The Fighting Chance

almost finished drying and dressing her mistress' hair, was called to the do

whether Mrs. Mortimer could receive Mr.

e anybody," and catching a glimpse of the shadowy Mullins dodging a

blotted and still wet; and Leila, with a shrug of resignation, took the blotched scrawl daintily between thumb and forefinger and unfolded it. Behi

erstand that? If you want to know what's the matter with me you'l

d paper on the floor, and held out her hands, plump fingers spread. And when the maid had finished removing the stains and had repolished the pretty hands,

, sullen, inert, the folds of his chin crowded out on his collar, his heavy abdomen cradled on his shor

ce, there was no colour there, none in his lip

?" asked his

s that? Tea? Ugh! it's chocolate. Push i

licate cup on a

urn this morning?" she

r six. How the devil should

s. The loose mouth, the smeared eyes, the palsy-like tremors that twitched the hands where they tightened o

ee Dr. Grisby," s

do," he retorted thickly. "You'll do all the

ll. What

wollen hand acr

t's the limit, this time, if

ing her eyebrows

heel, every pack is crooked! crooked! crooked, by God!" he burst out in a fever, struggling to sit upright, his hands

hysical and mental strain to which she had never become thoroughly hardened. How many such scenes had she witnessed! She could not count them. They differed v

readful fat breathing now filled the silence; and suppos

comes at a bad t

r sort of time? With us, all times are bad. If this is worse than

W

ad grown ghastly, and his uncertain ey

" she asked, turning from

right was growing on his visage, as though for the f

she spoke disdainfully: "Well, I am ready

ower lip hung loose; h

is a shame-a shame! Leroy, look at me! You promised me, on your honour, never to do that again. Have you lied, after all the times I have helped you out, stripped myself, denied myself, put

I've got-t

nge in his face. If he was overdoing it,

!" he mumbled, and moistene

hend. "Plank's!" she repeated slowly, "Pla

last night. I've used

uldn't! How could you?

ille

lways did, like a fierce tonic; and his own cou

omething-give you what you want-force me to give you what you want! You can't frighten me. Th

you understand that

cause, if you di

er is what Plank will think. I didn't mean to do it; I didn't dream of doing it; but

tered face; he sat up straighter in his chair, and, grasping the upholstered arm

temporarily-merely as moral collateral to flash at Burb

lieve him; but he ignored the question and

he interrupted coolly, now un

now? If you are L. Mortimer, so am I. Leila begins with L; so does Leroy, doesn't it? I didn't imitate your two-words-to-a-page autograph. I put my own fist

fright again, and he began to bolster up h

Plank. What are you staring at? Do you suppose I'm not sorry? Do you fancy I d

choked, then, resolutely:

some weeps, then. Turn 'em on and run dry; I'll wait." And he managed to cross one bulky leg over the other and lean back, affecting resigna

e said threateningly. "If he's going to

-ho

er raise something on the house than h

he asked, staring in

I'm damn s

are w

e not inclined to sta

I mean

intend to h

ntend to-no

, and that nervous snickering

sneered. "Do you want to

eadily, "but you can not frigh

or several reasons; first, because I'll name other corespondents and that will make Plank sick; second, beca

th, and rested her head against the back

e in a moment of temptation. You know I had no thought of anything except to borrow enough on my I. O. U.'s to make a killing at Burbank's. I had to show them something big, so I filled in that cheque, not meaning to use it; and before I knew it I'd indorsed it, and was

r?′le which even he shrank from-had shrunk from all these years. For, leech and parasite that he was, Mortimer, however much the dirty acquisition of money might tempt him in theory, had not yet brought himself to the point of attempting the practice, even when in sorest straits and bitterest need. He didn't want to do it; he wished to get along without it, partly because of native inertia and an aversion to the mental nimbleness that he would be required to show as a law-breaker, partly because the word "bl

ically, but he had counted on violence, and he stimulated his own emotions and made them serve him, knowing all the while that in the reaction his ends would be accomplished, as usual. This policy of alternately frightening, dragooning, and supplicating Leila had c

; "that's the true solution; economical administration in domestic matters. Retrenchment, Leila! retrenchment! Fewer folderols. I've a notion to give up that farm, and stop trying to breed those damfool sheep. They cost a thousand apiec

to talk himself out of trouble, so he rambled on in pretence of camaraderie, currying favour, as he belie

eila. I've confidence in you, little girl! You've got me out of s

s brooding; and he began to grow a little restless and anxious as his jocular

And as she made no sound or movement in reply: "As far as Plank goes, haven't I done enough for him to square it? What have we ever got out of him, except a thousand or two now and then when the cards went against me? If I took it,

raised her head and l

are yo

the most arrogant, the most cold-blooded, selfish, purse-proud, inflated nincompoop that ever sat at the head of a director's table. O-ho! Now you're starin

users, and adjusted the squat, gold fob w

ivious that he had expressed himself as able to adjust the ma

iating leer; but she paid him no attention, and he took himself off, confident th

his wife's demeanour toward him. Plank, when he met him, was civil enough, th

e's toadying to Belwether now. I can't do an

n Plank's presence, or the meeker demeanour of a martyr, se

d his wife he learned enough to know that there was nothing to be had from her at present. No doubt the money she raise

if indeed, as Mortimer feared, the bank itself had not communicated with Plank as soon as the cheque was pre

or-there'll be a divorce." But, as usual, Mortimer found such practices more attractive in theory than in execution, and

al accounts." The fabric would hold for a while, but meantime he needed money to go on with. And Leila evidently had none. He tried everybody except Plank. He had scarcely the impudence to go to Plank just yet;

e ungrateful parvenu!-but what Plank had thought of tha

nd that might have been possible had not Leila invaded the gr

nged. He was always at Sylvia's heels; he was seen with her in public; he went to the Belwether house a great deal. No possible doubt but that he was as infa

ative inertia and unwillingness to go to the physical and intellectual exertion o

ber of the house looks like, and then walks around the block to think it over, so Mortimer, sufferi

to lunch with him; but these meetings never resulted in anything excep

ed too freely, he sat down and

, I have given the matter deep and, I may add without irreverence, prayerful consideration, knowing that the life's happiness of my closest friend depended on my jud

ith his old stand-by, an apple, quartered, and soaked in very old port. So he sopp

ological moment. An instant too soon, an instant too late, and you are lost. And she is lost forever. Remember! Be faithful; trust in m

rtified himself several times, and then, sealing the l

uttered. After a while he put the

And as he stood there, hesitating, he glanced up and saw Quarrier entering the Lenox Club. The nex

window corner, drinking vichy and milk and glancing over the afternoon papers. He sa

after glass of chilled wine, which seemed only to make him thirstier. Meantime he listened, really interested, except that his fleshy head was too full of alcohol and his own project to contain additional statistics concerning coaching. Besides

ll his life had trusted to his tongue; and though poorly enough repaid, the few lingual victories remained in his memory, along with an inexhaustible vanity and hope; while hi

ng of hunters, about Ashley Spencer's new stable and his chances at Saratoga with Roy-a-n

intended; he was saying things he had not exactly intended to say, either, in just that way. He

friend; and that Quarrier had long, long undervalued him. Waves of sentiment spread through and through him; his affection for Quarrier dampened his eyes; and still he blabbed o

room. Mortimer, made partly conscious by the pain of Quarrier's vise-like grip, was sober enough to recognise the impropriety of his

rier; he was unveiling the parable; he was stripping metaphor from a carefully precise story. He used Siward's name presently; presently he used Sylvia's name. A moment later-or w

ated Quarrier, deadl

; an

e in the

an' I

him enter

women! See? Respec' sect! Gimme y'han', buzzer-er-brother Quar'er! Your m' fr'en'; I'm your fr'en'. I know how it is. Gotter wife m'own. Rotten one. Stingy! Takes money outte

lounge and lay there, his shirt-front soiled with wine, one fat leg trailing to the floor; not the ideal position for slumber, perhaps, but what difference do attitudes

house; and when eight o'clock approached, and he had not ret

suppose he's forgotten about the Brid

ing, "if Mr. Plank is there,

e desk, and Plank came in from the librar

to speak to me

l you dine with us at eight? Brid

nk y

ou had a note from

es

disreg

you

nk made no comment, "I have no further in

id Plank

I am sorry. We dine at eight,

arden and his under lip protruded, and he folded his great hands, resting them in front of h

r; and she stood a moment at the doorway, smiling to herself, thinking how pleasant it was to come down ready f

in the lack of that hard, brilliant confidence which once characterised her, had developed; as though she were beginning her d??but again, reverting to a softness and charm prematurely

she said, "

ite tie had become disarranged; she raised her hands, halting him, an

"Do you know how prett

be dropping from me like leaves from an autumn sapling. And I feel young en

aid drily, descending

n't love her any m

s low and rather disagre

lvia find to talk about so fre

er wide, old-style mansion of brown stone, with a stoop dividing its ugly

ade for such a man as he to patter through; the velvet-covered stairs were as peculiarly fitted for him as a runway is for a rabbit; the suave pink-and-white drawing-room, the discreet, gray reception-room, the soft, fat rugs, the intricacies of banisters and alcoves and curtained cubby-holes-all refl

women. A few of these she had asked to remain for an informal dinner, and a desperate game later-the sort of people she knew well enough to lose to heavily or win from without remorse-Grace Ferrall, Marion Page, Agatha Caithness. Trusting to

rrecting the pallor incident to the unbroken dissipation of a brilliant season; Marion, with her inevitable cigarette, w

the library, was mauled effusively by the major, returned Qu

to emphasise his words-a habit that Quarrier thoroughly disliked. "Sylvia had a lot of women here playing for the se

at Quarrier with the same inquiring expression,

hat matter," he said carelessly. "Some

ason for any secrecy. All I wrote you was that I proposed to control the

extraordinary suggestion," returned Quarrier coldly

quoted at, or who owns

it has dropped to, I suppose. Most

; I

ating it," added Qu

n Harringto

ybody in particu

rington; because," he went on deliberately, "there are other theor

him out of his ve

ave you

if you'll appoin

een listening, loose-mouthed and intent; "w

quietly that Quarrier never even raised h

can deliver you any considerable block of

ral blocks, if you care t

s eyes were only sceptical. Plank's under lip had begun to protrude ag

here to you, and I do. There's no secrecy about it. Figure out for yourself how much stock I control, and who let it go. Settle your family questions and put your house in order; then invite me to call, and I'll do it. And I have an idea that we are going to

index to his feelings, nor was his icy r

nute; he went over every word again and again, studying, absorbing each letter, each period, the conformation

ver and over Plank's words, and his manner of saying th

omebody. Who? Probably Siward, perhaps Belwether. He would not look at the latter just yet; not for a minute or two. There was time enough to see through that withere

e spoke quietly an

nds. This is a shock to us," he glanced impassively at the shrunken major, "bu

ement had come into his life-a new force was growing out of nothing to confront him, an unfamiliar shape loomed vaguely ahead, throwing its huge distorted shadow across his path. He sensed it with the instinct of kind for kind, not because Plank's millions meant anything to him as a force; not because t

must suspect him of the ruthless crushing power that corrupts or annihilates opposition, mak

this man Plank was casually telling him things which men regard as secrets and as weapons of defence-was actually averting him of his peril,

ressing his soft, pointed beard, Sylvia came in, greeting th

it!" as Plank, following the major and Quarrier, stood aside fo

Plank, she stood listening to the

seen Mr.

said

Is he

t v

to read a letter,

s well enough

aid to you, over the wire, not

o say anything about your

d that I want the horse

fall on the banisters, turning bac

ncial affairs were anything but satisfactory?"-the sw

say that?" d

a mont

" said Pla

something you said, or something

n't k

hen?" she asked, loo

. Considering him for a moment in silence,

nary to a battle royal, nor to dawdle through courses, eliminating for themselves what is not good for them. The men drank a light, sound, aromatic Irish of the major's; th

g negative, "Oh, that perhaps explains it. You're growing positively radiant, you kn

p as Plank turned in his c

n coolly, "but mine will. This," touching a f

reckles you saw at Shotover." And she laughed that sweet, careless laugh of an adolescent and straighte

ondoning the exaggeration; "you're sufficiently sweet as you are. Good people, if you are ready,

for a man," cried Grace. "If it's to

d at Leila,

rd, you're dying, of course, to play with me,

o Plank fell to Sylvia, pitted a

was broken by the butler entering with decant

d heart make, which sent a delicate flush into Agatha's face, and drove the last vestige of lingering thoughtfulness fro

eur. She was thoughtful, excited, delighted, or dismayed by turns, but always wholesomely so; the game for its own sake, and not the stakes, absor

lty that a lapse in his opponents permitted. Agatha, her teeth set in her nether lip, her eyes like living jewels, answered Quarrier's every signal, interpret

eavy-fringed lashes, at moments, his level gaze encountered her's with a slow narrowing of lids-as though there was m

l eyes to wander toward Agatha from moment to moment. How alluring her subtle beauty, in its own strange way! How perfect her accord with her partner! How faultless her intelligence, div

f shadowy lightning across her throat; a single splendid jewel glowed o

y voice as he played the last trick and

new pack. Marion Page coolly laid aside her cigare

?" asked Sy

" growle

whisked a wonderful dummy across the green; and Plank's thick under l

she should have played from her own hand; and Sylvia woul

ia. "Can't we play for the sake of the sport? I don'

conically. "'Ware barbed w

crazy for the brus

ith the mask and pads," and her mischievous head b

ia, under her breath, and laid on th

fingers fascinating to men and women alike. Then, cards en r?¨gle, passed the make. Plank, cautiously consulting the score, ma

ront door. Later, having barely made the odd, she was turning to look at the major, when, beyond him

elessly. Grace Ferrall and Marion ignored hi

completed their rubber, looked aroun

nt me. If you don't, sa

y glance at his wife and an insolent one at Quarrier; and the game went on in sile

e shocked silence Leila, very white, made a movement to rise, but Q

re saying," he remarked,

cards, rose, and wal

ord with you?"

Mortimer, following Plank out of the room, down the stairs to the

e club they told me you were asleep in the c

shly. "Billy Fleetwood took my paper. C

him gravely, but

er to me just now! And this very day I did him a service that all his millions can't repay. And there you stand, too, staring at me as though I were some damned importuning shabby

ttered eyes wet with tears. The man was a wreck-n

now, and sleep. I tell you I'll help you in the morning....

ut I've got the jumps this trip.... You'll stand for this, won't you, Plank? I was batty, but I woke up in time to grasp the live wire Billy Fleetwood held-thr

laugh weakly, passing his puff

ll to the good, my boy! Understand? All to the good. I fixed it; I did it for yo

ean?" said Pla

you you had a chance to win out. Now the chance has come-same's I told you. Start

re perfectly sane ye

ing to his feet. "Bring Leila back; I'm all in; I'm go

lank. "Have y

nd Plank, waiting a moment, sighed, raised his head, and, encoun

ow together, conversing in low voices. Belwether, at a desk, sat mutteri

l young; but his enthusiasm met with no response, and presently he departed with his wife and Marion in their big

king at Plank out of serious eyes; and they made t

; but Sylvia, seated at a card-table, idly arranging the cards in g

ay something t

Sylvia's room for her wraps;

ith the slightest

minute?" asked S

he motor with me. Is

d never before detected that manner, that h

it?" he

ide for the time his manner, whi

orant one, perhaps. It's about your Amalgama

s stare, "Certa

e Inter-County, I mean-are slowly ruini

Oh! And who have you been d

ed him. He shook his head, and said

ips began to shrink back over his beau

said; but there was no mirth in his voice or ey

t answer now

ecessary for you to understand. I want to explain them, Sylvia, in such a manner that you will never be likely to forget the

eased it, and stepped down the stairs as

m, hands linked behind her, her lovely head bent, groping with the very ghosts of thought which eluded her, fleeing, vanishing, reap

out a jewelled collar precisely like the collar worn by Agatha Caithness; and what to do or what to say to anybody on the subject was, for the first time in his life, utterly beyond his garrulous ability. So, for the first time

"is b-bad form-rotten bad taste on both sides. If they were married-one of them, anyway!

ylvia's innocence into a terrible wisdom which would ruin everything, and knock the underpinning from th

Electric holdings, and had done it. Yet, how could Plank dominate, unless another also had done what he had done? And it made him a little more comfort

ed to himself; "he's

ecause it was the first time, as far as he knew, that a Belwether might le

s arms had become a memory. More and more she was returning to old instincts, old habits of thought, reverting to type once more, virgin of lip

tching the last glimmer amid the ashes whitening on the hearth, thinking of Siwa

n, deathless amid the ashes of life! When

It could never awake again, unless he returned to aw

caste-all save that-was hers when she stretched out her hand for it-hers by right of succession, of descent; hers by warrant unquestioned, by the unuttered t

nlight, smiling his absent smile. She caught her breath painfully, str