The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-07-02

Net 1t 90 at t""' going when
then" 80 o.,
what do you want to know forT'
asked Mortimer sullenly.
"Why III tell you, Leroy. If you
have any idea of identifying yourself
with Quarters people, of seeking him
At this iuncture with the expectation
a investing any money in his schemes.
YOU had better not do So"
"Investing." sneered Mortimer. well,
no. not exactly, having nothing to in
vest thanks to my being swindled in
Joining his Amalgamated Electric
nng Don't worry. If there's any
Ibsking down to be done I'll do 1t. nv
memo AM ne rose ana Started TO
ward the elevators.
Wait" said Plank why, man;
YOU can't brighten Quarter. What did
you sell your holdings for? Why didn't
you come to us-to me? What's the
use of going to Quarter now and
rolding? You can't scare man like
that
Mortimer fairly grinned in his face.
your big mistake" be sneered, lis
IN undertaking. others. l want you to
understand few things, my friend,
and one of them is that I'm not afraid
Of Quarter. and another is I'm not
afraid of YOU"
leroy
mo not afraid of you either! re-
peated Mortimer, with an ugly stare.
you keep civil tongue In your head
after this-do you understand?-and
we'll get on all right If you don't,
I've the means to make your
Are you crazyT'
"Not a Bit of 1t. Too sane for you
and Leila to hoodwinkw
"You are crazy!' repeated Plank,
aghast
Am |? You and Leila can take the
matter into court If you want to-un-
less do. And"-here he leaned for
ward, showing his teeth again-"the
next time you kiss her close the door,!
Then he went away up the marble
steps and entered an elevator, and
Plank, grave and pale. went out into
the street and entered his big touring
car But the drive up town and
through the sunlit park gave him no
pleasure, and he entered his great
house with a heavy, lifeless step, head
bent as though counting every crevice
In the stones under his tagging feet.
For the first time in all his life he was
afraid Of a man.
The man he was afraid of had gone
directly to Quarters office, missing
the gentleman he was seeking by such
a small fraction of a minute that be
realized they must have passed eaci
other in the elevators. he ascendin-
while Quarter was descending.
Furious to think of the time he had
wasted with Plank. he crawled into
hanson and babe the driver take hi2
to q number he gave. designating on
Of the new limestone basement houses
on the upper west side.
All the way up town as he Jolie3
about IN his seat he angrily regrettel
the meeting with Plank even In spite
Of the check. What demon had pos
SeSsed him to boast-to display hi
hand when there had been no neces
styt Plank was still ready to give
MIN aid at a crisis, had always been
ready Time enough when Plank turn
ed stingy to use persuasion.
he lay back, rolling abOut~tn th'
Iouncing cab, scowling at space.
I'll shake down Quarter" he sal
10 himself. "T'll make him pay for his
misunderstanding me out of Amalga
mated That will! be restitution, no.
sItortionr'
he was angry because he had been
Ior days screwing up his courage 70
NE point of seeking Quarter face to
race He had not wished to do 1t. The
scene and his own attitude In 1t coul!
only be repugnant to him, although he
continually explained to himself thar
was restitution, not extortion.
Oh he groaned, what an ass
am And he got out of his cab IL
front OF very new limestone base
ment house with red geraniums bloom
'uS On the window stills and let him.
sell in with latchkey.
The Interior of the house was attrac-
ave IN a rather bright, new, clean
fashion. The maid, too who appeared
al The sound of the closing door anu
'ooN his hat and gloves was as newly
hroomcd as the floors and woodwork
ana So noiseless as to be conspicuous
Id ner swift, silent movements.
Anybody here?" he growled, leer
Jug INTO the drawing room at a tin
krhMN nlnnn nnrnd In nnrnrnlahad Cli.-