Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-04-15

Exactly how it happened he did not
Temember except that he had gone
downtown on business and had lunch
ed with several men. There was
cafe farther uptown and another
more brilliantly lighted. Gumble had
found him again, this time in the area,
and this time the same ankle, not yet
strong, had been broken.
Through the waning winter days as
ne lay brooding in bitterness, realiz-
ing that it was all to do over again,
Plank's shy visits became gradually
part of the routine. But it was many
days before Siward perceived in the
big, numbering, pink listed man any
thing to attract him beyond the faint
~ amused curiosity of one man for
another who is in process of estab-
LiShing himself as the first of race.
AS for reciprocation in other forms
except the most superficial or of per-
uniting a personal note to sound ever
so discreetly, Siward tolerated no
such idea. Even the tentative adj
vances of Plank limiting on willing
mess and perhaps ability to help ST.
ward in the Amalgamated tangle were
pleasantly ignored. Unpaid services
rendered by men like PLANK were i'm
possible; any obligation to Plank was
utterly out of the question. Mean
while they began to like one another
at least Siward often found himself
looking forward with pleasure to a
visit from Plank. There had never
been any question of the latter's at
&itude toward Siward.
Plank began to frequent the house,
but never informally. 1t is doubtful
whether he could have practiced in
8ormality in that house event at ST.
wards invitation.
One very bad night Plank came to
the house and was admitted by Gum
bile. Wands. the second man, stood
behind the aged butler. Both were
apparently frightened.
That something was amiss appeared
plainly enough. and Plank, instructive
" producing a card. dropped it on
table and turned to go. 1t may have
Inmate deiiCacy Of the motive or 1t
may have been Sudden confidence
born of the necessities of the case, for
she asked Plank to see his young mas
Ser
1t was bad night outside, and it
was Il La, night for Siward. The mas
Ter vice had lin by the throat. He
sat there clutching the arms of his
chair. his broken leg in its plaster
casing exteulleJ in front of him, and
when he saw Plank enter he glared at
him.
Hour afte" hour the two men sat
there. the one white with rage, but
helpless; the other stolid. inert, deaf to
demands for intercession with the arch
vice, dumb under pleadings for COM
promise. He refused to interfere with
the butler, and Siward insulted him.
He refused to go and find the decan-
tiers himself, and Siward deliberately
cursed him.
Once toward morning Siward feign-
ed sleep, and Plank, heavy head on his
breast, feigned it too. Then Siward
bent over stealthily and opened a
drawer in his desk, and Plank was on
his feet like a flash, jerking the NOR
,Dhine from Siward's fingers.
The doctor arrived at daylight, re-
spending to Planlz's summons by tele-
phone, and Plank went away with the
morphine and Siward's revolver bulg-
ing in. the side pockets of his dinner
coat.
He did not come again for a week.
a short note from Siward started him
toward lower Fifth avenue.
There was little said when he came
znto the room.
Hello, Plank Glad to see you"
~'Hellol Are you all right?"
<All right. Much obliged for pulling
me through. Wish you'd pull NE
through this Amalgamated Electric