Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-02-28
The Fighting
Chance. gosE + v
Curtis Publishing
w.

pldln ludI ALudlBdudtGu 10 Sllo, IA
Quarter wants it to be. And unless he
does he's crazy"
Mortimer, squirting sideways at
Plank and seeing him still occupied
with Fleetwood, turned bluntly on
OHara:
''See here, what do you mean by be,
ing nasty to Plank?' he growled I'm
backing him. Do you understands"
ut is curious" unused O'Hara cooi-
", chow much of cad fairly de
cent man can be when he's out of tenn
per-"
"You mean Plank or meY' demanded
Mortimer, darkening angrily.
mo; / mean myself I'm not that
way usually. l took him for bound
err and he's caught me with the goods
on I've been thinking that the men
who bother with such questions are
usually open to suspicion themselves.
Watch me do the civil now. I'm
ashamed of myself"
''Wait a moment. Will you be civil
enough to do something for him at the
PATRONS? That will mean some
thing"
sis he up? Yes, / WILL" and, turn
ing in his chair, he said to Plank;
lawfully sorry acted like bounder
just now after having accepted your
hospitality at the Fells did mean
to be offensive, and I'm sorry for that
too. Hope you'll overlook it and be
friendly"
Plank's 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.
II should be very glad to be friends
with you" he said, with an ingenu-
Gus 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 gratified Mortimer be-
| cause he saw that 1t was going to
make many matters much easier fol
himself and his protege.
| The tall glasses were filed and drain
ed again before they departed to the
cold plunge and dressing rooms above
whence presently they emerged IL
street garb to drive downtown and
lunch together at the Lenox club
Plank as Fleetwood's guest
Having O'Hara and Fleetwood tt
give him countenance, Mortimer man
aged to make Plank known PERSONAL,
to several governors of the club ant
to dozen members, then left him t.
hts fate, whence presently Fleetwood
and O'Hara extracted him, fate a
that moment being personif1ed by /
garrulous old gentleman, one Pete
Caithness. who divided with Majo
Belwether the distinction of being tn,
club bore. and together they pilote'
him to the billiard room, where h
beat them handily for dollar poin
at everything they suggested.
'You play almost as pretty gam
as Stephen Siward used to play" sab
o'Hara cordially. you've something
of his cue something o
his internal facility and touch. Hash
he, Fleetwood?"
II wish Siward were back here,
said Fleetwood thoughtfully, return
ing his cue to his own rack 81 wor
der what he does with himself--wher
he keeps himself all the while7 VIVA
the devil Is there for a man to do
he doesn't do anything? He's not e
ing out anywhere since his mother
death. He has no clubs TO go to. III
derstand. What does he do-go to hi
Office and come back and sit In the
shabby old brick house all day an
blink at the bum portraits of his bur
and distinguished ancestorsT'
, For awhile they talked of Siwar
and of his unfortunate story lad tn
pity of it, and when the two me
ceased:
> "Do you know" said Plank midi.
II don't believe he ever did it."
j O'Hara looked up surprised, the
. shrugged Unfortunately he doesn
deny 1t, you see"
] II heard" said Fleetwood, ightin
a cigarette, ''that he did deny it; tn;
e he said, no matter what his conditio
t was, he couldn't have done It If I
: had been sober the governors woul
have been bound TO take his word
honor. But he couldn't give that, yo
a see. And after they pointed out
: him that he had been in no conditic
: TO know exactly what he did dc, |
!. shut up And they dropped him, ar
]. he's falling yet"
Lord! wish Siward were bat
, here He was good deal of a ma
= after ali. Tom"
: They We're unconsciously using II
: past tense in discussing slward,
? though he were dead, either physics
: ly or socially.
In one way he was always a 81
gularly decent man" unused O'Hara.
How exactly do you mean?'
: ooh. about wOmenr'
81 believe it too. If be did take th
! Vyse girl into the PATRONS II was h
: limit with her, ami I believe his lin
= with any woman He was absurd