Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-03-07
Continued from page two.

udFQ enough 10 0QO out W0eQ the QrSI
ominOus rumors arose concerning
Amalgamated, and the first fractional
declines left the street speeches. and
stupefied.
O'Hara sat frowning and lingering
his glass. "As a matter Of fact" he
said, ga little cold logic shows us that
Quarrier isn't in it at all. No sane man
would ruin his own enterprise when
there is no need to. His people are
openly supporting Amalgamated and
hammering Intercounty, and, besides.
there's Ferrall In it, and Mrs. Ferrall
is Quarters cousin; and there's Bel
wether in It, and Quarter is engaged
to marry Sylvia Lands, who is Bel
wether's niece. It's a scrap with Har-
rington's crowd, and the wheels in
side Of wheels are like Chinese boxes.
Who knows what it means? Only it's
plain that Amalgamated is safe, if
Quarrier wants it to be. And unless he
does he's crazy"
Mortimer, squirting sideways at
Plank and seeing him still occupied
with Fleetwood, turned bluntly on
O'Hara:
''See here, what do you mean by be-
ing nasty to Plank?' he growled. "I'm
backing him. Do you understand"
ct is curious" unused O'Hara cool
". show much of a cad a fairly de-
cent man can be when he's out of tenn
per-
''You mean Plank or me?'' demanded
Mortimer, darkening angrily.
Z 7 I'M hot
way usually. took him for bound
er, and he's caught me with the goods
on. I've been thinking that the men
who bother with such questions are
usually open to suspicion themselves.
Watch me do the civil now. I'm
ashamed of myself"
''Wait a moment. VIII you be civil
enough to do something for him at the
PATRONS? That viii mean some
thing"
''Is he up? Yes, will and, turn
ing in his chair, he said to Plank:
lawfully sorry I acted like a bounder
just nov after having accepted your
hospitality ut the Fells. l did mean
to be offensive, and I'm sorry for that
too Hope you'll overlook it and be
friendly"
Plank's face took on the dark red
hue of embarrassment. He looked
questioningly at Mortimer, whose Wis
age remained noncommittal. then di-
rectly at O'Hara
81 should be very glad to be friends
with you" he said, with an ingenu-
Gus dignity that surprised Mortimer.
1T was only the native simplicity of
the man, veneered and polished by
constant contact with Mrs. Mortimer
and now showing to advantage in the
grain. And it gratified Mortimer, be-
cause he saw that it was going to
make many matters much easier for
himself and his protege.
The tall glasses were filled and drain
ed again before they departed to the
cold plunge and dressing rooms above.
whence presently they emerged in
street garb to drive downtown and
lunch together at the Lenox club,
PLANK as Fleetwood's guest.
Having O'Hara and Fleetwood to
give him countenance, Mortimer man
aged to make Plank known personally
Ito several governors of the club and
to q dozen members, then left him to
his fate, whence presently Fleetwood
and O'Hara extracted him, fate at
that moment being personiied by a
lgarrulous old gentleman, one Peter
Caithness, who divided with Major
Belwether the distinction of being the
club bore, and together they piloted
him to the billiard room, where he
beat them handily for a dollar a point
at everything they suggested.
''You play almost as pretty q game
as Stephen Siward used to play" said
O'Hara cordially. you've something
of his cue Notwithstanding of
his internal facility and touch. Hasn't
he, Fleetwood?"
ST wish Siward were back here
said Fleetwood thoughtfully, return
ing his cue to his own rack. ST Won
der what he does with himself-where
he keeps himself all the while? What
the devil is there for a man to do if
he doesn't do anything? He's not go
ing out anywhere since his mothers
death He Las no clubs to go to, IN
derstand. What does he do-go to his
office and come back and sit in that
shabby old brick house all day and
blink at the bum portraits of his bum
and distinguished ancestors?"
For awhile they talked of Siward
and Of his unfortunate story and the
pity of It, and when the two men
ceased:
do you know" said Plank mildly,
Fl don't believe he ever did it,
O'Hara looked up surprised, then
shrugged. Unfortunately he doesn't
deny it, you see."
'I heard" said Fleetwood, lighting
a cigarette, shat he did deny it; that
he said, no matter what his condition
was, he couldn't have done it. If he
had been sober the governors would
have been bound to take his word of
honor. But he couldn't give that, you
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