The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-08-13

eomfortable. even Apprehensive. Sc
cause OF their frank intimacy. But b.
had never had the opportunity to do 5,
without deliberately dra-ging 10 N.
subject by the ears In all its ugIiness
and implied reproaeh for her impru
dence and seeing that dreadful. va
can't change In Leila's face which the
mere mention OF her husbands name
was sure TO bring turn into horror IN
speakable.
man not prone TO fear his fellows.
be now feared Mortimer. but that fear
struck hin only through Leila or had
80 reached hIa until the days OF his
closing struggle with Quarter. That
threat OF No-timer's 10 involve Plank
with Leila In one common ruin. that
boast that he was able to do so could
not be ignored as a possible weapon If
Quarter should by any chance learn of
It
In all his life he had taken Leila
into his arms but once. had kissed her
but once. But that once had been
enough TO arm Mortimer with danger
from head to foot. Some prying serv-
ant had either listened or seen-per-
haps a glimmer OF a mirror had be
trayed then. At all events whoever
had seen OF heard had informed Nor
! timer, and Low the man was equipped,
1 the one and only man in all the world
who could with truth accuse Plank.
the only man of whom he stood in
honest fear.
And 1t was characteristic of Plank
that never for one moment had 1t oc-
Cured to him that the sheer fault of
I 1t all lay with Leila; that 1t was her
tmprudence alone that now threatened
herself and the man she loved-that
threatened his very success In life as
long as Mortimer should live.
All this Plank, in his thorough, pains
taking review of the subject, had TAX
en- into account, and he could not see
how It could possibly bear. upon the
matters now finally to be adjusted be-
tween Quarter and himself, because
Quarter was in New York and Nor
timer In Saratoga, and unless the lat |
ter had already sold his Information
the former could not strike at him
through knowledge of 1t.
And vet n curious reluctancy, hest |
tation Xplicable-unless overwork |
explained it-had come over him when |
Siward had proposed their dining -
getner on the very eve OF his complet
ed victory over Quarter
1t seemed absurd, and Plank was
too stolid to entertain superstitions. |
but he could not even with Leila
laughing there beside him, shake off !
the dull instinct that all was not WELL
that Quarters attitude was still the
attitude of a dangerous man; that he
plank should have had this evening
in his room alone to study out the
matters he had so patiently plodded
through in the long hours while ST.
ward slept
Yet not for one instant did he dream
Of shifting the responsibilities re-
sponsibility entailed blame-on Siward
who, against Planks judgment and
desire, had ON the very eve of con
drawn him away from that
sleepless vigilance which must forever
be the price of business mans safety. I
Leila, gay and excited as school r
girl, Chartered on ceaselessly to Plank; b
Ill the silence, all the secrecy of the T
arid years turning to laughter on her /,
ed lips, pouring out in broken phrases ;
If delight. words strung together for
he sheer pleasure of speech and the
happiness of her lot to be with him IL
F
"And would you believe it, Bever- &
T." she said, 81 formed the habit at h
'hotover of walking across the bound
ry and strolling into your greenhouse
nd deliberately helping myself And 7
very time did it was certain one
f your men would march me out"
He laughed, but did not tell her that
is men had reported the first episode
nd that lie bad instructed them that
FRS. Mortimer and her friends were
} do exactly as they pleased at the '"
ellis However, she knew 1t, because
garrulous gardener, proud of his
ervice with Plank had informed her.
Beverly" she said, you are a dear.
people only knew what l known nc
He began to turn red. She could /,
ee it even in the Pickering lamp shot -
arkness' And she teased him for "
while, very gently, even tenderly, and nc
leir voices grew lower in a half seri- mi
is badinage that ended with a quiet, tn
drawn breath, a sigh and silence. mi
And now the river swept into view. 90
darby luminous sheet set with re- -
.cted stars Mirrored lights cleaned 30
it, Sudden bright yellow flashes pa
ragged into its somber depths. The thu
Hage edged it with deeper gloom. the
-er which, on the heights, twinkled
e mutlcolored lights of Riverside
n. w
Up the broad, gentle grade they Sped
rving in and out among the clumps
trees and shrubbery, then on level,
,eeping in a great circle up to the