The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-03-17
copyrighs By Harper . Brothers


you WELL" she shot back, as the door
closed behind her.
But by this time Coward had as
sumed a superior attitude. Dave"
he said. II won't fight over a quarrel
OF this kind. But remember, there are
some things In which no man allows
another to Interfere. Least of all such
a man as you. There are ways of get
ting back, and I'll get back"
why such man as me? / know I
haven't been much of moralist in
business matters-rve been in the
wrong company for that-but / draw
the line"
''Oh. you're fine stuff, all right.
What would your friend Miss Hardy
think II I told her all know?"
"You know nothing that could affect
Miss Hardy's opinion
Its too bad your memory is so
POOR" Coward sneered. "Why were
your lights Off that night passed your
carr Oh, guess you remember What
will Miss Hardy think of that?"
For moment DIVE was unable to
follow Conwards thought. Then his
mind reached back to that night he
drove into the country with Bert Nor
rison, when on the brow of hill he
switched Off his lights that they might
better admire the majesty Of the
heavens. That Coward should place
an evil Interpretation upon that Incl
dent was thing so monstrous, so al
40
fell back upon the basic human meth
cd reserved for such occasions. His
fist leaped forward, and Coward
crumpled up before it.
Coward lay stunned for few min
utes, then. with returning conscious
ness. he tried to sit up. Dave helped
him to chair. Blood flowed down his
face. and as he began to realize what
had occurred II was joined with tears
Of pain, rage, humiliation.
"You got that one on me- Eden" he
said, after a while. But ii was
towards blow. You hit me when l
wasn't looking. Very well. Two can
play at that game. I'll hit when you're
not looking where you don't ex-
pect II where you can't hit back.
l know the stake you're playing for,
and-rm going to spoil it," He turned
his swollen. bloody face to Dawes, and
hatred stood up in his eyes as he ut
tered the threat. 'I'll hit you, Dave"
he repeated. "where you can't hit
back"
Thanks for the warming" said FL
den. $50 Irene Hardy is to be the
stake. All right, I'll sit in. And I'll
win"
You'll think you've won," returned
Coward, leeringly. "and then you'll
find out that you didn't. I'll present
her to you, Dave, like that" He lifted
a burnt match from an ash-tray and
held IL before him.
Dawes impulse was to seize the
thick. fiabby throat in his hands and
choke II lifeless. With a resolute eff
fort he turned TO the telephone and
lifted the receiver
send car and a doctor to Coward
Elden's Office" he said when he had
got the desired number. "Mr. Con-
ward has been hurt-feIl against
desk, or something. Nothing serious,
but may need a stitch or two" Then.
turning to Coward: at will depend
on you whether this affair gets to the
public--on you and Miss Wardin.
Make your own explanations. And as
soon as you are able to be about our
partnership will be dissolved"
Coward was ready enough to adopt
Dawes suggestion that their quarrel
should not come to the notice of the
public. and Gladys Wardln, apparent
ly. kept her own counsel In the mat
ter. In time when firms were going
out OK business without even the for
mality OF an assignment, and others
were being absorbed by their COMPETE
tors, the dissolution of the Coward &
Eden establishment occasioned no
more than passing notice. The ex-
PLANTATION, afor business reasons"
given to the newspapers, seemed suffi-
cient.
Irene Hardy found herself In POI
sltion Of increasing delicacy. Since the
day Of their conversation in the tea
room Dave had been constant in his
attentions, but, true to his ultimatum,
had uttered no word that could In any
way be construed to be more or less
than plstonic. She had now no doubt
that she felt for Dave that attachment
without which ceremonies are without
avail and with which ceremonies are
but ceremonies. And yet she shrank
from surrender. +. And she knew
that some day she must surrender.
The situation was complicated by
conditions which involved her mother
and Coward. 1t was apparent that
Conward's friendship for Mrs. Hardy
did not react to Dawes advantage.
Coward was careful to drop no word
IN Irene's hearing that could be taken
- . direct reflection upon Dave. but
she was conscious of an influence, a
magnetism, II almost seemed, the
whole tendency Of which was to pull