Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-04-25


with.
Fumbling with his latchkey but with
sense enough left to make no noise, he
let himself in, passed silently through
the reception hall and up to the draw
ing room floor, where for a second he
stood listening Then something of the
perverted sportsman sent the blood
quivering into his veins. He had him.
He had run him down! The game was
at bay.
An thrush of exhilaration steadied
him. He laid his hand on the banister
and mounted, gloves and hat brim
crushed in the other hand. When he
entered the room, he pretended to see
only Lydia.
''Hello, little girl he said. laughing,
"are you surprised to-
At that moment he caught sight of
Quarter, and the start he gave was
genuine enough. Never had he seen in
mans visage such white concentration
of anger.
Rather unexpected. isn't it," said
Mortimer, staring at Quarter.
SIS it?'' returned Quarter in a low
voice.
Il suppose so,' sneered Mortimer
did you expect to find me here?'
INC. Did you expect to find me?
asked the other. with emphasis unmis-
taxable.
"What do you mean?" demanded
Mortimer hoarsely what the devil
do you mean by asking me if I expect
ed to find you here? If 1 had, I'd not
have Travelled down to your Office to-
day to see you; I'd have come here for
you. Naturally people suppose that an
engaged maH is likely to give up this
sort of thing
Quarter, mOtionless, white to the
lips, turned his eyes from one to the
other He looked at Lydia, and his
lips moved. "You asked me to come"
he said.
"No: you offered to. l wished to
talk to you over the wire, but''-her
, lip curled. and she shrugged her shout
ders-'you seemed to be afraid of
something or other"
II couldn't talk to you in my own
house, with guests in the ROOM"
"One moment" interposed Mortimer
blandly LAS long as l Travelled down
town to see you and find you here so
! Unexpectedly l may as we'll take ad-
vantage of this opportunity to regu-
late a little matter. You don't mind
our talking shop for moment. Lydia?
Thank you. It's just a little business
matter between Mr.. Quarter and my
self. q matter concerning a few shares
of stock which / once held in one of
his companies bought at par and tum-
bled to ten and What is the fraction.
Quarter? l forget"
Quarter thought deeply for mo-
ment; then he raised his head, looking
full at Mortimer, and under his silky
beard an edge of teeth glimmered.
did you wish me to take back those
shares at par?" he asked.
Exactly! 1 knew you would!
knew you'd see it in that way!" cried
Mortimer heartily. "Confound it all.
Quarter, I've always said you were
that sort Of man; that you'd never let
a friend in on the top floor and kick
fact, l sold out at 1925. Wait! Here's
a pencil. Lydia. give me that pad on
your desk. Here you are, Quarter.
It's easy enough to figure out how
much you owe me. Lydia, would you
mind hunting up that check book
left here before dim
He had made a mistake. The girl
flushed. He choked up and cast star
tied glance at Quarter. But Quarter
if he heard made no motion of under
standing. Perhaps it had not been
necessary to convince him Of the con-
spiracy.
When he had finished his figures he
reviewed them, tracing each total with
his pencils point; then quietly handed
the pad to Mortimer, who went over
it and nodded that it was correct.
lydia rose. Quarter said, without
looking at her: II have blank check
with me. May use one of these
! pens?'
SO he had brought a check! Had he
supposed that a check might be neces-
sary when Lydia called him up? Was
he prepared to meet any demand or
hers. too, even before Mortimer ap-
peared on the scene?
"As long as you have check with
you, Howard" said Lydia quietly,
suppose you simply add to Mr.. Nor
timers amount what you had intended
to offer me-"
He stared at her without answering.
"That little remembrance for OLD
times sake. Don't you recollect:
NO." said Quarter.
"Why, Howard! Didn't you promise
me all sorts of things when | wanted
to go to your friend, Mr.. Siward, and
| explain that it was not his fault L got
into the PATRONS club? Don't you re-
member l felt dreadfully that he was
expelled-that 1 was simply wild to
write to the governors and tell them
how I took Merkle's clothes and drove
to the club and waited until l saw
lot of men go in and then crowded in
with tha DuSh ?"