Show ehe e fighting chance 13 ROBERT W CHAMBERS CHAMBE RS copyright 1906 by the curua ct ci moab cop right 1106 1000 ba b il bert W chambers cl CHAPTER HE first lie encountered in tile the sunroom was as quarrier T TUG w lio ito fa favored him nith w lah nu all e et pk stare then with nith a bow bom quite perfunctory per and noncom mattal it was mas plain enough that he had bad not expected expect Pd fd to meet award at chotner Shoto cr house kemp a dark stock active man of folan foi was vas in the act of train drain in ing a glass when through the bottom ho be caught sight of Si sivard vaid lie he fintch ed cd in a gulp and advanced one moscu lar hind band etched hello stephen heard oud arrived tried the scotch and bolted with ayli myhla la I 1 audit andis that a all right too but sou should have come for the opening do dav lots lota of na tie the mood w coel cli ch blinka Blink 1 tul turning taing to lord Ald alverdene erdene and again to sl ward mard you know ill all thee fellows mortimer yonder there was the slightest ring in his olce ind leroy mortimer red decked bulky and heavy eyed emptied his glass and came ame oer follo followed Ned by lold loid alder dene blinking madl through ui big shooting goggles and showing till all ills his teeth like a pointer with a ti tick 1 cap tain voucher a gentleman with mith the vivid coloring of a healthy on a told cold day come came up followed by the page boas malli and gordon who mho shoot shook hands bands thuly enchanted to be on easy terms with fill the notorious mr sl word ward and last of all tom ohara ar rived reeking of the saddle and clink tog ing h a pair of troopers trooper 5 spurs 0 oe er the floor boor relics of his big bloodless porto rico campaign with squadron A it was patent to every man present that the kemp Fe had determined to ignore alward s recent foolishness Is ish ness which indicated that he might reasonably expect the continued good will of sei se oral eral sets the orbits of which intersected in the social system of ills his native city indeed the few nullified to snub him cared nothing about the matter and it m was as not lakel t shit 11 it an body else would take the in being disagreeable to a young man luan tie hie for fortunes and misfortunes of whose race m were ere part of the of man alan battan island Sl wards ards good or bid bad wore were a matter of course in new so everybody in the sunroom was mas civil enough and he chose scotch and found a seat beside alverdene Ald erdene who w he sat eat biting at a smoky pipe and fingering a tumble smokier scotch blink ing awa ama like mad through his shooting goggles at everybody these little brow broi to snipe you call woodcock he be began we NL bagged nine brace braced d you see at a pipe but of all the damnable bogs and coders I rotten totten said moi lot timer thickly ferrall youre all calf and biceps and its well enough tor for you to g go floundering into bogs bogi on oh go and pot beverly planks plank s tame pheasants retorted ferran ferrall amiably captain voucher had a blank day but he be kicking not L I 1 said voucher the sport Is capital it crae can manage to hit bit the beggars oh ci c misses in snap gnap shooting ed ferrall that lh Is ei everybody cry except stephen fulward with ills left barrel crack and turn ing to alverdene Ald erdene erdelle it a like taking mon ey from you blindly which reminds me that N wee e i e time tor for a little preference before dressing ills his squinting lordship declined and took an easier position in ills his hair chair extending a pair of little bandy legs dr duped aped in baggy tweed ers and heather spats mortimer in dis tending his bis skin with whisky re belled for the de dec antei cantel 1 ahe I he aromatic perfume of the spirits aroused alward and he nodded bis big desire to a servant this salt air keeps ono one thirst 3 he observed to ferrall then s something or la in his hosts expression arrested the glass at his lips he bad already been CLI S b major using the decanter a good deal EX copt mortimer holody was doln that filet sort 0 f thing us as freely as he lie he set his glass on the tj table able thought fully A tinge of color hid bid crept into his big lean checks berrall ll too suddenly bud deuly denly stood up till sa sabinc inq something about dres dressing bIng ectal men arose a true holing in every enery joint the result of the first days davs shooting after all those thoc idle months mortimer iner got up with an unfeigned groan hlward rot fol lomed leu I 1 c clug lug hi his glass untouched one oi 01 two other men nine came c lu in from the billiard billi aid room all greeted ikird ill all excepting one who iho kiy not liae have seen him in elderly pink clial soft gentleman with mith white downy chop whiskers in and aad the profile of a be ne buck rabbit ilov iio do you do sir beaw Bel ether mether sald aid abaid in a low ON voice without offering his hind hand then mafoi saw sam him bless TOU ac CS indeed an and I 1 thou though 11 sinard continued not to offer lit hi hand band majki Bel bellwether wether to ba bite L it bless your heart rod and ile he fussed bussed and bussed fussed ed ind beamed cord cordiality lalit until he ati secured it in ills his plump white fingers and pressed it effus effusively liely there was mas something about his lit soft