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About La Grande evening observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1904-1959 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 1923)
Friday, January 5, 1923. TPAGE SIX . ,w- BY KATHcUIN . iluill. tuuiu'I'UN 'w I lous novel is printed In eevlal form by rratijjcmcnt -with Richard Walton Tully, in -whofe screen version, a list National Attraction adapted from John Hunttn Hooths dramatization, Ouy Hates TDBt is now appearing rJ Tliis famous current First THE LA GRANDE .fetEKffiG. OBSERVER " SHf 'THE ,MAS OUBJl.DESr1 II .tSx- 1 fLT J 0"i v)URTEENTH INSTALLMENT Chapter XXV Contlnuid '. Ruining through the enthusiastic concourse of men, they cume unex pectedly upon Frulde und Lady Su rah, surrounded by a group of : friends. - The old statesman oiune forward iustunily, and, taking Lo der's arm, wulked wlili liliu to chll- ' cote's waiting broiighuui. He said Htle us they nlowly iiutde their wny . to the carriage, but the pressure of lils fingers vus tense nnd uu unwont ed color showed In his fin-e. When . Eve und Loder had taken their seals lie stepped t the edge of the curb. They were nlone fur the moment, und, leaning close tn the currlugc, he put his hand through the upeu win dow. In slleiiee he took Eve's llugera und held them III u lung. urfeiMlunule pressure; then he released them mill took Letter's blind. "Hood-night, Chilcote," he , sulil. "Yuuhnve proved yourself worlhy , of her. tloiiil-nlcht. He lur I quick ly and rejoined Ids wiiltlnu friends. In another second the .horses hud wheeled nr ml. und r.ve and I.o.lor ( 1 -Were curried xwlflly forwurd Into lh"jnl ,.., w, leaned ugliinst the diirkness. ... ; ,-, . .. . ' In the grocit'innnionis of man's lifi'. woman eonies hetore und nfler. Some shadow of this .truth was in Hve's nilnd as she lay Imok in ln'r, seat with closed eye and purled llpV H seeuied Hint life ciiine to her nmv ' for the llrst lluu- eume In the chid, proud, Nlitlsfylim Mile uf things ui--eompllsheil. This wus her hour: nnd the reeosfiilllnn of It brought the blood to her face In u sudden, happy rush. There hud been no need to prerlidtate Its eomliii:; It hud been ordullied friim the llrst. Whether she desired It or no, whether she strove to druw It nearer or strove to wnrd It on", Its Ini' hud been In- evlluble. she opened , her eyes sud denly 1 looked out Into the durk- ness the darkness Ihrobblni.' with iiiultlliides of lives, nil uwalilnt', all deslrliii! fultllinent. She wub no lime er lonely, no -lnnci'r.lnlonf ; she wus i jkln wltlt nil. this plfiil,,ujiniriulv. X timlniA. 1. Iwvliitci. :JhmiiiiiiIiv lAuulti 1 teui'B of pride nnd linpplness tilled )iir eyes. , Then suddenly tny lliinx be had walled for eaiiie to puss. ' ' . . , l.oder lesned elose to ,her,, .She ', was cimseioiis nf his ni'iii'i't'iiresi'iiei', of his slroiik', miiKlerfiil 1 souiilliy. With 11 thrill Ihut cni'iuiil her brenth, lie felt his nriu uiioul her slinulder , und lieurd ihe sound of his voice. "Kve," he snld, "I love you. Ho I . you .unilersinndV- I love you," And1 ...druwlnit her clo i In Jilm lie hcnl : ullil kissed her. t r ) J , ' Wit ii, (iitijiM-,. , .liV-wii j .( xii: riiii.v. When he (line, be cuve generously ; 1 . when be swept aside a barrier he left nu stone siaiidlni:. He hud been low to recoKitle his ciipuclllos lower still to reco-nl.e his feellnss. But now thut the knowledice come he received It openly. In nils mutter of newly comprehended me he fiive no thought to either past or future. Thut they loved nnd were ulone wus ull he knew or tiueslhuied. She was us much r've ihe one woman us though they were together In Ihe : prlmeviil garden ; und In thut spirit he eluhued her. lie neither sisike nor behnved ex- i travuiniilly 111 thut great moment of comprehension. He ueted quietly, with the completeness of purpose that be gave to everything. He hud found a new. .capacity within himself, : und b was strong enough to dreiid ' no wenkness In displaying It. Holding her close