The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-04-09

VERY much in" replied the other
frankly. You've read the papers aud
heard rumOrs. suppose?'
Some. I don't suppose anybody
quite understands the attacks on Anal
gamated"
81 don't-not yet Do your"
Plank sat silent; then his shrewd
under lip began to protrude.
''Tm wondering" he began cautious
", how much the Algonquin crowd
understands about the matterT
siward's troubled eyes were on him
as he spoke, watching closely, mar
Bowly.
"Fve heard that rumor before" he
said.
$50 have l." said Plank, "and i
seems incredible." He looked warily
at Siward. Suppose 1t is true that
the Algonquin Trust company is god
; father to Intercounty. That doesn't
explain why man should kick his
own door down when there's bell to
ring and servants to let him inland
out again too
/ 81 have wondered" said Siward,
whether the door he might be inclin
Cd to kick down is really his own door
any longer
/ Il, too" said Plank simply. at may
belong to a personal enemy-if he has
any. He could afford to have an enc
my, suppose"
Eiward nodded
| "Then hadn't you better-I beg your
/! pardon! You have not asked me to
advise you"
"No. 1 may ask your advice some
day. Will you give 1t when / dor"
/ with pleasure" said Plank, so
warmly disinterested, so plainly proud
and eager to do a service that Siward,
surprised and touched. found no word
! to utter.
Plank rose. Siward attempted to
stand up, but had trouble with his
| arutches
! "Please don't try" said Plank, com
ing over and offering his hand. MAY
stop in again soon? oh, you are Off
TO the country for a month or two? !
zee. You don't look very well. hope
4 viii benefit you Awfully glad to
! have seen YOU II hope you won't
| forget me-entirely."
~~"I am the man people are forget
ting" returned Siward, mot you. 1t
was very nice of you to come, You
are one of very few who remember me
at ALL"
'T have very few people to remem-
ber." said Plank, land If / had as
many as I could desire should re-
member you first"
Here he became very much embar-
rassed. Siward offered his hand again.
Plank shook 1t awkwardlv and went
away on uproe down the stairs, which
creaked decorously under his weight,
And that ended the first interview
between Plank and Siward In the first
| days of the latters decline.
| The months that passed during 81
wards absence from the city began
TO prove rather eventful for Plank.
/ He was finally elected member OF
the PATRONS club without serious OPP
position; he had dined twice with the
Kemp Ferralls; he and Major Bel
wether were seen together at the Cath
ness dance and in the Caithness box
at the opera. Once respectable news
paper reported him at Tuxedo Tor the
weeks end; his name, linked with the
clergy, frequently occupied SUCH space
under the column headed "Ecclesias-
teal News" as was devoted TO the
proeress of the new chapel, and many
old ladies began to become familiar
with his name.
At the right moment the Mortimers
featured him between two fashionable
bishops at dinner. Mrs. Vendenning'
who adored bishops, Immediately re-
/ membered him among those asked TO
her famous annual bal poudre, cele-
hrated yacht club admitted him to
membership, whole shoai OF excel
lent minor clubs which really needed
new members followed suit, and even
the rocksibbed Lenox, wearied or It's
own time honored immobility, display
| ed the preliminary fdgets which Dodeo
well for the stolid candidate.