The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-08-06

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knew how, when or where-had be-
come suspicious Of Agatha and him
self; with Major Belwether, who had
deserted him before he could sacrifice
the major and whom he now hated
and feared for having stumbled over
suspicious similar to Mrs. Mortimer's.
he had to deal with Sylvia herself
and with Siward-reckOn with ST.
wards knowledge Of matters which 1t
were hest that sylvia should not know
But first Of all and most important
Of all he had to deal with Beverly
Plank. And he was going to do 1t In
q manner that Plank could not have
toreseen. He was going to stop Plank
where he stood, and to do this he was
deliberately using his knowledge of
the man and paying Plank the COM
pliment of counting on his sense of
honor to defeat him.
For he had suddenly found the OPP
portunity to defend himself He had
discovered the joint in Plank's old
fashioned armor-the armor of the old
paladins, who placed woman's hon
or before all else in the world Now,
through his creature, Mortimer, he
could menace Plank with threat to
involve him and Leila in vile publici
~. Plank must sign the truce or face
with Leila an action for damages and
divorce.
First of all he went to the Lenox
club and dressed. Then he dined spar
lngly and alone. The motor car was
waiting when he came out ready to
run down to the great Hotel Corona,
whittier the Japanese steward had con-
Quoted Mortimer. Mortimer had dined
heavily, but his disorganized physical
condition was such that 1t had scarce
" affected him at all.
Again Quarter went over patiently
and carefully the very simple part he
had reserved for Mortimer that even
ing, explaining exactly what to say to
Leila and what to say to Plank In case
Of insolent interruption. Then he told
Mortimer to be ready at O'Clock.
turned on his heel with curt word to
the Japanese, descended to the street,
sntered his motor car again and sped
away to the Hotel Santa Regina.
Miss Caithness was at home, came
the message in exchange for his cards |
Tor Agatha and Mrs. vendenning. He |
entered the gilded elevator, stepped |
,ut on the sixth floor into tiny. ro- |
>oco, public reception room. Nobody |
A rpo4 a
maid came presently, and he turned
md followed her into the large and
very handsome parlor belonging to the
Iuit which Agatha was occupying with
drs. Vendenning for the few days that
hey were to stop in town.
"Heiloy' she said serepely, saunter-
ng In, her long. pale hands bracketed
n her narrow hips, her lips disclosing
lar teeth In smile so Hike that terv-
us muscular recession which passed
or smile on Quarters visage that
or one moment he recognized 1t and
bought she was hooking him. But
he strolled up to him. meeting his eye
aImly. and lifted her slim neck, lips
assive under his impetuous kiss.
els Mrs. yendenning outf' he asked.
aying his hands on the bare shoulders
{ the tall. pallid girl-tall as he and
s pallid.
mo, Mrs. Ven. is in, Howard"
snow? You mean she is coming IN
, interrupt
ooh, no! she isn't fond of you,
Toward"
you said"- he began almost an
rily, but she laid her fingers across
is lips.
81 said very foolish thing, How
rd. said that I'd manage to dis
pnse with Mrs Ven. this evening"
"You mean that you couldn't manage
?"
mot at all. | could easily have man
yed II. Butt didn't care to-"
She looked at him calmly at close s
,npe as he held her embraced lifted
ar arms ahd with slender white fin
,rs patted her hair into place where
: arm around her head had disar-
nged II. watching him all the while
II of her pale. haunted eyes g
n