to him, he re ' pealed lds-rtcv lm-Hll.nl ugaln : a.inl' " iutn, as though' repetition rullflcd ; It. - He found no need to question her f inline for hint he hud divined it. In a flash of liisplrutlou us she stood ' wultliu In the -doorway of the gul i lery, but his own surrender wus s i different mutter. At tli carriage passed round the corner of AYhltehiill und dipped lulo ! Ihe irafllc of l'iccadlly he tient down again until her soft lislr bruslied his fuce; and the wuriii personal contact, the alight, fresh smell of violets so (suggestive of her presence, Mined , i 1 111 afresh, ,"," Ii MM, vehemently, "do you understand 1 Io you know that I hay lored you always from the very ltl'st?" As he said It he bent atlli nearer, kissing her lips, her forehead, her hair. At tha aiinie moment the horsix 'Slackened speed und Then slopped, arrested hv one of Ihe temporary blocks thut so often occur In the truf-1 fie of l'lcndllly Circus , Loder, preoccupied with his own feelings, . aenrcely noticed the hull, hut Kr drew away from him Iniigle lug. "Toll inuain't!" she snld, softly. "Look !" The carriage had slopped beside one of Ihe sinnll Islullds that Inter, ac t Hie plucc; a group of pedes trlans were crowded upon It. under the light of the electric lamp way farer who. like themselves, were uwnlilng 11 pussuge. I.oder look a cursory glance ut them, then turned back 111 Eve. ."Wlnit are they, after all, but men slid women?" he anld. "They'd uu jerstiind every one of them." He laughed In Ilia turn; nevertheless he withdrew hit Her femliirne though! for conventionalities npiieul cad lo hlni. It was an acknowledg ment of dependency. 1 . For while they tut allent, the ' light of the street lamp fllckerins through the gluts of the window, ihe ' hum of rolcea and traffic comluj to I hem in a "continuous rise und full of sound. At tlrst the position wus ln leresilng; but, us the seconds fol lowed each other, It gradually be came Irksome. I.uder, xvutchlug the varying expressions of Eve's face, grew hnpullent of the delay, grow suddenly eager to be ulone In the frugruut darkness. Impelled by the desire, lie' leaned forward nml opened the window. "Let's ibid the meaning of this," he said. "Is there nobody to rog iilnle the Irullle'f" As he spoke lie hulf rose und leaned out of the win dow. There wus u touch of linperl- ous uiinoyunee Ju his manner, l-'res;, from the rciillutioii of power, then .wus something Irksome In this "'in uionpluce check to his desires. "Isn't It possible to got out of this':" Kve hi'iiril him mil to Ihe foitchmuii. Then she houi-il r.o more, lie had leaned out of the t-itrrliiv with the Intentl f looking unwind .,1WI1I1S muse of the ueitiy ; in id, by tliut uiugiuMle iinriii-tloii ,,, , ,m,,,i,liieillv e.lsis,:'lie looked rt,.,,.tv. In front of hi t. Ihe grout , .,,.,,.,1,, WiiIiIiik on I he little. Island 1 lunuHHtsi In 1111 ' utiltiide of iipiith.v i man wlili 11 tiallld. unshaven fur und lustreless eyes, who wore 11 cup draw ti Uv over Ids forehead. lie looked ul this man, and Hi 111:111 saw ami l-cllirllcil Ills glnnoi I'or 11 space that seemed Inlerniin nble they held each other's eyes: then very slowly Loder drew back into the carriage. As he dropped lulo his sent Eve glanced at him anxiously. "John," she snld, "bus uuythlng happened? You look 111." He turned ti her and tried to Smile. "It's nothing." he said. "Nothing to worry about." He spoke quickly. but his voice hud suddenly become Hat. All the cc mud, nil the donil- mitlou hud dropped nway from II. Kve bent close to Illlil. her fine lighting up with anxious tenderness i'Tt' was Ihe excitement," , she said. PilfefUhiW Off Mirlgbl." 1 IM looked 'st her; lint he made no alii'inpt to press the llilgers thut cftiKpedpltlB own. ' "es," lie said, slowl.'