Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-12
by
ROBERT w.
CHAMBERS.
Copyright, 1905, by tho Curtis Publishing Company.
Copyright, 1909. by Robert w. Cnambcrs.

/, or was 1t an hour?-Quarrier stopped
him. coldly, without a trace of passion.
demanding co%rroborntive detail. And
Mortimer gave 1t. wagging his head
and one fat foreHnger rs emphasis.
"You saw that?' repeated Quarter.
deadly white Of a sudden.
Eyes. and r.
at 8 in the morning."
Yes. an ] want
"You saw him enter her room?"
Eyes. an | wan tersay thish to you,
because I'm your fr'en'. Don wan
amy fr'cn's mine get fooled on wom-
en-. See? Thash how l feel. / rcspec'
| the sect. See? Women. lovely wom-
en-. See? Respec' sect. Gimme y'han'.
buzzer - err brother Quarter. Your
M fr'en': I'm your fr'en'. ! know how
1t is. Gotter wife m'own. Rotten
one. stingy. Takes money outer M
pockets. Dam 'stravagant. Ruin me.
| Say, old boy, what about dividend due
morrow on Orange County Eclectic
mean Erlextic no mean 'Letric!
Damn!-Wasser masser tongue?'
Opening his fond and foggy eyes
and finding himself alone In the card
room he began to cry. and q little later.
attempting to push the electric button,
he fell over a lounge and lay there. his
shirt front soiled with wine, n fat
| leg trailing to the floor. not the ideal
| position for slumber perhaps, but what
| difference do attitudes and postures
and poses make when a gentleman, IN
the sacred seclusion Of his WI club.
is wooing the drowsy goddess with
blasts Of votive music through his en-
purpled nose?
In the meantime, however, he was
due to dine at the Belwether house,
and when 8 o'clock approached and he
had not returned to dress Leila called
up Sylvia Lands on the telephone:
MY dear. Leroy hasn't returned. and
| suppose he's forgotten about the
bridge. l can bring Mr.. Plank. II you
like"
Very we'll" said Sylvia. adding. eff
Mr.. Plank is there may ] speak to him
a moment|
So Leila rose, setting the receiver on
the desk. and Plank came in from the
library and settled himself heavily in
the chair. :
did you wish to speak to me. Miss
LandisY
as that you, Mr.. Plank? Yes. VIII
you dine with us at 8? Bridge after
ward n Won don't mind"
THANK you"
"And, Mr.. Plank. you had a note
from me this morningY"
Eyes"
please disregard ft."l
"1f you wish"
81 do. 1t is not worth while And
as Plank made no comment. II have
you understand"
NO" said Plank doggedly.
81 have nothing more to say. I am
sorry. We dine at g." concluded Syl-
via hurriedly.
Plank hung up the receiver and sat
eying 1t for awhile in silence. Then
his jaw began to harden and his under
lip protruded and he folded his great
hands, resting them in front Of him
on the edge Of the desk, brooding there.
with yes narrowing like a sleepy
giant at prayer.
When Leila entered in her evening
wraps she found him there, so i'm
mersed in reverie that he failed to
hear her, and she stood a moment at
the doorway, smiling to herself. think
ing how pleasant it was to come down
ready for the evening and find him
there, as though he belonged where
he sat and was part Of the familiar
environment.
Recently she had grown younger In
a smooth skinned, full Tipped way-so
much younger that 1t vas spoken OF.
Beverly" she said, Il am ready"
Plank stood up, dazed from his rev
erie, and walked toward her. His
white tie had become disarranged.
She raised her hands, halting him, and
pulled it into shape for him. conscious
ly innocent Of the intimacy.
THANK you," he said. do you
know how pretty you are this even
ing?"