The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-02-12

to the perfectly proper methods en-
ployed by his newly self constituted
guide and mentor No; that was no
concern of TIank's All he had to do
was to be ready. AS for Quarter any
body could forecast his action when
once convinced of Sylvia's behavior.
He lay there bordering several meth
DDS importing the sad but neces-
sary information to Quarter. one
thing was certain-there was not now
time aough before the house party
dissolved to mold Plank into acqul-
escent obedience That must be fin
Ished in town unless Plank invited him
to stay at the Fels after his time was
up at Shotoyer. BY heaven, that was
the idea! Aud there'd be a chance for
him at cards, Only, of course, Plank
would ask Leila too. But what did he
care? He was no longer afraid of her.
He'd o1n be Independent of her and
her pittance.
And so. Immersed IN the details OF
his dirty little drama, he pondered over
the possibility of an Interior gentle
man as he moved heavily to and fro,
dressing himself, his neuralgia being
much better, and presently descended
the stairs to find everybody absent,
engaged, as a servant explained, in a
game of water basket ball in the
swimming pool So he strolled off to-
ward the north wing of the house,
which had been built for the squash
courts and swimming pool.
The Page boys and REM and Eileen,
on one size, were playing the last
match game against Sylvia, Marion
Page. Siward and Ferrall on the other,
The big, slipping, glistening ball was
flying about through storms of spray.
Marion caught it, but her brother Cor
don got 1t away Then Ferrall secur-
ed it and dived toward the red goal,
but Rena Bonnesdel caught him under
water; the ball bobbed up, and Sylvia
flung both arms around 1t with lit
tie warning shout and hurled 1t back
at Siward who shot forward like an
arrow, his opponents gathering about
him In flu cry amid laughter and ex-
cited applause from the gallery, where
Grace Ferrall and Captain Voucher
were wildly offering odds on the blue
and Aldeidene and Major Belwether
were thrifty booking them.
Mortimer climbed the slippery mar
BILE stairway as fast as his lack OF
breath permitted, anxious for his
share OF the harvest If the odds were
right. He managed to make several
apparently desirable wagers with
Kathryn Tassel and one with Beverly
plank. who was also obstinately back
ing the blues, the losing side. Sylvia
played forward for the blues.
Suddenly through the confused blur
of foam and spray the big, glistening
ball shot aloft and remained.
"Blue! Bluer' exclaimed Grace Fer
rail-. clapping her hands, and a little
whirlwind of cries and hand clapping
echoed from the gallery as the breath
less swimmers came climbing out OF
the pool with scarcely wind enough
left for word or strength for ges.
ture toward the laughing crowd above
Mortimer. disgusted. turned away
already casting about him for soinr
body to play cards with, 1t being his
and his temper to throw
good money after bad. But Quarries
and Miss fitness had already &c.
turned TO thc squash courts. the ma.
iority Of the winners to their sever.
ll dressing rooms and Grace Ferrall's
party, equipped for motoring, to the
lawn. where they lost little time In
disappearing into the golden haze
which ST len shift of wind had
spun out of the cloudless afternoons
sunshine.
However he got Marion and also, as
usual. the two men who had made n
practice OF taking away his money.
Major Belwether and Lord Alderdene
He hadn't particularly wanted them.