The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-05-13

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
ly amused curiosity of one man for
another who is in process of estab-
fishing himself as the first of a race.
AS for reciprocation in other forms
except the most superficial or of per
hitting a personal note to sound ever
so discreetly, Siward tolerated no
such idea. Even the tentative ad
vances of Plank limiting on willing
ness and perhaps ability to help 81
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
visit from Plank. There had never
been any question Of the latters at
titude toward Siward.
Plank began to frequent the house,
but never informally. 1t Is doubtful
whether he could have practiced in
formality in that house event at ST.
wards invitation.
One very bad night Plank came to
the house and was admitted by Gum
ble Wands, the second man, stood
behind the aged butler. Both were
apparently frightened.
That something was amiss appeared
plainly enough, and Plank, instructive
ly producing a card, dropped it on a
table and turned to go. 1t may have
been that the old butler recognized the
innate deicacy of the motive or 1t
may have been a sudden confidence
born Of the necessities of the case, for
he asked Plank to see his young mas
ter.
1t was bad night outside, and 1t
was bad night for Siward. The mas
ter vice had him by the throat. He
sat there clutchlng the arms of his
chair, his broken leg in its plaster
casing extended in front of him, and
when he saw Plank enter he glared at
him.
Hour after 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 a com
promise. He refused to interfere with
the butler, and Siward insulted him.
He refused to go and find the decan-
ters 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
drawer in his desk, and Plank was on
his feet like Il flash, jerking the NOR
phine from Siward's fingers.
The doctor arrived at daylight, re-
spending to Planll's summons by tele-
phone, and Plank went away with the
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 Sward started him
toward lower Fifth avenue.
There was little said when he came
into the room.
"Hello, Plank! Glad TO see you"
Hello. Are you all right?"
"All right Much obliged for pulling
me through. Wish you'd pull me
through this Amalgamated Electric
knothole, too, some day"
"DO-do you mean it?" ventured
Plank, turning red with delight.
MEAN it? Indeed l do-if you do.
Sit here. Ring for whatever you want,
Dr. perhaps you'd better go down to the
;ideboard. I'm not to be trusted with
he odor in the room just yet"
II don't care for anything" said
Plank.
whenever you please, then. You
know the house, and you don't mind
ny being unceremonious, do your
NO" said Plank.
"Goodv' rejoined Siward, laughing
4 expect the same friendly lack of
ceremony from you"
But that for Plank was impossible.
All he could do was to care the more
or Siward without crossing the Dor
Ter line so suddenly made free. All he
could do was to sit there, rolling and
lnrolling his gloves into wads with his
highly colored hands, and gaze
at everything in the room
except Siward.
On that day at Plapk's shy sugges-
ion they talked over Siward's busi-
hess affairs for the first time. After
hat day, and for many days, the sub
ect became the keynote to their inter
course, and Siward at last understood
hat this man desired to do him a serv-
ce absolutely and purely from a dis
liking for him and as an ex-
preston Of that liking; also he was I'M
made aware of Plank's Sc
'enely uneTrigg business sagacity.
AS for the quid pro quo, Siward had
insisted from the first on a business
arrangement. The treachery Of Major