Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-17

hospitality at the Fells. I did mean to be offensive, and I'm sorry for that too. Hope you'll overlook it and be friendly"
 Planlis face took on the dark red hue of embarrassment. He looked Questioningly at Mortimer, whose wis, age remained noncommittal, then di, rectly at O'Hara.
 ''I should be very glad to be friends with you," be said, with an ingenu- ous dignity that surprised Mortimer. 1t was only the native simplicity of the man, veneered and polished by constant contact with Mrs Mortimer and now showing to advantage in the grain. And 1t gratifed Mortimer, be- cause he saw that It was going to make many matters much easier for himself and his protege
 The tall glasses were filled and drain ed again before they departed to the whence presently they emerged iu street garb to drive downtown and lunch together at the Leuox club, Plank as Fleetwoods guest.
 Having C'Hara and Fleetwood to give him countenance. Mortimer man. aged to make Plank known personally to several governors of the club and to 9 dozen members. then left him to his fate, whence presently Fleetwood and O'Hara extracted him, fate at that moment being personifed by a garrulous old gentleman, one Peter Caithness, who divided with Major Belwether the distinction of being the club bore, and together they piloted him to the billiard room, where he beat them handily for dollar point at everything they suggested.
 You play almost as pretty a game as Stephen Siward used to play" said O'Hara cordially You've something of his cue movement-something of his internal facility and touch. Hasn't he, Fleetwood?"
 T wish Siward were back here" said Fleetwood thoughtfully, return ing his cue to his own rack. q won- der what he does with himself-where he keeps himself all the while? What the devil is there for a man to do If he doesn't do anything? He's not go- ing out anywhere since his mothers death. He has no clubs to go to, I un- derstand What does he do-go to his office and come back and sit In that shabby old brick house all day and h1tpl- ot thu hr,Y Art, It's of hwy, and distinguished ancestors?"
 For awhile they talked of Siward and of his unfortunate story and the pity of it, and when the two men ceased:
 Do you know" said Plank mildly, "I don't believe he ever did it."
 O'Hara looked up surprised, then shrugged. Unfortunately he doesn't deny it, you see''
 q heard" said Fleetwood, lighting cigarette. that he did deny it; that he said, no matter what his condition was. he couldn't have done it. If he had been sober the governors would have been bound to take his word of honor. But he couldn't give that, you see. And after they pointed out to him that he had been in no condition to know exactly what he did do, he shut up. And they dropped him. and he's falling yet"
 Lord. wish Siward were back here. He was a good deal of a man, after all, Tom"
 They were uncOnsciously using the past tense in discussing Siward. as though he were dead. either physical ly or socially.
 ''In one way he was always sin gularly decent man." unused O'Hara.
 How exactly do you mean?"
 ''Oh, about women"
 ''I believe it too. If he did take that Tyse girl into the PatrOOns it was his 1imir with her, and believe his limit with any woman. He was absurdly decent that way. He was. indeed. And now look at the reputation he has. Isn't it funny? Isn't it, now:'
 "what sort of an effect do you sup pose all this business is going to have on Siward:"
 Its had one effect already" rc- piled Fleetwood. ''Ferrau says he loOss sick. and BeIwether says he's going 10 the deril. but that's the sort of thing the major Is likely to say By the way. wasn't there something be tween that pretty Laadis girl and Si- wArdI Somebody - some gosslping sou1ebody-talEed about lt somewhere recently"
 'I don't believe that. either" said Plank in hIs heavy. measured. pas siOnlsss voice as they descended the steps of the vhl;e portico and looked sround for q cab.
 'As for ne I've =o. 70 hustle" O5- served O'Hara gIanci1g at his watch ''Tm due 10 shlfa at a function about C. Are you coming uptown, either of you felloTs3 I'll rs-e y0u lift az far as S=vea:v- v-se~o1i street Plank"
 Tel you what we'll do said Fleet wood iupuisively. turning 10 Plank ''We'1 drive downtown. you and |. ard we'll look up poor old Siwsrd. EhaH wr; Hes probably al alone in that God fp-saken rcd brick family tomb. SaaiI wes H0w about f.. Plank
 O'Hara turned I1spatieut-v on his heel win a gesture 9f adieu. climbed into his electric hanson and went buzziuE away ap tlc sreaEe-
 -IId Ike to. but I don't think [ know Mr. Slwaui vel euguzh to do that