-------- THE---------
Masquerader
By KATHERINE CECIL THURSTON.
Author of "The Circle,” Etc,
rs-
-
COPTER VII (Continued i.
hour later the two men passed
iLoder's bedroom, where the final
Ljents bad been completed,
Ft„ the sitting room.
Loder
! jpit m faultless evening dress.
IL r «us carefully brushed, th»
L be wore fitted him perfectly.
F fiance, critical or casual, he
[¿e -nan who had mounted the
I md entered the rooms earlier
Lfreniug Chilcote's manner of
L,f mid poise sf the head seemed
L, desi-uided upon him with Chll-
fdothes. He came into the room
L and passed to the desk
Mre no private papers." he said,
have nothing to lock up. Every-
L fan tUnd as It Is. A woman
□ ftobms conies In the mornings
Ln up nnd light the fire; other-
ivoii must -lilft for yourself. No
will disturb you. Quiet, dead
L li about the one thing you can
t on."
Btote. half halting In the door-
¡imide an attempt to laugh. Of
pn> be «as noticeably tlie more
irraasec In Loder’s well worn
brushed tweed suit he felt strand
( his own personality, bereft for
noment of tlie familiar accessories
helped to cloak deficiencies and
ithe wheel of conventionality coin
My rolling. He stood unpleasant
mmdous of himself, unable to
« his sensations even In thought
glanced at the Are. at the table,
¡y it the chair on which he had
wn his overe >at before entering
fclroom At the sight of the coat
pare brightened, the aimlessness
ok him. and he gave an exclama-
of relief.
r Jove!" he said. “I clean for-
dog.’
“Of course, that first specs 1 ought t'
have enlightened me. but it didn't. !
only saw the smile and heard the voice
I knew nothing of whether Iley We.-«
deep or shallow. So 1 found tlie in..
and found the dog. The tirst expr«
gratitude, the other didn't. I extr' t
ed him with enormous difficulty t
the wreck of the luggage van. and l-i.
was how he marked bls appreciation.
Tie held out bls hand ai.d nodded to-
wurd the scar.
Chilcote glanced up. “So that's the
explanation?"
"Yes. I tried to conceal the thing
wfieu I restored the dog. but 1 was
bk-edtag abominably and 1 faded.
Then the whole business was changed.
It was I who needed seeing to. my new
friend insisted; 1 who should be 1 «oked
after and not she. She forgot the dog
in the newer Interest of my wounded
finger. The maid, who was practically
unhurt, was sent on to engage rooms at
the little inn, and she and 1 followed
slowly.
"That walk impressed me. There was
an attractive mistiness of atmosphere
In the warm night, a sensation more
than attractive In lielng made much of
by a woman of one's own class and
country after five years' wandering.”
Ue laughed with a touch of ironv
"But I won't take up your time with
details. You know the progress of an
ordinary love affair. Throw in a few
more flowers and a little more sunshine
than Is usual, a man who is practically
a hermit and a woman who knows the
world by heart and you have the whole
thing.
“She Insisted on staying In Santasa-
lare for three days In order to keep my
finger bandaged. She euded bv staying
three weeks in the hope of »masuing up
my life.
“On coming to the bite! she had glv
rhat?" Loder looked round.
fhe rings." He crossed to tlie coat en no name, and in our first explana
thrust his hand Into the pocket, tions to each other she led me to con
^duplicates arrived only this after- clude her an unmarried girl. It was at
»—the nick of time, eh?” He spoke the end of the three weeks that I learn
; bl« Huger* searching busily. Oc- ed that slie was not a free agent, as I
bad innocently Imagined, l*ut possessed
Itiou of any kiud came as a boon,
der slowlj followed him. and as a husband whom she had left ill with
box was brought to light he leaned malaria nt Florence or Home.
“The news disconcerted me. and I
nrd interestedly.
I I told you, oite is the copy of an took no pains to hide it. After that the
ignet ring, the other a plain band end came abruptly. In her eyes 1 had
Ipiaili gold band like a wedding become a fool with middle class prin
(Tiilcote laughed ns he place«! ciples; in my eyes— But there is no
four rings side by side on bls nei-d for that. She left Santasalare the
i “I could tliluk of nothing el«e same night In a great confusion of
would be wide and not osteuta trunks and liatboxes. and next morning
i You know how I detest dis I strappisl on my knapsack and turned
my face to tlie south."
ier touched the rings. “You have
"And women don’t couut ever after?"
taste." he said. “Let's see if Chllcote sntlted. lieguiled out of him
lerve their purpose.” He picked self.
l np and carried them to the lamp.
Loder laughed. "That's what I've
Ucote followed him. “That was been trying to convey. Once bitten,
gly wound." lie said, his curiosity twice shy!” He laughed again and
«kening as Loder extended hie sl!pi>ed the two rings over his finger
r “Row did you come by It?”
with an air of finality.
(other smiled. “It's a memento.’
•‘Now. shall I start? This is the latch
key?" He drew a key from the pocket
If bravery?”
of Chilcote's evening clothes. "When
Io. quite the reverse.” He looked I get to Grosvenor square I am to find
Io M his hand, then glanced back your house, go straight in. mount the
Chllcote. "No,” he repeated, with stairs and there on my rigid hand will
nusual Impulse of confidence. "It be tlie door of your—I mean my own
Ki to remind me that I am not ex private rooms. I think I've got it by
ft—that I have lieen fooled Ilk» heart. I feel inspired. I feel that I
ir men."
can't go wrong" He handed the two
fltst implies a woman?”
remaining rings to Cblleote and picked
Again T-oder looked at The up the overcoat.
'on hie Unger. “I seldom recall the I “I’ll stick on till I get a wire.” he
* It’s so absolutely past. But I ; said. “Then I'll come back and we'll
* like to rememlier It tonight. I reverse again.” He slipped onulie coat
Krwant yon to know that I've lieen ■nd moved back toward the table.
JWh the tire. It’s a sort of guarau Now that the decisive moment had
Come It embarrassed him. Scarcely
i.’ote made a hasty gesture, but knowing how to bring it to an end, he
held out Ids hand.
*ber Interrupted it.
Chilcote took It. paling a little.
"■ I know you trust me. But you're
k* tne a risky post. I want you to '“Twill be all right!” he said, with a
women are out of my line— sudden return of nervousness. “'Twill
k out »f it."
be all right! And I've made It plain
about—about the remuneration?
A
w. my dear chap”—
went on without beetling. hundred a week, beside« all expense*
Loder smiled again. "My pay? °h.
“ Hang happened eight years age
*ht»Mlarv." he said, "a little place yes. you've made It clear as day. Shall
7*n I.nna aud Plstorla a mere we say good night now*'
■W of houses wedged tietween two
“Ye». Good night.”
There wa» a strange, distant note in
1 * tgul • ii<- <>f old Italy cruia
**way under flowers and sunshine. Chilcote's voice. but the ether did not
1 nothing to suggest the present pretend to hear It. He pr«-»»ed the
T except the occasional passing band lie was holding, though the cold
tr’*n round the base of one of the dampness of It re]s‘lled him
L I hafl 1 terally «tumbled upon tbt
“Good night." he said again.
"Good night.”
on » long tramp south from
They stood for a moment awkwardly
rland and had lieen tempted lute
’ *t tbs little inn. The night after looking nt each other, then Loder qui-t
•nmethtng unusual occur ly disengage.! hl» hand, crossed the
Tber- was an accident to U
__ m room and pas»ed through the door
Chllcote. left standing alone In tlie
•! th» point where It skirted the
to
c
"■ " was a «mall excitement. All Inst sound of the other's footste|«s was
shltants were anxious to help audP'de on t' e nncnri>etod «fairs Then
with a furtive, hurried gesture, he
B'} *har*'
8 matter of
aud
smash was not disastrous caught up the green shaded lamp
g s wt-re hurt and fright passed Into Loder s bedroom
■Sit nobody was killed."
CHAPTER VIII
u*e l and looked at his compau
O all men come portent mi « mo
I- seeing hiai Interested, went
menta, difficult moments, trf
umphant moments. Ixtder had
’he«e passengers was an
had his examples of all tbrea.