. "Yes. It wus ihe excitement of tonight and ihe reiielli.n. ' CHAPTEP XXVI "Trio next morning 11 1 eight o'clock, uml ai:aiu without breakfast, dec" oou'i'cil the distance between ' t triisveitor' Sciunro' uml rlin'ord's Inn. 1 IJh- left; 'Chili-tile's... house hast.lly-r 1 with 6 iitiste' thut only hn urgent uio I live could huve driven him to adopt His steps were quick nnd uneven as he truversed the Intervening streets; his shoulders lucked their decisive pose, Mid his pale fuce was marked will, shadows icneuh the eyes shadows Hint -ttorc witness to the sleepless uitiht -spent in pacing (.'hil cote's vast and lonely room, lty ihe eir'lmis effect of circumstances the likeness between the two men had never been more sigulilciintly mark ed than on thut umsnlng of April Illth, when Loder walked along the pavements crowded with curly work ers und brisk with insistent news venders ntretnly itllve to the vnlue of lust night's political crisis. The Irony of this last element In the day's concerns cuine to.hlni fully when ohm newslioyt, more ; energetic iliuit hts fe!liivs,': thrust it puper In front of hlni. ,"Scnsiitli"l , ill - the 'Ous;e, sir! Speech bj Mr. (?iiitcoti! (iinerument defeat P '" For 11 moment Loder slopped nnd his face reddened. The tide of emo tions still run strong. His hand went iiisiliii'tlely to his pocket; then his Hps set. lie shook bis. head und walked on. With the snine hnrd expression about Ids mouth, he turned into Clif ford's Inn, passed through his own doorwsy, and iiHunted the stairs. This time there wns no milk-can 01, the threshold of his rooms und the door yielded to his pressure wltliout the need of a key. With a strange sensation of reluctance be wulketl Into the lurrow passage and paused, uncertain which room lo enter llrst. As he stood hesltntlng a voice from Ihe slttlug-reoiii settled the question. "Who's there?" It called, Irritably "What do you want?" Without further ceremony the In truder pushed the door open and en the room. As be did so he ew 11 quick breulh whether of dls uppodiluicnt or relief It was ImpossI hie to suy. Whether he had Imped for or dreaded It, C'hlleote was con scious. . As Loder entered he wns sitting by the cheeriest grate, the ashes of yes lerday's tire showing churrod und dreary where the sun touched tlieni His buck nns to Ihe I iu lit. unci alwui Ids shoulders was un old plaid rug I'li-hlml I1I111 on tlie table stood 11 cup. a teapot, and the can of milk : fur ther off a kettle was set to boll upon a liny splrlt-shne. In all strong situations we arc more or less eoiulllon-plHoc. Loder's llrst remark us he glunccd round the disordered room seemed stralq,-vly in cltl.lent. "Where's HohlnsV he uked, In a brusque tour. Ilia mind teemed with big coualderatltRS, yt this was his Drsi liivoluniary qui'stlon. Olillie!.' had atarted at the en ;do, t ii'a visitor; now he sat slur -.g at aim, hli haadl ldiux "lp arnia 'i hit caslr. JOHN CHII.COTE, member of the loveless murriage and a confirmed with JOHN LODER, who is his exact cesaful is the deception that the tile strong nnllticul allv of FRAIDK, the great party leader, but nor by Chucote's beautiful und unhappy wife, EVE, who, however, is mystified by her husband's.change in manner. At a social function, Loderos inveigled into a darkened tent, where LADY ASTKUPP, intimate of Clulcote, indulging her hobby of crystul gazini;, makes him remove his rings, exposing the give-away scar on his linger. I.oder, recognizing her as the woman who had jilted him in. an old love affair, eludes her without explanation. Loder is recalled' by Cliilcote, who resumes his own life. Cliilcote meets Lady Lillian and makes un appointment to dine with her 'next day. He f 01 (rets the; appointment und again changes places with I.oder, whu,. noting the date "uml phrase "Talk with L" in (.'hilcote's engagement book ni.siukes it for u political uppointment with -LAKELY, publisher of St. George's. Loder is startled when lie is ushered into Lady Astrupp's home and presence instead. She becomes sus picious, asks him to remove his rings and he refeses. She declares lie is not Chilcoto. He neither denies nor ulllruis, but warns her before leaving that none will believe her story. liuasian ayta of aggression against Diitisii- trading interests in Persia occupy his attention und he bt dolUKatocl'bv his party to make-a great speech attacking the govern ment pohcy. News of the killing of a Kritish consul-general in Persia, comes at the psychological moment and fires Loder in the making of a speech urging -immediate government notion -that'.i. epochal. He is the hero of the hour and there are tears of joy in the eys of the unsus pecting Eve .Chileotc as she leaves the gallery with Loder. 