unless you care to say 1t to me-
Ee stood studying the note for
awhile. Presently, lighting a match,
he set fire to 1t and carried 1t blazing
to the CRATE and flung 1t In, watching
the blackened ashes curl up, glow,
whiten and fall In flakes to the hearth
Then he went out into the corridor
and traversed the hall to the passage
which led to the bay window. There
was nobody there. Moving swiftly, he
walked the length of the corridor and.
halting at her door. knocked once.
After moment the door swung
open. He stepped forward into the
room, closing the door behind him. and
the tall girl standing there
silhouetted against the lamp behind
her
"You are insane to do thisr' she
whispered. Il let you In for fear you'd
knock againr'
81 went to the bay window" be said
"You went too late. was there an
hour ago. | waited. Do you know
what time 1t Isl"
"Come to the bay window" he said
"if you fear me here"
"Do you know 1t Is nearly 3 o'clockT
she repeated. "And you leave at G."
"Shall we say goodby here?" he ask
ed cOolly.
0Certoinlv I dare NOT 90 out And