‘•dy iff H|| concerned In tbs
was the least upset. When but so moment In bis career ever
____ In strangeness of ••>«-
equaled
**r **”* w“*
on
it ", 1 r
' n * {
carriage« that In wbl. fi. dressed in ano'ber m ' '»
her hat On seeing Ckxbes. be fittsd the latchke. for the
■
up with the most charm first time Into the door of tie other
* ^Mtaabfe.
man’s house
The act waa quietly done Th« key
f kk ' M ,**<1 w,,tlne Tor som»
fitted
the lock sawotbly and
«kasJTïl ,h* ’•l<1
•"’P“
smashed up aome gers turaed It without bagltation
—rt, osua«Jy eitrssnel.»
heart
I . '
•*'vwi<1 ctoaa carriages ttxaig» hie 1
* “cdeZy to help me Bud
sto»«!’ beat atarpiy fee a aereeid. Ib»
m
ua.l loomed massivo aud somtier. de»
Pite the muderuity of electric ligin«
It was darkly ami exiwu-.friv
»rated in black ami >.i,.
a frieze
<lf wrought bronze.' rvpre ««ting pea
Cocks with' outspre ■ 1 t. 1» ornament-
:l’ ’
- ’
were <>(
L.-nv> ironwork cu.l (to , somewhat
formidable tir*‘place was of the same
<Lfk metal.
Loder looked r.bout him. thru ad
vanced, bls heart again beating quick
ly as hi« h ind touched the cold ban
later ami he lagan his ascent of the
stairs. But at .-ach step bis confl-
deu-e strengthened, bis feet became
more firm until, at the head of the
stairs, aa if to disprove his assuramv
hi - pulses played him false unv more
this time to a more serious tune From
the farther end -f a well lighted .-or
ri-lor a maid was coming straight In
his direction.
F t one short se<-ond all things
ae n-sl to whiz about him; the eer
tainty of itoteetiou orerpowered hit
mind
The Indisputable knowledge
ih.it he was John Loder and no other,
a- pile all araior of effroutery and
Areas, so dominated him that an other
considerations shrank t-efore it. It
wanted but one word, one simple word
of denunciation, aud tlie whole scheme
was shattered. In tlie dismay of the
moment he almost wished that the
word might is? spoken and the sus
pens-- euded.
But the maul came on in silence, and
so incredible was tlie silence that
Loder moved onward too. He came
within a yard of her. and still she did
not speak. Then, as lie passed her,
she drew back respectfully against
the wall.
The strain, so astonishingly short,
bad been immense, but with Its slack
ening came a strong reaction. The ex-
pected humiliation seethed suddenly
to a desire to dan- fate. Pausing
quickly, he turned and called the wo
man l>ai*k.
The spot where he had lialti-d wn»
vividly bright, the ceiling light being
Lodi r bore hit tcrutlny withoutfttm'hlmj
directly above his head, and as she
came toward him be raised bls face de
llbetately and waited.
She looked at him without surprise
or interest. “Y»«. sir?" she said.
“Is your mistress In?" he asked. He
could thiuk of no other question, but It
served his purpoae as a test of ills
voice.
Still the woman showed no surprise.
“She's not In. sir." she auswered. "But
she's exjiected in half an hour.”
"In half an hour? All right. That’s
all I wanted.” vv'itli a movement of
decision lusler walked lan k to tlie stair
head, turned to the right and opened
the door of t'hllcote'a nsims.
The door oi-entsl on a short, wide pas
sage. <>u one side sto-ui tlie study, on
the other the bed. bath aud dressing
rooms. With a blind sense »f knowl
adge and unfanilliarip. bred of much
descriptlou on t’hilcote’s part, be put
his hand on tlie study door ami, still
exalted by the omen of Ills first sue
cess, turned the handle.
Inside the room there was firelight
and lamplight and a studious air of
peace. The realization of this and a
s'.ow incredulity nt Ghilcate's voluntary
renunciation were Ills first Impressions.
Then his attention was needed for more
Imminent things.
As he entered the new secretary was
returning a volume to its place ou the
b--ok shelves At sight of him be push
ed it hastily into position ami turned
round
••I was making a few notes on the
jKilitical position of Khurasan, he said,
glancing with slight apprebenslvene«»
at the other's face, lie was a small,
shy man. with few social attainment«,
but an extraordinary amount of learn-
Ing—the antltbesls of the alert Bless
ingtou. whom he had replace«!.