1 "Chilcote," he aaid, very quietly, "I've come to tell you that the thing muat end." Guy Bates Post at John Chilcote! and John Loder in "The Masquerader." ; "WIumt's Ilol.ins Loder Uirnii). "1 don't liniiw. Sho We -Wfllf drew uldn't hit It nf;. She's tr..iH .vt'tenlnv." He shivered und ihe mi; nlimil ltlni. , 'VhUriMe " l.odiM lie-in, slelnly; then lie nius'd. There ..was sonir-1 tiling In tlie oiher's limk nnd ittMtitde that nrrestcHl hlni. A .hunj.'e of os pressinn pushed over Ids uvn face: hv Uinu'd idmnt wilh tin nhrupl p'sture, inilled till' his et"at nml threw it un n ehnlr; I lien cntsstiiK deltlierately tit the llreplaee,' he lu'tfun lo fnlie ihu iislies frmu the yi:i)t.. ( . s . , Wllldn n l'Av iidnmeR he hiid-n -lir'i iTjifklini; where the bed f dejid tin ders had lieeii, and, linvini; ilnislu'd j ;!ie tas!;, lie mse slnwl.v Imtn his , knees, wiped his hands, nnd rrti-M'd ; to '.he lalde. Mi the stiuill spirit- i stove ihe ketMe had hulled and ihej cuver va" lnnnj: ami lanmi: una :i , tiiiklii; niird. l'.hmin nt iln'l llanie, I.ih'i-:- pieked ni the teap.M.i and with hnmis that were exithnUvj ;ieens turned to the task svt altt-nt making the ten. iMirtnij the whole opfrjition he nev er spoke, though j'dl Ihe while he w;i tidl.v tHthselifns of Chlleoie's pii.led ku?a: The tea ready, he i red it Inttt the Clip and carried it a ro-s rl... room. "Drink lids!" he snld, lai-Mdeally. "Tin lire wilt he up presently." rhiW-o!! extended a cold and idiakv hand. "Vou see" he hiyan. Hut I.oder eheeketl hint nlino.it sav airely. "I d a -well us though I had followed you from lMeendllly last nlis.it I Yon've 'een huiitvinj; ahuut. i.otl knows where, t;ll the small hours tif the uiorniin! ; ihen ouve i-ome iahk slunk hark, stiu'vlnn fr our d;imned pui-i'ii nnd shivering with eold. You've sei:le( the tirt part of he husinrit. tut the cold has still lo he Verkom-d with. Irink the tea. I've sontrlhln? to suy to ymi." He it;u!tereil Ids vehemence, nnd, walk Inj to tlie window, stood looking nown Into the o.irt. Ills eyes were blank, his face bard; bis ears beard nothing but tlie faint sound of ('hil cote's swallowing, the click of the cup against bis teeth. For t time that seen.ed Intermina ble lie atood motionless; then, when be Juuged the tea finished, he turned slowly. hllcote had drawn closer tu the Are. lie was obviously braced by tbt varmtk: ud the -apauy tsat HoutOJt i Cimn.ms, o pariy to a' drug addict, cnangea piaeea in jue 1 ' ; counterpart ia appearanco. So buc-, masterful LOder Becomes noi oniy 1 he is not suspected by the servants y Initio ahuut him was to some extent! dispelled,: Still. moving eWwIy. Loder went tcmtiids'lilm, und, "relieving hlni of the empty cup, stood looking down ut hlni. "(.'Iillc-ote," he snld, very quietly, "I've come to tell you that the. thing must end." , I After he spoke there w'ns a pro louced pause; then, 11S If shaken -with Midden consciousness, L'hllcote rose.l Tlie ru dropped from one shoulder nnd lniiiir down ludicrously; his hand caught Hie hack of the chair for sup port ; his unshaven face looked ab surd miti! repulsive In its suddeu e . ;pi!.vdo!e'ii Hc-are.:ljiiisiiiyi': totter-lp-veliintarlly' turned away; -.' 'i' .- ' "I ineciii it." be said, slowly, "ll's1 over; we've come to the end." "Hui why':" Chilcote nrticuhttfuY blankly. "Why? Why?" In his con--ion he could-think ot no better w.nd. "I'.e. auic t throw it up. My ride of the h:ii -nin's off!" Agnin ('hilcote's lips ported rtam metiitilj. Tlie upaihy ciinsrd by P'.i.vm.