The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-05-07


not remained very long In ignorance
of the che, drawn against his bal
ance, if indeed as Mortimer feared,
the bank itself had not communicated
with Plank rs soon as the check was
presented for payment. Therefore
Plank must have been placated by
Leila-how, Mortimer was satisfied NJ
to know.
"Some of these days" he said TO
himself. I'm catch her tripping, and
then there'll be a decent division of
property or - there'll be a divorce"
But, as usual. Mortimer found such
practices more attractive In theory
than in execution, and he was really
quite contented to go on as things
were going, if somebody would see
that he had some money occasionally.
One of these occasions when he need
ed it was approaching. He had made
a "killing" at Desmond's and had used
the money to stop up the more threat
ening gaps In the lettering financial
fabric known as his personal ac-
counts" The fabric would hold for
awhile, but meantime he needed mon
ey to go on with And Leila evidently
had none He tried everybody excepl
Plank He had scarcely the impu-
dence to go to Plank just yet but
when completing the vicious circle he
found his borrowing capacity exhaust
ed and himself once more face to face
with the only hope. Plank, he sat
down to consider seriously the posi-
bility of the matter.
or course Plank owed him more than
he could ever pay-the ungrateful par
enu!-but what Plank had thought of
that check transaction he had never
been able to discover
Somehow or other he must put Plank
under fresh obligations, and that
might have been possible had not
Leila invaded the ground, leaving
nothing, now that Plank was secure in
club life.
OF course the first thing that pre-
scented itself to Mortimer's cOnsidera-
ton was the engineering of Plank $
matrimonial ambitions. Clearly the
man had not changed. He was al
ways at Sylvia's heels He was seen
with her in public. He went to the
Belwether house great deal. No pos
sible doubt but that he was as infat-
uated as ever. And Quarter was go
ing to marry her next November-that
is, If he, Mortimer, chose to keep 81
lent about certain midnight episode
Ut Shotover.
Several times he called up Quarriel
on the phone and made appointments
to lunch with him, but these meeting
never resulted in anything except
luncheons which Mortimer paid for
and matters were becoming desperate
So one day. after having lunched too
| freely, he sat down and wrote Plank
the following note:
NV Dear 3everIy-You will remember
that I once promised you my aid in Sc
| curing what, to you, is the dearest object
| of YOUR existence. / have thought, have
! Wondered. | have given the matter deep
and I NAV add without irreverence, pray
! erful consideration, knowing that the
1 life's happiness Of my closest friend de
/ pended on my Judgment dHb "AoNOttA "NAtN
intelligence to secure for him the oppor-
tunity to crown his life's work by the ac-
/ ouisition of f e brightest Jewel In the Ola
| dem Of old Manhattan.
] "By George. that's wickedly good
thought" chuckled Mortimer, refresh
ing himself with his old standby, a.
apple. quar- cred and soaked in yert
old port. So he sopped his apple ant
swallowed it and picked up his PEI
again, chary Of OVERRIDING it:
All | say to you is, be ready! The time
1. close at hand when you may boldly
make your avowal. But be ready! \!
depends upon the psychological moment
An instant 100 soon. an instant too late
md YOU are lost. And she is lost forever
Pemember! Be faithful; trust In me ans
wait. And the instant say SPEAK.
nour out your soul, my dear frleha' aI q.
De cerIdiii 'oN L. M.
vain.
writing about pouring out maze
him thirsty, so he fortified himseH
several times, and then, sealing tn'
letter, went en-