Ixxler bore tils scrutiny without
flinching. lad«»!- •* stni-k him sud
denly that then- «»• a fund of inter
p,. \tn «t of ex. tement In tlie ••»
countering -f ea«h
I««lr
At the thought be moved forward to
the desk.
"Thank yoi Greening.” he said. "A
V»rv useful b t of work.”
The secret, r g.:tnc««l up. slightly
puzzled HR ►ndurance bat! been ae
rerely taxed in the fourteen days that
he bad flliesl hl’ i new post.
"I'm glad you i think so. sir.” be said.
You
‘.esitatlugly
?»’ rather
r»u«e. poobpoobed
-----
the matter this morning if you remem
ber."
but
Uster uran -akinz off his coat.
•topi«! In the opto-stion
-Thia morning’" be said. "Oh. did
If Then struck by the op-
I? DM
portnntty the w- ■ords gave him be turn
—•--»
Ten ’» K0’
ed toward the serbar?
» gM
•• “•*’ Oreeulug." be aal€
1
You haven t quite grasped me yet. I
cau see I’m a mau of moods, you
know. | p i,, (J,,, present you’ve seen
my slack side, my Jarre«! side, but I
have quite au «tiier when I ears tu
show It. I'm a sort of Jekyll and 11yds
affair
Again he laughed, aud Green
ing eclioed the »mind diffidently, • t’h.l
cote had evidently discouraged fa mil
tarity.
Lawler eye«! him with abrupt uudei
standing
H«- r«-«x»guised the louell-
ness lu the anxious, conciliatory man-
ner.
You re tired." he »m«l kindly. "Go
to l'«»l I’ve got some thinking to «lo
Go*al night.
He held out his hand.
Greening took it. still half distrust
fa! of tin« tre-b »id«- tiT’so complex a
man
“Go>d night, sir." be aald. "Tomor
row, if you approve. I shall go on with
my uvtes
1 hope you will have a
restful uight."
lor • second i.o«h-r’s eyebrows went
up. but ks recovered himself instantly
“Ah, thanks, Greeniug." he said.
“Thanks. I thiuk your hope will be
fulfilhsL"
iie viTb'msl tlie little »«-cretary move
sulily and apologetically to the door,
then lu- w'alked to the fire aud. rest
ing hi- «-1» «.< ou the uauteli-«ece. he
took bis fa«-«- Iu his bonds.
For a sgaee he »tmxl absolutely
quiet, theu his hamls dropped to hia
(Ides, ami lie turneil allowly round in
that short space he had halatbed
things ami fouud his bearings, The
slight nervousness shown iu
lu his
lirus«;u«‘ selltruces ami overe uithleut
manner faded out. aud lie fa«-'» tacts
steadily.
With the return of bls calmness lie
took a long survey of the room, His
glance brighten«-d approciatlvely as It
travel«-«! from tin- walls lin«-d with well
bouml l>«»ik» to the lamps miMiulate«l to
the .ur<>;«er light; from th«- lamp- ta tlie
desk tittvd with every rt-qulrenteht.
Nothing waa lacking. All be bail once
possessed, all lie had since dreamed of.
was here, but ou a greater stale. To
enjoy the luxuries of life a man must
go long without them. Ixsler bail lived
severely so severely that until throe
weeks ago he Iiad ls-tievisl himself ex
empt from the temptations of hu
manity. Then th«- voi«-e of tli«- world
had spoken, and within him another
voice ha«l answered with a ton«* so
clamorous anil insistent that It had
outcried liis surprised and Incrodulous
wonder at its existence and its claims.
That bad l«een the voice of suppressed
ambltlou. and now as lie stoo«l in the
new atmosphere a newer vole«« llfteil
itself. The J >y of material things rose
suddenly, overbalancing tlie last rem
nant of the philosophy he had reared.
He saw all thing» lu a fresh light—
tli«- soft carpets, tin- soft lights, the
nnmlierless
pleasant.
unnecessary
things that color tlie passing land
scape ami oil th«- wheels of life. This
was power power mad«- uiauifest. The
choice bindings of one’s books, the
quiet harmony of one’s sumumllnga,
the gratifying d<>f<-rence of one’s de
pendents—these were tlie visible, the
outward signs, the thing she hail for
gotten.