oft warm marm innas which had alweis le ie minded ahard of the temperature and texture of i I 1 newly hatched bird it hid bid been some time since he b hid id hinds with major Bel bellwether wether it wis was ap thit that the blid had bad not aged any slipping inq ills his aim through the pivot sleeve of tord lord shooting jacket looking hooking the other in alward SIvi ards 3 elbow elbom aud and driving mortimer ahead of him mafoi Bel ether mether went garrulously anav up the stil rs his lordship lord ships s handy bandy little legs trotting beside him the soaking gaiters and shoes slopping at ate ever er step turned off down ills his corri dor unaware that the sagamore pup was following foll oming close at his heels until be heard beard quarrier rs s even colorless voice ferrall ll would mould you be good enough to send sagamore Sig imore to our ken nels oh he hes s your dog I 1 forgot said stward tur turning around ier looked tit at him pausing a moment 1 acs I es he said coldly hes my dog roi im a fraction of a second the two mens eyes encountered then alward glanced at the dog and turned on his heel with the slightest shrug and that Is all there was to the incident an anxious ant lous perplexed lugged off 01 by a servant turning jerking twist ing resisting looking piteously luck back as his un unwilling mIllIng feet slid over tile the pot pol ishad floor so alward walked on alone through the long eastern wing to his room overlooking ON er looking thessi the ca lie he sat down domn on the edge of his bed glancing at the clothing laid out for him he felt tired and dis inclined for the exertion of undressing the shades were ere up ailt ilont II lt quick silvered the window panes panel so BO that they were like a dark minor reflecting reft eting his face ile he inspected his darkened features curiously the blurred and somber tinted visage re turned the stare not fot a man at all the shadow of a man he be said aloud with no will no courage always putting off the battle always avoiding conclusions always skulking IN V hat chance Is there tor for a 11 man like that As one who m ho raises a glass to drink wine and unexpectedly finds water he shrugged rugged Bb his shoulders disgustedly and got up A bath followed ile he diesher leisurely and was pacing the room fussing with his collar when ferrall knocked and entered finding a seat beat on the bed Stcl stephen llen he said bluntly 1 I have not hot seen aou ou since that break of yours tit at the club rOtt rotten LIl it commented st sl waid tang his big tie perfecta of course it docsia doesn t make any difference to glace giace or to me but I 1 fancy youve youie already heard fiona it IL oh yes ul kit I 1 care about Is how my mother took it of course she was cut up I 1 sup pose lei es you know how she would mould look lit at a thing of that bort not that any of the nine and seventy jarring sets would care but thoe few thou sands invading the edges butting in half or three quarters inside are the people who cant afford to overlook look the victim of a 1 fashionable clubs dis pleasure those thoe and a woman like my mother and several other decent mind ed ea people who happen to count in tow town u ferrall his ahli legs swinging busily thought again then who i vas as the girl stephen I 1 don t think tile the papers mentioned tier her name said sim alward ard g gravely avely r oh ob I 1 leg your pardon I 1 thou thought lit she was some notorious actress everybody said so IN ho were those callow tools fools who he put you up to it never ever mind it if aou ou dont care to tell but it strikes me they are candidates fol foi club discipline ns as well mell as you it was up to them to face the governors I 1 think no I 1 think not ferrall legs swinging busily con soldered him too bad 1 he mused they need not have dropped you 11 oh they had to put but as long as the I 1 crox takes no action I 1 can live that down dow la 11 berrall nodded I 1 came in to say gay something a message front from grace confound it whit was if it oh could 3 iou ou before dinner now just sit down and with that internal infernal facility of yours make a sketch of a man cha ing a gun shy bay dog why yes it if mrs berrall wishes ile he walked over to the desk la in his shirt sleeves sat down diew a blank sheet of paper toward him and dip ping his pen drew carelessly a lun gun shy better tier dog rushing frantically across the stubble mind after him bareheaded CUB la in hand the maddest of at men meil rut put a vandyke beadal baird on him grinned ferrall over oner his big shoulder bh therel there 0 lord but ou b hive a e lilt hit it rut put a ticked saddle on the cur there 11 ho bo Is this supposed to be began sigwaid looking up rut but alt chile L lied led his host seizing the be still act nit sketch ind and to aking for the booi siward into the bathroom bit broom wished i spot or two of ink irom from hn his linger ln er returned and buttoned bis ill waistcoat waist coit then completing an junhur lied toilet went out and down domn the to the big living room there wore vere a number of people mrs irs derov Morti mci fetching with mith tier her jabine alike c like coloring black hair and bics that but just cri enough ough rena Bonu esdel smooth violet eyed allond and tattler lather stunning in a lecul tally innocent vv u bliss