-uI exhaustion and his recently: ml iiini-:-'recl dm? nns passing froi.ij h.ni. tee lo,iclcs-dy shattered colldi-; li .11 of mind and body wus showing iiiroiuli it like ti skeleton through ill l ,1 in io,tinc of llesli. - ' "Un! whv V" be said ugaln. "Why?"' Slill 1 oiler uvoided the frighteneil mrpi-ice of Ids eyes. "liecnlise lwitll di'nw." l,e answered, doggedly. ; Then suddenly ("hilcote's tongue wus loo.-'eiied. "Liulcr," he cried, ex citedly, "you cnn't do It t , (lod! man, you cun t do it 1" To reassure hlm-i self he laughed a painfully thin echo of ids old, sarcastic laugh., "If H's 11 1 : 11 iter of greater -opportunity--" he begun, "of more money " I Mm I del- turned upon him. i. "He q act :" he said, so menacingly ilist the other stopped. Then by an! eltor: l.e conquered himself. "It's not a tinnier ot money, (."bllcote." he said, quietly ; "it's a matter of necessity." 1 He 'hru-ight the word out with diftl-. ulty t'lillr.ve danced up. "Necessity?" be repenteiL "How? Why?" The 1. Iteration romA-d Unler. "He csue tl-ero was a great scene In the Home last night," he began, hurried ly; "because when you go bacK you ' find that Sefbotough has smashed up lover the atiasstnatlon of Sir Wllllain I Urlce-Fold at Weshed, led tljat jouj aav . made yaur marie i a speech ; and because" Abruptly be stopped The thing be bad come to soy the thing he had meant to tay would not be said. Either hit tongue or Ida resolution failed Mm, and for the Instant he atood as allent and al most as ill at ease as his compaulon. Then all ut once Inspiration came to Win, in the tuggestlon Of a-wellnlgh forgotten argument by which he night Influence Chilcote and save his own self-resnect. "It's all over. -Chil cote," lie said, more quietly; "It has" run Itself out." And in a do.en sen tences he sketched the story of Lll llun Astruigp her past relutlons with himself, her present suspicions. It wus not whnt he had meant to say ; it was 'not what he had come to say; hut It served the purpose H saved l;lm hiimiliullou. Chilcote listened to the lust word; then, us the other finished, he drop ped nervously back Into his cliulr. "IJood heavens! man," he said, "why didn't you tell me why didn't you warn me, Instead of tilling my mind with your polltlcul position? :-Your polltlcul position!'! lie laughed uu steudlly. The long spells of Indul gence that had weakened' IiIb already 'maimed faculties .showed In the laugh, in the sudden breaking of his voice. "You must do something, Lo- lerl" h ndded, nervously, checking lils amusement ; "you must do some thing!" Loder looked down nt 1dm. "No," he suid, decisively. "It's your turn now. It's you who's got to do some thing." Chilcote'.? face turned a shade grny r. "I can't," he suld, below his breath. Cnn't? Oh, yes, you can. We can all do anything. ' It's not too late; there's Just sulllclent time. Chil cote," he ndded, suddenly, "don't you sec thut the thing has been madness nil along has been like pluylug with the most lnfehml-explosives? You may thank whajever yuu huve fulth In that' nebody bus been smashed up : You nrb going buck. ' Do you limler stuiid mtV Yod lire going hack now. to-day, before! It's too lute." There wns a great change In . Loder; his strong, Imperturbable face -was stirred; he wus-moved In both voice and mnnner,. TlmeUifter lime he re pented Ills Injunction reasoning, ex postulating, ; insisting. It almost seemed that hu tuu'glit some strenu ous invisible force rather than the shattered man before him. 'Chilcote moved nervously In his seat; It wus the first real clash ot personalities, 'lie felt it recognlged It bv Instinct. The sense of domina tion.. had fallen on liim; he knew him self Impotent In the other's hands. Whatever he might attempt In mo ments of solitude, he possessed ilce In presence of this Invincible second self. For a while he strug gledhe did not tight, he struggled to resist then, lifting his eyes, lie met Loder's. "And what will you do?" he suld. weakly. I.oder returned his questioning gaze; but utmost 'Immediately he turned aside. "I?" lie said. "Oh, 1 shall leuve London." CHAPTER XXVII BUT Loder did not leave London. And the hour of two on the' dny following his dismissal of Chil cote foui'd film, again In Ills sitting room. . - Un sat at-the center-table sur rounded by n cloud of smoke; (1 pipe wns between Ids lips nnd the morning's newspapers lay In a heap beside his elbow. To the student of humanity his nttttuno was Intensely Interesting. It xvns the attitude of a man trammelled by the knowledge or his strength. Before him, as he sat smoking, stretched o future of libso lute nothingness; and towards this blank future one portion of his con sciousness a struggling und as yet scarcely sentient portion pushed hlni liievltulily; while another a vig orous, persistent, human portion cried to hlni to pause. So actual, so clamorous was this silent inentnl ..nibut that -had raged unceasingly since the moment of his renunciation that nt last In physical response to it be pushed back his chair. . "It's too Intel" he said, aloud. "I'm a fool. It's too late I" Then abruptly, astonishingly, as though In direct response to his spoken thought, the door opened and Chilcote walked luto tlie room. Slowly Loder rose and stared at htm. The feeling he acknowledged to himself was anger; but below the snger a very different sensation ran riotously strong. And it wns in time to this second feeling, this sudden, lawless joy, that his pulses beat as be turned a cold face on the In truder. ,, -, " "Well?" he said, sternly. Hut Ohllcote was Impervious to sternness. He xras mentally shaken and distressed, though outwardly Ir reproachable, even to the violets In the laiel of Ida coat the violets that for a week past ma been brought each morning to the door of Loder's rooms by Kre's maid. For one tec ond, as Loder's eyes rested on the dowers, ft stint of ungovernable Jeal ousy shot through hlni; then as sud denly It died away, superseded by another feeling a feeling of new, spontaneous Joy. Worn by Chilcote or by lilmself, the flowers were t symbol 1 "Well?" he talil (giaia, in 1 gentler voice. Chilcote had walked, to the tables tnd lofd dowt, bU hat ' Hit fact wat wbltend the muaclea 01 mi up. twlttfhed nervomly at be drew off hit gloves. "Thank Heaven, you're nere 1 ue tald, ehortly. "Give me aometlilng to drink.'! . In silence Loder brought out the whiskey and let It on the table; then Instinctively lie turned aside. 'As plainly at though he axvlie action, he mentally figured Chllcote't fur tive glance, the furtive movement of his fingers to bit waistcoat-pocket, the hasty dropping of the tublolds Into the glass. For an instunt the sense of his tacit connivance cume to him sharply; the next, he flung It from him. . The human. Inner voice was whispering its old watchword. The strong man has no time to waste over Ids weaker brother! When he heard Chllcole lay down his tumbler he looked buck again. "Well, what Is It';" he said. "What have you come for?" He strove reso lutely to keep his voice severe, but, try us he might, ho.could not quite subdue the eager force that lay be hind his wordes.. Once again, -us on the night of tlielr second interchange, life had become a phoenix, rising to fresh existence even while he sifted Us aslics. "Well?" he said, once again. -1 1 ' Chilcote had set down his glass, lie was nervously passing Ids handker chief across his lips. There wus something In the gesture that at tracted Loder. Looking at him more attentively, he saw what his own feelings und the other's convention al dress had blinded him to the almost piteous panic and excitement iu his visitor's eyes. "Something's gone wrong!" he said, with abrupt Intuition. Chilcote started. "Vet nothnt is, yes," he stammered. Loder moved round the table. "Something's gone wrong," tie re peated. ."And you've come to tell me." - "The' tone unnerved Chilcote; he suddenly dropped Into a chnfr. "It- It wasn't my fault," he began. "I I . have, had a. horrible. llmoJ" Loder's Hps tightened. "Ves," he said, "yes I understand." : The