Crossing the room slowly, lie lifted
am! looked at the different pipers on
tlie desk. They had a substantial feel
ing. an Importance, an air of value.
They were like the solemn keys to so
ninny vexed problems. Beside the ;m-
pers were a heap of letters neatly ar
ranged and as yet unopeue«!. He turn-
e«l them over one by one. They were
rll thick and Interesting to look at
Tie smiled as lie recalled his own
«canty mail envelopes long und bulky
or narrow ami thiu, unwelcome manu
scripts or very welcome chte ks. Ilav-
lug sorted the tetters, he hesitated. It
was his life task to open them, but lie
had never In liis life opened an envel-
op<- a<l<lre«sed to iiuotb«-r man.
He stood uncertain, weighing them
in his bund. Then all at once a look
of attention an«l surprise crossed bls
face, and he ral»«-«l his head. Some
one had unmistakably paused outaiile
the door which «r«-enlng had left Hjnr.
There w»s a moment of apparent
doubt, theu a stir of skirts, a quick,
uncertain knock, and the intruder eu-
tergd-
For a couple of »e<*ouds she stood in
th«- doorway; theu as Loder mad» no
effort to speak she moved Into the
room. She had apparently but Just re-
turiffsl from some entertainment, for.
though she tad drawn ,«ff her long
gloves, she was still wearing au even-
ing'closk of la«»- ami fur
That »he wa» Cblleote'» wife Loiter
lustmctlvely realised the moment she
enlere«l the room. Bn* a discon«'ertlng
confualon of Meaa was all that fol
lowed the knowledge He stood by the
desk. »Rent ami awkward, tryir* to fit
bls expectations »• bl" kimwleilg».
Then. fa<-«-<1 by the i»«pel« -sne»s of th»
task, ta turned abruptly and looke«! at
her again.
She had taken off her cloak anil was
standing by tte- tire The compulsion
of moving through life alone bail set
its seal upon her lu a «-ert.iln self p«)»
sew ion. u « ertahi confidence of po»e.
yet tier figure a« Lsler then saw W.
tiackgroim«te<1 by the «lark t-uoks and
gijw-ne.1 iu pate blue, had a suggestion
of youtbfulu»"" ’hat »eemwl a contra
diction. Tlie remembram'e of «’hll-
cote" epitb»ts '•■old’* aud "Uttaymp»-
thetlc” came l«a< k to him with some
thing like astonishment. He felt no
uncertainty, no <lren«i of discovery and
humiliation In tar presence as he bad
felt In the maid’s, yet there was some
thing In tier fan- that made him infi
nitely more uuc«>infortable. a l«x«k he
eotrld find no name for. a friendliness
that studiously covers«! another feel
ing. whether question, distrust or ac
tual dislike be <-ould not ssy With a
strange sensation of awkwardness be
sorted < blteotes fetters, waiting for
her to sp«‘-ak
As if divining his thought she turn
ed toward him "I’m afraid I rath«»
Intrude she as st "If you are busy
Uia »eus» of oourtoe- waa tow tad i
a
FRED STICKELS
NEW ASSISTANT
POSTMASTER
nr ha«l eguu lite with a high «»p'luion shake off yjur re»tte*»ue»» that your-
of women sud the w«wds shook up an your heal Hi might improve. He tbluki
echo of the old »eutimeut.
I that the pl« »cat «,.»«» would e"—she
"Don’t think that " he «ah! hastily. he-i'tatcd "would give yon a tremen
"I was ouly looking through my let dou» o;q ortumty Your trade interest»
ters. You mustn't rate yonrsaif below bouml up 1» they ar«- with Persia,
letters ” lie was conscious that bla wouhl give ..iiy op.a "ii you might hol«t
tone was hurried, that U,s words were a double »«i_lit." Almost uu«iuwciou»
a little Jagg«' i. but E.e «1 I not appear ly a tomb of warmth crept Into her
to uotiee l ulike «Ircemug she took Words.
the new tua iaer without surprise. Slie
"Mr Fraide tatke«l very seriously
lia«l kn««n t'hilcote tor six years.
al-out th«- begiuuing of your <'>«reer
It is announced that Fred Stickles,
“I dine«! with the Frnldes tonight." He said that If only the spirit of you!
