The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-05-21
" ---- =.
IT. Fsef,+;r.6
: AZ = lc5IA I1E2S
Chance. e eR i + y:
o0pynEhL ~ curas Pub2ahtnr ,onpAny
Copyright W Cnanber
tContinuea.J

confronting one another.
What Is the matterr' demanded
Plank. AT the club they told me you
were asleep in the card room. didn't
tell Leila. What is wrong?"
'I'm-Tm dead broke" said Morti
mer harshly BILLY Fleetwood tool
my paper. Can you help me out? It's
due tomorrow"
Plank looked at him gravely, but
made no answer.
"Can you?" repeated Mortimer VIC
ently. Haven't / done enough for
you? Haven't done enough for ev-
erybody? Is anybody going to show
me any consideration? Look at Quar-
riePs manner to me just now! And
this very day | did him a service that
all his millions can't repay. And there
you stand, too. staring at me as though
/ were some importuning shabby gen
teel limiting around for an opening to
touch you. Yes, you dol And this
very day l have done for you the-the
most vital thing-the most sacred ia
vor one man can do for another
tie Matted, stam1nered something In
coherent, his battered eyes wet with
tears. The man was a wreck-nerves
stamina, mind on the very verge of
collapse
"I'll help you, of course" said Plank.
eying him. go home now and sleep.
tell you I'll help you in the morning
Don't give way. Have you no grit?
Pull up Sham. I tell youl"
But Mortimer had fallen into a chair.
He began to ramble and even to laugh
weakly. passing his puffy. shaking
hands across his eyes,
Its good Of you, Beverly. APP
preciate it. But I've been good to
you. You're all to the good, my boy
Understand? All to the good. l fxe'
II. did 1t for you. You can have
your innings now. You can have hel
when you want her, tell you"
''What do you mean?" said Plank
menacingly.
"Mean! mean what told you
that day at Black Fells, when we were
riding. told you you had chance to
win out. Now the chance has come
same's told you. Start in, and by the
time you're ready to say 'Whenr she'll
be there with the bottle"
II don't think you are perfectly
sane yet" said Plank slowly.
LET it go at that, them" staggered
Mortimer, struggling to his feet
'eBring Leila back. I'm all in. I'm go |
ing home. You'll be around In the t
Won't your
Eyes," said Plank. "Have you got
4 cabw
Mortimer had one The glass and
ron doors changed behind him, and
Plank, waiting a moment, sighed.
-Aised his head and, encountering the
curious gaze Of servant trudged off
lpstairs ag9in.
The game had ended at both tables
Quarter ami Agatha stood by the wiz
low together, conversing in low voice.
3elwether at desk, sat muttering
md fussing with check book. The
thers were in Sylvia's apartments
A few moments later Kemp Ferrall
rrived in the best of spirits, verT
ouch inclined to consider the night a
till young, but his enthusiasm me-
Nth no response. and presently he de-
arted with his wife and Marion in
heir ht0 opr
Leila, in her wraps. emerged in Il !
aw momen }, looking at Plank out OF :
erious eyes, and they made their brief l.
deus and went away in Plank's I
rougham. c
When Agatha's maid arrived Quar-. S
er also ste tied to take his leave, but b
ylvia, seal I'd at card table, idly I
tie cards in geometrical de-
gins and fanciful arabesques, looked
D at him, saying: