The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1908-09-24
The
Fighting
Chance.
By ROBERT ". CHAMBERS.
Copyright, 1905, by the Curtis Publishing
Company.
Copyright, 1906, by Robert w. Chambers.

not take her." said Siward, turning
whittier.
'You told that to the govern too
Tell them again If you like. l decline
to discuss this matter with you. l de.
cline to cOuntenance your unwarranted
Intrusion into what you pretend to be.
lieve are my private affairs. l decline
to confer with Belwether or Mortimer
It's enough that you are inclined to
meddle." His cold anger was stirring.
He rose to his full, muscular height
slow, menating, his long pale fingers
twisting his silky beard Its enough
that you meddle!" he repeated. "As
for the matter In question, dozen
men, including myself. heard you
make wager, and later l myself was
u witness that the terms OF that wager
had been carried out to the letter.
know absolutely nothing except that,
Mr.. Siward; nor. 1t appears, do you,
for you were drunk at the time, and
you have admitted 1t to me-"
II have asked you" said Siward, ris-
ing, and very grave, II have asked you
to do the right thing. Are you going
to do it,"
as that threat?" inquired Quarter,
showing the edges Of his we'll kept
teeth. us this intimidation. Mr.. 81.
ward? Do l understand that you are
proposing to bespatter others with
scandal unless I am frightened into
going to the governors with the flimsy
excuse you attempt to offer met In
other words, Mr.. Siward, are you bent
on making me pay for what you be-
'ieve you know Of my private life? IL
4 really intimidation
And still Siward stared into his half
yelled, sneering eyes. speechless.
There Is only one name used for
this kind Of thing" added Quarter,
taking quick involuntary step back
ward to the door as the blaze Of fury
broke out In Siward's eyes.
Good God, Quarter" whispered ST.
ward with dry lips, what a cur yop
are! What curr'
And long after Quarter had passed
the door and disappeared In the corri-
dor, Siward stood there. frozen mo-
tionless under the Icy waves Of rage
that swept him.
Toward midnight, seated In his chair
by the window, deathly lassitude
weighing his heart, he heard the steps
of people on the stairway. the click of
the ascending elevator, gay voices call
ing good night, ripple of laughter, the
silken swish Of skirts In the corridor,
doors opening and closing: then silence
creeping throughout the house on the
receding heels Of departure. For a
long while he sat there listening.
The cool wind from the ocean blew
his curtains far into the room. where
they bellied out, fluttering. floating,
subsiding, only to rise again in the
freshening breeze. He sat watching
their silken convolutions, stupidity, for
awhile, then rose and closed his win
dow, and raised the window on the
south for purposes of air.
AS he turned to adjust his transom.
something white thrust under the
door caught his eye, and he walked
over and drew 1t across the SILL II
was sealed note. He opened it,
reading 1t as he walked back to the
droplight burning beside his bed:
Did you not mean to say goodby? Be-
cause 1t Is to be goodby for long, long
time-for all our lives-as long as we live
as long as the world lasts and longer.
-unless you care to say 1t to me.
stood studying the note for
while. Presently, lighting q match,
The set fire to 1t and carried it blazing
to the CRATE and flung it In, watching
the blackened ashes curl up, glow,
whiten and fall In flakes to the hearth
Then he went out into the corridor
and traversed the hall to the passage
which led to the bay window. There
was nobody there. Moving swiftly, he
walked the length Of the corridor and,
halting at her door, knocked once
After a moment the door swung
open. He stepped forward into the
room, closing the door behind him, and
confronted the tall girl standing there
silhouetted against the lamp behind
her.
"You are insane to do thisv' she
whispered. Il let you In for fear you'd
knock again"
II went to the bay window" he said.
"You went too late. | was there an
hour ago. waited. Do you know
what time 1t is?"
Come to the bay window" he said,
ri you fear me here"
do you know it is nearly o'clock r.
she repeated. And you leave at G."
"Shall we say goodby hereT" he ask
ed coolly.
Certainly, l dare not go out And
you-do you know the chances we are
running? You must be perfectly mad
to come to my room. Do you think
anybody could have seen--heard YOU
mo. Good night" He offered his
hand. She laid both of hers in 1t. He
could scarcely distinguish her features
where she stood dark against the bril-
liant light behind her.
"Goodby," he whispered. kissing her
hands whoro fhov Inv In h}c