«he said. "Mr. Fraide sent you a metr first days ixmld i-ome l«ack"— Her second deputy In the county clerk’s
sag««."
tone gre'v «¡ulcker. as though she fear . offi« e. has been apiminted assistant
Vucousclously Loder ■
•lie i post master at the Eugene office, to
There e«l rldl' «te n Letters silence,
was lium««r in the th >u
■f a lues- asked me*to use my Influence I know sue •■«•«! \\ A Kuykendall, who has
sage to him from tin- g:« . Fraide To that I have llttte none, perhape but 1 tendered his resignation, the same to
bale his amusement lie wheeled oue of couhlu't tel) hlui that, aud s«>~i>o 1
.tak«- effect ou January I, 1907. Mr.
the big leuuge « hairs forward.
promised ’
"And have kept the promise?" Ixster I Stickles is quulitled in every wav to
“Indeed.” lie said. "Won’t yon sit
He is young and
down?"
spoki- at raudoin. Her manner and her till the position.
They were near together now. and words bad !>oth affected blai. There energetic, and has given entire sat
tie saw her face more fully Again he wg» a sensntlou of unreality In his isfaction tn th«- clerk's office, where
was take« atack t’bihoie had spoken brain.
he will b«- greatly missed. Couuty
of her a» successful ami intelligent,
"Y’e«' she answered, "I always Clerk Lee has secured a competent
but never as tauutiful Yet her beauty waut to <!o what I ent:.”
"A» she spok«- a sudden realization man to tak«- his place.
was a rare and uucommou fact. Her
Mr. Kuykendall, who has held the
hair was black not a glossy black, but of the effort she was milking struck P«>sltion of assistant postmaster for
upou
him.
and
with
It
bls
scorn
of
the dusky bla- k that is »otter tliau uuy
the past four years, Is interested in
brow u her ey <■« were large anil of a Chilcote rose In renewed f«r«e.
two Eugene business houses, Yering-
"My
Intention
”
—
•
In-
Ix-gnn,
turning
peculiarly pure blue, and her eyelashes
ton A- Kuykendall's drug store and
to
her.
Then
the
futility
of
any
dec
were bhu k. ts>autifully curve«l mid of
laration slletxeeil him. ”1 shall tliluk the
Seattle
Produce
Conipauy's
remarkable tlnckue»
"Won't you »it down?" he said agaiu. over what you say,” in- add«-«! alter a wholesale commission house anil af
cutting short his thoughts with some minute's wait. “I suppose I can't say ter the first ol the year will devote
uwre than that.”
contusion.
Their eyes met ami she smile«! a lit Ills entire attention to them.
“Thank you." She gravely accepted
tie
the protiered chair. But he saw that
"1 don't believe I expected ns much,"
I.OWFI.L ITEMS.
w ithout nuy ostentation she drew her
skirts aside as she passed him. The she said. "I think I’ll go now. You
have been wonderfully pntlent." Again
action displease«! him unaccountably.
(Special Correspondem e. 1
"Well," he said shortly, "wliat had she smll<Ml slightly, nt the same time
extending
her
hand.
Th«-
gesture
was
Lowell,
Dw. 19
Win
Kelsay
Fraide to say?" He walkisl to the
mantelpiece with liis customary move quite friendly. I«ut In Loder’s eyes It took a load <«t the Oregon Central
held relief ns well as frhmdllnees, and surveyor» to Goshen and other point«
ment aud stiKsl watching her. Th«« in
stinct toward hiding Ills face had left when their hands met he not!ce«l that Monday, the 17th. They will tak«- a
him. Her Instant and uninterested ac her fingers barely brushed his.
lle picked up her ctoak and curried It holiday vacation and may not re
ceptance of him almost nettle«! him.
across the ronn. As he held the door turn until February or March.
His own half contemptuous luipressiou
Walter Sharpe lias laid asld«- hia
open li' laid It quietly across her arm.
of t'hilcote came to him unpleasantly
"I'll think over what you’ve snld," hs backboard on th«- mail rout«- between
and with it the first desire to ussert bls
here and Hazel Dell on account of
own individuality. Stung by the cou rejieated.