caithness vall deiv pale inlo ind attract lc ind the pace boys bora 1 NN 1111 and gordon de lin it sin ha ind and and lining lit a splendid if alne lie v evl I 1 b 1 inv dinv woman who ito could afford the intellectual lei sure cure siward simard spoke pleasantly to them thelia all other people drifted drift etl don coxin n ilaryon rage nho looked like a schoolmarm chooh LID and 1 lode like a demon elleen eileen shall achan non noil pink and white as a thorn blos sorn som with mith the deuce to lurking in hei bet gran eyes katun u n tassel and mrs aim glendenning len denning whom ho he did not know anon and dually ills his hostess costes grace Felt aill with tier piquant almost boa ah face and sweet flank tab aud and the figure of in an adolescent she gave gae alward one preto sun un browned band and laid the othet above abo e his holding it a moment in her II 11 light bt lasp stephen stephen she said bald under her breath its because ive fie a few things to scold aou about that rie ive disked you to shotover Sho tover ver I 1 suppose I 1 know lie be said I 1 should hope you do ive a letter tonight from N our mother from my mother I 1 want ou to go over it with me lt if iv me c can find a minute after dinner she released his hand band turning partly around kemp dinners been announced noun Oun ced so cut that dog story in two WIN will you give me bour our arm major bellwether Bel wether howard to bet bei cogbill mr Qu anler who mho turned from silsa miss landis to listen will ill ou please pleas e try to recollect an whom hona 3 ou on are to take in and do it and as she passed alward sim ard in a low voice mischievous and slangy sylvia ichla landis for yours as she sava she hc have enough of you on the cliffs the others appeared to know how bow to pair aL cording to some previous no flee siward turned to sylvia I 1 landals andl with the pleasure of lils hk good fortune so plainly visible in his face that tier her own brightened in response you iou see she said gayly you cannot escape me there Is no use lu in looking wildly at agathi agatha caithness he or pretending youre pleas ld ed slipping hei fact bounded bare arm through the arm lie he offered yon yet lant iun i un t guess gues what I lve ine ne done tonight nobody can guess elat grace I 1 er tall and one other person anil and if vou oil try to look 1001 happy beside beide me lue I 1 antly tell vou nou some between shoria ind ina cognac lognac oh vei ve I 1 F e done two thing 1 I 11 have A e j our dog to for 3 ion oil I 1 not ot sagamore lie he fuld incredulous iv IN ns as he was nias seating hei bet a agnore I 1 sin iad to tn nir mr it arril r I 1 want sao Sag ni noie e and m JIL 11 lie be tried to ive ie him to me I 1 in ID aie bill take 11 berk dicris non evv oil mai ina dlan another for me ine at lour lel lesbille bille mi ill fluid tell me are vou cLI rot foi she was mrs look ig rot foi the doubled in his hi fac ind she be sav ti it dawning dam ning N U Quart lei doe doen lit t like tile me vou lon I 1 nor HOT 1 U t I 1 ido do she mlle hilj lid to 1 told 3 how 1101 much it vou d give gike 0 that Is ellit Is it not fur for Pic concerned nied ril FIL knem ill it 3 ou in aut to 0 no o ill tint it concerns only vou on and me an AIL vou N on trying tri ing to spoil pull mv pleasure in ill h it I 1 inn e done I 1 L in t take the do dog miss nl q I 1 mills oil oh ile said aid vexed I 1 had ha no van lou were binl iltis c wit was 11 ileine ile he bent for ft lid aid a trifle arely garely g nl lug ing i bund painted name t ird though it vale mw I 1 not havi lia him hill to ill ie let nil ill ahll it somebody h root foot hid bad held the baull som foierl heri lit in billit giac lorrill I 1 err ill had bisun cred I 1 woman in who ho hup do ells of ielati bv that sort of thin tiling rot foi the residents lesi dents it Nei ei millon point blown own the toast 0 0 belli bell cli lilt ible bile bhe lert left an cordei and being thrifty on using tile the cards spite of lie hei husband 1 its 1 baud s gilles people were now inspecting them with mith more or less curiosity siward found lib ills hand band painting so anat tra effic that he had just tipped it over to avoid seeing it alun a burst of laughter from lord alverdene Ald erdene made everybody turn mrs taing was laughing so was rena Bon Bolon esdel look ing over quarrelers rs shoulder Bh at a card he was holding holdin gnot not one of the hand decorated decon ted but a sheet of note paper containing a drawing or of a man rush lug ing after a gun shy ehy dog ahe extraordinary tackling cackling laughter laug later of his lordship obliterated other sounds so tie tor for awhile rena Bonn esdel poses possessed cd herself of the drawing and held it up amid a shout of laughter and to t 0 hh 1114 excessive annoyance siward simard saw that un unconsciously he had caricatured f quarrier fe rr nalls alls malicious mall cloua request tor for a V vandyko bandyke beard making tho the earl cart cabure dreadfully ap patent quarrier had at first flushed up op then he foicey a smile but his symmetrical features were mere cordial when he ha smiled aho vho 11 ho on earth did that whispered sella landis apprehensively mr quarrier dislikes that sort eort of thing but of coune hell take it TV mell ell did lie he ever chase his own dog r asked siward rd biting hla |