Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1908-09-04
aware OF II but Quarter knew ii

There was DOma thing wrong.
il was too late now to go tinkering
IN the dark Tor trouble. Plank under
stood that. Goolly, as though utterly
unaware that the machinery might not
stand the strain. he started ii full
speed. And when he stopped it al Inst
Harrington's grist had been ground fo
atoms ana Quarter had looked on 81,
without comment. There seemed is 80
little more for them to do except, to
pay the miller.
y Tomorrow, said Quarter, rising
TO go, It was on the edge Of Plank's
lips to say To-day, |. but he was silent,
knowing that Harrington would speak
for him. And the old man did, with
out words, turning his Iron yisage on
Quarter with the silent dignity Of
despair But Quarter coldly demand
ed a day before they reckoned with
Plank. And Plank, profoundly dis
turbed, shrugged his massive shoulders
in contemptuous assent. 81
b So Quarter and Harrington went
away. the younger partner taking
leave Of the older with a sneer for an
soutworn prop which no man could
ever again have use for. Old and
beaten, that was all Harrington now
stood for In Quarters eyes. The least
of his victims might now finish him
with q club where he swayed In his
1loosenei saddle or leave him to that
horseman on the pale horse watching
him yonder on the horizon
For now. whether Harrington lived
or died, he must be counted ais nothing
In this new struggle darby outlining
Its initial strategy in Quarters brain.
What was coming was coming be-
tween himself and Plank alone. The
result must be attained swiftly, with
secrecy and with the aid Of no man.
For he did not count Mortimer man.
At the door Of Major Belwether's
house Sylvia's maid received Quarter
smilingly. saying that her mistress was
not at home, but that Mrs. Mortimer
was which saved Quarter the neces-
sity OF asking for q private conference
with Leila, which was exactly what
he had come for. But her first I'M
guarded words on receiving him as he
rose at her entrance into the darkened
drawing room changed that plan, too
changed it all SO utterly and SO much
for the better that he almost smiled to
think Of the crudity of human combs
nations and inventions as compared to
the mastery Vaccinations OF fate.
Leila said, laughingly:: ooh, you are
too late, Howard. We are dining with
Mr.. Plank at Riverside inn. What la
the world are you doing in town SO
suddenly u
a business telegram. might have
come down with you and Sylvia IL /
had known. Is Plank dining with you
aloneT' 5=5!4 &
Il haven't seen him. smiled Leila
evasiyely. He Will tell us his plans
Of course when he comes. ~ "
"oh!' said Quarter, dropping his
eyes and glancing furtiyely toward the
cErtained windows. At the instant a
hanson drove up. Sylvia sprang out,
ran lightly up the low steps, and the
silent, shrouded house rang with the
clamor of the bell.
Leila looked cur.ously at Quarter,
who sat motionless, head partly avert
ed, az though listening to something
heard by him alone. He believed per-
haps that he was listening to the voice
Of fate again, and 1t may have been
so. for already for the third time all
his plans were changing to suit this
new ally Of his--this miraculous fate
which was shaping matters for him
as he waited. Sylvia had started up
stairs like "a fragrant whirlwind, but
her flying feet halted at Lei,a's con
strained voice from the drawing room,
and she spun around and came into
the darkened room like an April breeze.
Leila! They'll be here at a quarter
to r.
Her breath seemed to leave her body
as a shadowy figure rose In the un.
certain light and confronted her.
!'You!'
He said, Didn't you recognize the
car outsider a
She had not even seen 1t, SO excited,
SO deeply engaged had she been with
the riotous tumult of her own thoughts.
And still her hurt, upbelieving gaze
widened to dismay as she stood there
halted on the threshold, and still his
eyes, narrowing, held her under their
expressionless inspection.
when did you come? Why?, she
asked in an altered voice.
came on business. Naturally, be.
ing here, 1 came to see you. i under.
stand you are dining out?'
Yes, we are dining OUT
am sorry didn't wire you, because
we might have dined together. saw
Plank this afternoon. He did not say
you We're to dine with him. Shall
see you later In the evening Sylvan,
lit will be too late n \
ooh, tomorrow then! What train dc
you take?'
Sylvia did not answer. He picked
up his hat repeating the question care
lessly, and still she made no reply.
"Shall see you tomorrow he ask
ed, swinging on her rather suddenly
set tIinlr-uot lI-fterf. will sha mr.