Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-07
The Fighting Chance. es;SSE,, es;SsE ;;;;;;:, Y. Copyright laS, by the Publishing
 Copyright, la8 by Robert w. Chambers
... By ... ROBERT w. CHAMBERS.
Copyright 1906, by the Curtis Publishing Company.
 Copyright, 1906, by Robert W. Chambers.

SCmy, 1eellng Ill every Jolnt lne resui of the first days shooting after al those idle months. Mortimer got up with an unfeigned groan. Siward fol lowed, leaving his glass untouched.
 One or two other men came in from the billiard room. All greeted Siward amiably, all excepting one. who may not have seen him-an elderly, pink soft gentleman with white downy chop whiskers and the profile of a be nevolent buck rabbit.
 How do you do, MT. Belwether? said Siward in a low voice without offering his hand,
 Then Major Belwether saw him bless you-yes, indeed! And, though Siward continued not to offer his hand Major Belwether meant to have 1t bless your heart, and he fused and fused and beamed cordiality until he secured it in his plump white fingers and pressed it effusively.
 There was something about his soft warm hands which had always re minded Siward of the temperature and texture of a newly matched bird. Il had been some time since he had shaken hands with Major Belwether It was apparent that the bird had not aged any.
 Slipping his arm through the pivot sleeve of Lord Alderdene's shooting jacket, hooking the other in Siward's reluctant elbow and driving Mortimer ahead of him, Major Belwether went garrulously away up the stairs, his lordships bandy little legs trotting be- side him, the soaking gaiters and shoes stopping at every step.
 Siward turned off down his corri- dor, unaware that the Sagamore pup was following close at his heels until he heard Quarters even, colorless voice, "Ferrall, would you be good enough to send Sagamore to your ken nels?"
 "Oh, he's your dog! I forgot" said Siward, turning around.
 Quarter looked at him, pausing a moment.
 "Yes," he said coldly; Ines my dog"
 For a fraction of second the two mems eyes encountered; then Siward glanced at the dog and turned on his heel with the slightest shrug, and that is all there was to the incident-an anxious, perplexed puppy lugged off by a servant, turning, jerking, twist ing, resisting, looking piteously back as his unwilling feet slid over the pol ished floor.
 So Siward walked on alone through the long eastern wing to his room overlooking the sea. He sat down on the edge of his bed, Sancing at the clothing laid out for him. He felt tired and disinclined for the exertion of undressing. The shades were up. Night quicksilvered the window panes so that they were like dark mirror refecting his face. He inspected his darkened features curiously. The blurred and somber tinted visage re- turned the stare.
 Not a man at all-the shadow of a man." he said aloud, with no will. no courage, always putting off the battle always avoiding conclusions, always skulking. What chance Is there for a man like that?"
 AS one who raises a glass to drink wine and unexpectedly finds water, he shrugged his shoulders disgustedly and got up A bath followed. He dressed Ieisurely and was pacing the room, fussing with his collar, when Ferrall Knocked and entered, finding a seat on the bed.
 Stephen" he said bluntly, "I have aot seen you since that break of yours at the club"
 Rotten. wasn't it? commented ST. ward, tying his tie.
 Perfectly. Of course 1t doesn't make any difference to Grace or to me. but fancy you've already heard from it."
 "Oh. yes. All care about is how my mother took it"
 "Of course she was cut up, I sup pose"
 "Yes. You know how she would look at a thing of that sort-not that any of the nine and seventy jarring sets would care. but those few thou sands invading the edges. putting in, half or three-quarters inside, are the people who can't afford to overlook the victim of a fashionable clsb's dis pleasure-those and a woman like my mother and several other decent mind ed people who happen to count in town"
 Ferrall. his legs swinging silly thought again. then. "Who was the girl. StephenT'
 T don't think the papers mentioned her name" said SIward gravely.
 "Oh. I beg your pardon. I thought she was some notorious actress. Every body said so. Who were those callow fools who put you up to it? Never mind if you don't care to tell. But it strikes me they are candidates for club discipline as well as you. It was up to them to face the governors. think" 'No. I think not
 FerraIl. legs swinging busily. con sidered him. Too bad" he mused- They need not have dropped you
 "Oh. they had 10. But as long as the Lenox takes no action I can live that down FerTsl nodded: T came in to say something's message from Grace ronf0und it. what was itT Oh. could you before dfn7er-nOw-tust sit |. lown and with that internal facility i f yours make q sketch of a man chas