Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-29
81 Sf5S 1R4zas{R8
(Continued.)

woman fixed steadily ahead. Ever.
energy, every thought was now ben
to this newest phase of the same ques-
ton which he and fate We're finding
simpler to solve every minute. OF ali
the luxuries lie permitted himself open
| ly or furtlvely, one---the rarest OF them
all = his self denial had practically
eliminated from the list. the luxury OF
Furnishing where no end was served
save that of mere personal satisfac-
ton The temptation Of this luxury
now presented itself, and the means
of qualification were so simple, so Sc
cret so easy to command. that the
temptation became almost duty.
Siward he had not turned out Of his
way to injure. Siward had been In
! the way, that was all. and his ruin
was to have been merely an agreeable
coincidence with the purposed ruin OF
Amulgam0ted Electric before Inter
county absorbed the fragments But
here was new phase. Mrs. Mortl-
mer, whom he had expected to USE
/ and If necessary sacrifice, had sudden
ly turned vicious. And he now hated
her as coldly as he hated Major Bel
wether for betraying suspicious of
similar nature. AS for Plank, fear
| and hatred of him were becoming ha-
tired and contempt. He had the means
of checking Plank If Mortimer did
| not drop dead before midnight There
remained Sylvia. Long ago. whatever
of liking. OF affection, Of passion he
/ had ever entertained for her had
quieted to Indifference and the IN
methodically arranged for. Now of a
sudden this young girl he had bought
he knowing what she sold and what
he was paying for-had become ex-
posed to the Infection Of a suspicion,
concerning himself and another WON
ana woman unmarried and Of h's
own caste and numbered among he:
own friends.
And he knew enough Of Sylvia to
know that If anybody could once
arouse her suspicion nothing on earth
could induce her to look into his face
again. Suppose Leila should do so
this evening?
Certainly Quarter had several mat
tiers to ponder over and provide for
and first and foremost Of all to pro
| vide for his own security and the vital
necessity of preserving his name and
his character untainted. In this he
had to deal with that miserable Judge
who had betrayed him; with Morti-
mer, who had once blackmailed him
and who now was temporarily In bis
service; with Mrs. Mortimer who-God
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 81
wards knowledge Of matters which II
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 1t In
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 op
portunity to defend himself. He hac
discovered the joint in Plank's ole
fashioned armor-the armor OF the ole
paladins, who placed woman's hon
or before all else in the world. Now
through his creature Mortimer, ht
could menace Plank with threat t.
involve him and Leila in vile publici
ty. Plank must sign the truce or face
divorce.
First of all he went to the Leno,
club and dressed. Then he dined spar
ingly and alone The motor car wa:
waiting when he came out ready t.
run down to the great Hotel Corona
whittier the japanese steward had con
Quoted Mortimer. Mortimer had dinet
heavily, but his disorganized physica
condition was such that it had scarce
ly affected him at all.
Again Quarter went over patientl.
| and carefully the very simple part h
i had reserved for Mortimer that even
ing, explaining exactly what to say II
Leila and what to say to Plank In cas-
Of insolent interruption. Then he toll
Mortimer to be ready at 8 O'Clock
turned on his heel with curt word t.
the japanese, descended to the street
entered his motor car again and spec
away to the Hotel Santa Regina.
Miss Caithness was at home, cam
the message in exchange for his card
for Agatha and Mrs. Nendenning. II
entered the gilded elevator, steppe,
out on the sixth floor into tiny. 70
coco, public reception room. Nobod.
was there besides himself. Agatha
maid came presently, and he turne'
and followed her into the large ant
very handsome parlor belonging to tn
suit which Agatha was occupying Wit
Mrs Vendenning for the few days tina
they were to stop in town.
Hello" she said sereneiy, saunter
ing in, her long. pale hands bracketet
on her narrow hips. her lips disclosing
her teeth in n smile SO like that nerv
GUS muscular recession which passet
for a smile on Quarters visage tina
for one moment he recognized it ant