Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-04

~ The last ultra IaSnlOndDle De-
cenber lngerer had returned from the
country Those Of the same caste out
ward bound for southern or exotic
winter had departed, and the glitterlng
machine, every part assembled, refur-
bished, repolished and connected, hay
ing been given preliminary speed tests
ut the horse show and a tuning up at
the opera, was now running under full
velocity, and Its steady, subdued whir
Quickened the Gathering pulse OF the
city, keying 1t to sublmely synco-
pated ragtime.
1t was an open winter in New York
and financially prosperous one, and
thar meant 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 COM
pany known as the Intercounty Elec-
trio company, capitalized at figure
calculated to disturb nobody and 80 far
without any avowed specific policy 9th
err than that which served to decorate
q 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 its network sys-
ten 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
possible chances for something better.
Mortimer crawled out of his hansom'
saying that the desk clerk would pay,
and entered the reading room, where
Plank sat writing a letter.
Beverly Plank had grown stouter
! since he had returned to town from
Black Fels, but the increase of weight
was evenly distributed over his six
feet odd, which made him only a trife
more ponderous and not abdominally
fat. But Mortimer had become enor
nous Rolls of flesh crowded his 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 unpleasantly
shiny. But he was as infinitely groom
ed as ever. and he wore that sat1ated
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 I'D at the Lenox and the PATRONS.
! He. had endowed ward In the new
pavilion Of st. Berold's hospital. He
had presented fine Gainsborough
"The Countess of Wythe," to the Met
ropolitan museum. and it was rumored
that he had consulted several bishops
| concerning 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 wfntry park
midway between the squat palaces OF
the wealthy pioneers and the outer
hundreds, remained magnif1cently emp
ty save for certain afternoon confer,
euces of very solemn men, fellow di'
rectors and associates in business and
financial matters-save for the perl
odical presence of the Mortimers.
Things are moving all the same =
| said Mortimer as he entered the read.
ing room Of the Saddle club. "Quarrtel
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 q
oil