Again sht* glnuced at him as If bus the condition of the roads and In
Meting emotious, be felt iu Chilcote's
peeling sarcasm. Then, partly reas
pockets for something to smoke.
carylng the mall on horseback.
sure«!, slu- paustsl. "Yon will always
Eve saw and Interpreted the action,
Mrs. Maggie Cain mad«- a trio to
despise your opportimlties, and I sup-
"Are these your cigarett«-»?" She lean
post- I shall always envy them." she the county s-at last week ou tmsl-
rd toward a small table und t«s>k up a
snld “That’s tlie way with men nnd neaa. She is figuring on th«- construc
box made of lizard skill.
women. G«xsl night." With another tion of a new residence early in the
"Thanks.” He t««ik tlie Isix from
faint smile she passed out Into the cor- spring as she can get th«- lumber
her. and ns It passed from one to the
ridor.
hauled.
Clar«-nce McBee is alee
other lie saw her glance at his rings.
Iznler wnlt«-«l until he heard the outer building n new hous«« and as so« n as
The glance was momentary . Her lips
parted to express question or surprise, door <'|os«'. then lit- « rs«»<sl the room the roads are In good condition will
then closed again without comment. thoughtfully mid dropped Into the erect a substantial resldeuc«* near
More than any spoken words the inci chair slu- had vacutKl. H<- sat for a
Rush Island
dent showed him the gulf that aepa- time looking nt tin- ham! her fingers
had
touehisl.
Then
he
lifted
bls
head
Mr. Bingham, forest ranger, waa a
ratisi husband mid wife.
passenger to Hazel Dell one da: 'aat
"Well," he said agaiu, "wliat al«out with a characteristic movement.
"Bv Jove," lie snld aloud, "how cor week.
Frulde?”
At bis words she sut straighter aud dlnlly she detests him!"
A sick man from the railroad ■ ur-
tooked at him more directly, us if brac
veying camp passed hcre Monday last
CHAITER IX.
ing lierself to a task.
for Eugene under
the impression
ODER slept soundly and dreatn-
"Mr. Fraide Is—Is as Intereatad as
that he hail aiqiendlc"!«
lessly In Clnkote's canopied
ever iu you/^sbe l«egan.
There will be In X
ng
I is-«l To him tlie big room
"Ur in you?" Loder made the Inter
:
Bush
Island
school
h
is«
as
____
I
with
Its
sever«-
magnificence,
ruption precisely as he felt Chilcote
would have made it. Then instantly he suggested nothing of tlie gloom and eve.
solltiah- tliat'lt belli In Its uwaar's
oir«g o»
Burt Kelsay
Is
wished the words back.
Eve’s warm skin colure«! more deep eves. The pomli . >us furniture, the crutches on account
ting hia
ly. For a »ecffiid tlie luscrutnbie un high celling, the heavy curtains, un- kn«-<- with nn ax wl
happing
derlyiug expression that puzzl«*«l lilm chmiged sine«- tin- days of <'hiltsites wood.
grandfather,
all
hlnteti
nt
u
far
reach
showed In her eyes, tlieu she sank
The river mad«' a sudden rise of
Ing owuershlp that stirred liim. The
back into a corner of the chair.
"Why do you make sm li n point of ownership was mythical in his regard several feet last Sunday on account
sneering at my friends?" sin- asked mid tlie possi-sslons a mirage, but tln-y I of the sn-’W melting in the nioun-
tilled the «lay mid surely sufficient for tains.
quietly. "I overlook it when you are
nervoua.” Slie baited slightly ou the the day.
Mac Crow and Mr. Fletcher started
That was his frame of mlml as he for the gold mines on the North Fork
word. "But you are not nervous to
opened Ills ey «-s otl tlie followlL'X morn Monday evening. Mr. Fletcher will
night.”
Iaider. to liis great humiliation, red Ing mid lay appret.'latlve of Ills com
work In the mines all winter.
detied. Except for ail occasional out fort, of tin- surroutMUag space, even of
burst on the part of Mrs. Robins, liis tli«- light that tiltere<l through the cur
charwoman, lie had not merited n wo tain chinks, suggestive of n world re
GENERAL NEWS TOI'lt S.
man'» displeasure for years.
create«! With day aU things seemed
“The sneer wa« unintentional,” be possible to s hi-ultliy mini lie str«*Wb
All electri«' line Is being run from
ed liis arms luxuriously. dellgbUug lu
K|tld.