other glanced up ft'lth a gleam of his old suspicion. " "i'was all my nerves, Loder ": 'j"Of course. Ves. of coitrue." Li der's Interruption wus curt, ' Chllcole eyed hlni ' doubtfully Thetl recollection took the place ot douul'f'nnfl n chnnge passed over Ids oxprc islon. ' It wnsn't my fuult'," he began, hastily. "On my soul, it wasn't 't It wns Crapham's beastly fuulufor showing her Into the morti-Ing-rooin " ' " ' ' I.oder kept silent. Ills curiosity bad flured Into sudden life at the other's words, but lie feured to break tiie shattered train of thought even by n word. In the silence Chilcote moved un- easily, "you see," he went on, nt last, "when I was here with yuu I 1 felt strong. I I " He stopped. "Ves, yes. When you were here wlth nie yon felt strong." "Ves, that's It. While I was here, I felt 1 could do tlie thing. Hut when 1 went home wh"il 1 went up to lily rooms ". Again lie paused, passing his hunilke'" 'ilef across his forehend. ."'WbeiL :, u-Went . .up to your rooms?" I. ini.u-. strove hard to keep his control. - t "To 'i:iy- room ? Oh,' I 1 forget llhollt ' ihnl'i I ' forget lilliillj - Ihe night " lie hesitated confusedly. "All 1 .etininberds'ihe co.nlt. down to breakfast next morning tills nu. ruing ul twelve o'clock--"' i Loder ' turned i lo ' the table uliit poured himself out some whiskey. "Ves," he ucquiesced, iu a ,-er quiet voice. At the word Chilco'e rose P'oin bis seat. His disquietude was very evi dent, "till, there was breakfast 011 the table when I came down-stairs breakfast with tlmvcrs ahd a horrible, dax.llug glare of sun. I. wus then, Loder, as I stood and looked into the room, that the Impossibility of it all cume. to me that 1 knew 1 couldn't stlllld It couldn't go on." Loder swallowed his whiskey slow ly. His- sense of overpowering curi osity held him very still; but he made 110 effort to prompt his com panion. Again Chlleote shifted his position ngilir.edly. "It bad to he done," be said, disjointedly. "1 had to do It then and there. Tlie things were on the bureau the pens and Ink and telegraph forms. They tempted me." Loder laid down his glass sudden ly. An exclamation rose to Ills lips, but he checked It At tlie slight sound of the tumbler touching the table Chilcote 'turned; but there wts no expression on the other's face to affright him. "They tempted me." he repeated, hastily. "They teemed like magnets they seemed to draw me towards them. I tat at tne tmreau staring at them for a long time; then a ter rible compulsion seised me some Hi ing you could never understand and I caught up Ihe nearest pen and wrote Just what was In my mind. It wasu'ta telegram, properly speak ing It was more t letter. I wanted you back and I had to make myself plain. The writing of the message seeuied to steady me; the mere form, lag of the words quieted my mind. I wis almost cool when I got up from the bureau and pressed the bell " The belir "Ves. I mug lor wrrtat X bed to.d?. w re my.e,, .0 gee a cau . ;-- - -- - . oiitty. a vicwu o rimea; tmr tha thing had gone wrong 'twouldn't work. At last I gave It ( up and went Into the corriaor to sou 1 some one." j . "Well?" In tlie Intense suspense j of the moment the word escaped j Loder. , 1 "Oh,' I went out of the room, but ; thero t the door. Iierure I could call I anybody, I knocked up against that ; Idiot Urecnlng. He was loogiug ior i,le fr you, rather ahuut some ! beastly Wark affair. I tried to ex- : pluln that I wasn't In a state for business; I tried to shake hlni off, : but he wns worse tluin Hlesslngton ! ' At Inst, to be rid of the fellow, I -went with hlni to the study" "Hut the telegram?" Loder begun; then ugaln he checked himself. "Ves yes I undei-iand," he udded, quietly. . . - "I'm getting to the telegram-! I : wish you wouldn't Jar me willi sud den questions. I wnsn't In the study 'more than a minute more than Jive"; or six tnliiiiti.'S " Ills voice licciime 1 confused; the strain of the connected recital was telling upon hlni. Willi . nervous haste lie made 11 rush for