The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-04-29

II, but if he was slow he was also MI
mute. He went over every word again
and again, studying, absorbing each
letter, each period, the conformation
of every word And when he ended
he had in his brain a photograph of
the letter which he would never forget.
And now. slowly, infinitely, method
ically. he was going over and over
Plank's words, and his manner of say
ing them, and their import, and the
hidden one, If any.
If Plank had spoken the truth-and
there was no reason to doubt it-Plank
had quietly acquired a controlling In
terest in Amalgamated Electric. That
meant treachery in somebody WhoF
Probably Siward, perhaps Belwether.
He would not look at the latter just
yet; not for a minute or two. There
was time enough to see through that
withered, pink and white old fraud.
But why had Plank done this2 And
why did Plank suspect him Of any de-
sire to wreck his own property? He
did suspect him, that was certain.
After a silence he spoke quietly and
without emotions:
Everybody concerned will be glad
to see Amalgamated Electric declaring
dividends. This is a shock to u.s." he
glanced impassively at the shrunken
major, "but a pleasant shock. 1 think
It we'll to arrange a meeting as soon
as possible"
Tomorrow" said Plank, with n
manner of closing discussion. And in
his brusque ending Of the matter
Quarter detected the ringing under
tone of an authority he never had and
never would endure. If Plank suspect
ed him. he must also suspect him OF
completely in the Intercounty grab.
He must suspect him Of the ruthless
crushing power that corrupts or ami
hilates oppt sltion, making n mockery
of legislation jest Of the courts and
an epigram of a peoples indignation.
AS Quarter sat there meditating,
his long white fingers caressing his
soft, pointed beard. Sylvia came in,
greeting the men collectively with a
nod and offering her hand to Plank.
Dinner is announced" she said.
please 60 in farm fashion. Waltz"
as Plank. following the major and
Quarter stood aside for her to pass
NO you go ahead, Howard, and you"
to the major
Left for moment In the room with
Plank. she stood listening to the others
descending the stairs, then:
Have you seen Mr.. Siward?"
Eyes" said Plank.
"Oh Is he welT'
Not very"
''Is he well enough to read a letter
and to answer oneY"
"Oh. yes he's well enough in that
way"
Il supposed so. That is why ! said
to you. over the wire, not to trouble
him with my request"
"YOu mean that ! am not to say
anything about your offer to buy In,
hunter?"
NO. If ! make up my mind that
want the horse I'll write him-per-
haps."
Lingering still, she let one hand fall
on the banisters. turning back toward
Plank who was following
81 understood you to mean that
that Mr. Siward's financial affairs were
anything but sdtisfactoryT'- sweet
trailing. upward infection making !.
question.
when did | say that?" demanded
Plank
"Once--a month ago"
81 didn't" said Plank bluntly.
"Oh. | had inferred it, then, from
something you said or something you
were silent about. Is that itF'
81 don't know"
Am quite wrong them she asked,
looking him in the eyes.
And Plank. who never lied, found no
answer. Considering him for a mo-
ment i'm silence she turned again and
descended the stairs.
The dinner was one of those thor
oughly we'll chosen dinners of few
courses and faultless service suitable
for card players, who neither care to
ntuff themselves as a preliminary to a
battle royal nor to dawdle through
courses. eliminating for themselves
what is not good for them. The men
drank light. sound. aromatic Irish Of
the majors: the wOmen-eXcept Ma
rion, who took what the men took
used claret sparinglY. Coffee was