The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-07-30
CContinued.)
bad put an entirely new aspect.

rier to change. Something had gone
wrong In his own careful calculations
some cog had slipped, some rivet CIV
en- way, some bed plate cracked. And
Harrington evidently had not been
aware of it, but Quarter knew it.
There was something wrong.
1t was too late now to go tinkering
in the dark for trouble Plank under
stood that Coolly. as though utterly
unaware that the machinery might not
stand the strain, he started it full
speed. And when he stopped it at last
Harrington's grist had been ground to
atoms and Quarter had looked on
without comment There seemed to be
little more for them to do except to
/ pay the miller
Tomorrow" said Quarter, rising
| to go. 1t was on the edge Of Planks
lips to say Today" but he was silent,
knowing that Harrington would speak
for him. And the old man did. with
out words, turning his iron vlsage on
Quarter with the silent dignity of
despair. But Quarter coldly demand
ed day before they reckoned with
Plank. And Plank, profoundly dis
turbed, shrugged his massive shoulders
In contemptuous assent.
So Quarter and Harrington went
away, the younger partner taking
leave of the older with a sneer for an
outworn prop which no man could
ever again have use for. Old and
beaten, that was all Harrington nov
stood for in Quarters eyes. The least
of his victims might now finish him
with a club where he swayed in his ,
loosened saddle or leave him to that
horseman on the pale horse watching
him yonder on the horizon
For now whether Harrington lived
or died, he must he counted as nothing
in this new struggle darkly outlining
its initial strategy in Quarters brain.
What was coming was coming be-
tween himself and Plank alone. The
result must he attained swiftly, with
secrecy and with the aid of no man.
For he did not count Mortimer a man.
At the door of Major Belwether's
house Sylvia's maid received Quarter
smilingly, saying that her mistress was
not at home but that Mrs. Mortimer
was-which saved Quarter the neces-
Eity of asking for a private conference
with Leila, which was exactly what !
he had come for But her first IN
guarded words on receiving him as he
rose at her entrance into the darkened
drawing room changed that plan, too
it all so utterly and so much
for the better that he almost smiled to
think of the crudity of human combi-
nations and inventions as compared to
the mastery Vaccinations of fate.
Leila said, laughingly: "Oh, you are I
90 late, Howard. We are dining with
Mr. Plank at Riverside inn. What in
he world are you doing in town so
a business telegram. l might have
.ome down with you and Sylvia if l "
lad known. Is Plank dining with you p
llonap'
II haven't seen him." smiled Leila Il
HE will tell as his plans j
f course when lie comes" a
ooh" said Quarter, dropping his t.
yes and giancing furttyely toward the f,
urtained windows. At the instant a G
ansom drove up. Sylvia sprang out,
an lightly up the low steps, and the -
ilent shrouded house rang with the w
lamor of the bell. VI
Leila looked curiously at Quarter, dt
rho sat motionless, head partly avert 10
d, as though listening to something nc
card by him alone He believed per-
APPS that he was listening to the voice
{ fate again, and it may have been 3
}, for already for the third time all III
Is plans were changing to suit this OF
ew ally Of his-this miraculous fate pr
.hich was shaping matters for him re
he waited Sylvia had started up W.
airs like a fragrant whirlwind but
Or flying feet halted at Leila's con ~
rained voice from the drawing room, ie
Id she spun around and came into De
lie darkened room like an April breeze. Hi
Leila! They'll be here at a quarter as
r. th
Her breath seemed to leave her body hi,
a shadowy figure rose in the I'M n,
rtain light and confronted her.
''You"
He said Didn't you recognize the
r outsider" de
She had not even seen 1t, so excited, irr
deeply engaged had she been with the
g riotous tumult of her own thoughts
al still her hurt, unbelievlng gaze 20,
dened to dismay as she stood there to-
lied on the threshold, and still his
e.. narrowing. held her under their rev
Inspection.
when did YOU come? Why?' she
ked in an altered voice.
4 came on business. Naturally, be. wa
, here came to see you. | under. MAJ
md you are dining OUT ~
Yes, we are dining out" ~
Tn sorry didn't wire you, because wy, ,0o
might have dIned together. saw NO
INK this afternoon. He did not say Dis
j were to dine with him. Shall l six
vou later In the evening, Sylvia" IT'S