the end of his story. "I wasn't more than seven or eight mlnules In the : sillily; then, us I come down-stulrs, , GYaphiini met me In the hall. . lie , told me that Lillian Astrupp had called and' wished to see me. And '. Hint be had shown bor into the : morning-room " ."Tlie morning-room?" Loder stid- i denly slopped buck from tlie table, i "The niornlng-room? With your tele- ' gram lying on tlie bureau?" . ; .His sudden speech ani'i movement s l:i I'll eel Chilcote. The blood rushed to his face, then died out, leaving It ; ashen. "Don't do that, Loder!" he cried. "I I can't bear It I" ; With an Immense effort Loder con trolled himself. "Sorry l' he snld. ; "tin on :" , , : . ..,,,;.;.' "I'm goln on ! I tell you I'm going on. I got a horrid shock when Crap. hum told me. Your story came clat tering through my mind. .1 knew Lli- i linn bad come to see you I knew there was going .to be a-scene " . ;' "Hut the telegram? The telegrntn?!' Chilcote. paid no heed to the -Interruption.1 He wus following his own . train of Ideas. "I knew she. liad; coiiie to see you I knew Hiere was going to be a scene.' When 1 got to ihe iuornin"-i-"i'o hircl "' ".'"VV- In,.: so i .coii.ii'b,:.i.i.iy l.ciiu loo handle; then, as the door opened, I , ould have cried out with relief. ll , wiis ihere us well 1" ', -' "Eve?" - . . ," - i '.' "Ves. I don't think I wns ever so ;lad to see her In my life." He laughed almost hysterically. "I was ' quite civil to her, and she was qulta sweet to me ' Again he laughed. . Loder's Hps tightened. ' "You see, It saved the situation. : Even If Lillian wanted to be nasty, : she eouldn'r, xvhlle Eve was there, j We talked for about ten minutes. 1 We were quite an amiable trio. Then ! LIIII1111 told me why she'd culled. She -wanted me to make a fourth in a -thei'tre party at the 'Arcadian' to-: night, and I 1 was so pleased nnd ' so relieved 'that-1 said yes!" He1 paused und laughed again unstend- : Hy. , , ' In Ills tense anxiety, Loder ground Ills heel Into the door. "Ci on!' he said, tlercely. "i;6 on;" "Doll'' !" Chilcote eM-hliin-'d. "I'm going (in ,1'iu .going on," lie passed his hhntlkorchief across his lips. "-We lalUc'il for len iiiinutcs or so; mid .Ihcll Lillian left. I went with her to the Inill door, hut (.'rnphiiui wus here too so i was still .safe. ' She luughed tiad clin.lcd and seemed iu hi:.rh spit-. Its us we crossed the hull, unci she nib still smiling lis she waved to 111c from her motor. Hut then. Loder then, me I stood In the hall, It all Celine to me suddenly. I remembered ihut !.il!i.-in must huve been ulone in tlie inorniitg-i'' 0111 before Eve. found Iter! I reiiieinbered the telegrnm! 1 run I. nek lo the room, meaning to ii:os:ieii live us to bow long Lillian ii.nl been alone, but she had left the room. 1 ran to the bureau but the : telear.im wasn't there!" "Yes. gone. That's why I've come straight here." For a moment they confronted . each other. Th'rn, moved by a sudden : Impulse, Ixnler pushed Chilcote aside ! and crossed the room. An Instant Inter the opening and shutting of ( doors, the hasty -pulling out of draw- i ers and moving of. boxes, came from ' the bedroom. Chilcote, shaken and nervous, stood for n minute where his com- ! paulon bad left hlni ; nt last, Impelled by curiosity, he too crossed the nar row passage and entered the second room. Tiie full light streamed In through the open window; the keen spring air blew freshly across the house tops; 'and on tlie window-sill a band of grimy. Joyous sparrows twittered and preened themselves. In the mid dle of the room stood Loder. His cent wns off. and round bltn on ,-halr. and floor lay an array of waistcoats, gloves, and ties. For a space Chilcote stood In the doorway staring at him; then his lips parted and he took a step for- c ward. "Loder " he said anxiously. ' "I,oder, what are you golirg to dof" ' Iider turned. His shoalders were ! stiff, his- fa-e alight with energy, j "I'm going back." be said, "to ua- 1 ravel the tangle you have made." Xo be continued '