Hpokane, through Palouse to Irwin
Eve
showed
a
per
th*- glossy sniootliucss oi tlie sheet».
For the first time
What was It t hlh-ote had snld?' list ton, Idaho, a distance of 1 I® mlloe,
•onal lnt< rest, She ItMtketl at him In a
puzzled way. "If your u | h >I >gy «us ter live for a day Hi»«« exist for a life and work Is now being pushed on it.
A big fir«- at Valdez, Ahiska. de
meant.” she sai«l hesl litaliugly, "1 should tin,«' ’I lint wus true, g-ul life bad be
gun. At thirty six he was to know It stroyed tin- bank, Stella hotel and
lie glad to accept it."
Loder, uncertain of bow to take the f<„ .he tirst time
several • other buildings, cars! g a
words, moved back to the desk. He
He «Hide«!, hut without Irony. Mau loss of about |r>0,000. It was started
«•arrl«»l mi unllgbte«! Cigarette l>etween is at Ills best nt thirty-six, he mused.
He has r<-tain<-<l his enthusiasms and by a bui'gtar.
his fingers
The farmers of Agency Plalns.near
There was nil lutervul In which nei sbe«l Ills «-xubermiees; lie has learned
ther spoke. Theu ut last, cons« ious of what to pick up and wliat to pass by; Bend, Oregon, are prepuring a peti
Its awkwardness. Eve rose With one he no louger Imagines that to «train n tion to the Oregon legislature, asking
band on the back of her chair she look <*U|> one must taste the dregs. He for an appropriation of IkO.OOO for
close«! his eyes and »|getcb«Hl ugalti i the purpose of drilling deep well« for
ed at him.
"Mr. Fraide thinks it's such a pity not Ids arms only, but his whole Issly.
water on the plains.
that" she stopped to choose her words The pleasure of Ills mental state In
Cur shortage in the Palouse coun
—“that you should lose hold ou tlung»
slsttsl on a physical expression. Then.
lose Interest In things as you are do •Ittliru it|> In l«ed. he pressed the elec try, In Eastern Washington, la su hud
•that wh«'ut is left to rot m the plat
ing He lias been thinking a g<ssl deal tri«' bell
forms of the depots and cannot Se
sts-ut you iu the last thr«-«- week«, ever
f ’hll« >tXs tn-w valet rv«|»>n«led.
since the day of your your illness In
’Tull those curtalus, Renwick.'' he hauled away.
the bon»«- ami it •••etna to him "-again said. ' What'» the time?” He had
Sidney Sloan, the Spokane hoy
she l«roke off. 'Catch u< Loder s avert pa««e«l the ordeal of Renwick’s eyes miirtterer, has been declare«! niran»
th«- night liefore
The man was slow even a little stu i by five prysli'ians.
pid. He drew back th«- curtains care
fully, then hsiked at the small clock on
Ad»«-rtl*ed Letters..
the divesing fa le "Eight o'clock, sir
Eugvne, Or., December lb.
I didn't «-x -«« t the tail so early, sir.”
Baker, Mrs. James.
Iseler felt reproved, and a | is use fol
Ball. Mrs. 1’heba.
low «-d
Barley, C. M.
"May I bring your cup of tea. sir?”
Bowers, A.
“No. not Just yet. I’ll have a bath
first.”
Bowers, Sam.
Renwick showed |«on«leroua unter
Brown, J. Miles.
tainty. “Warm, sir?” he hazarded.
Cory, Rev. A. T.
"No, col«l ”
Hurin, Miss Mabel.
Í»
Htlll perplexed, ti»a man left tta
«
Davis, John.
room.
Emerson, Miss Phea. r-i?..
Lister smiled to himself. The chance«
of «llW'Overy In that quarter were not
Forester, Henry.
large He was Inclined to thiuk that
9»
Gates, R. B.
t'hilcote had even overstepped neceaal
Hinton, Benj.
ty In the matter of bla valet’s dullu»»«
Jones, John.
He breakfasted alone, following f’hll
Jordan, R. P.
cote s bablt, aud after breakfast fou»!
McCrady, Mrs.
his way to the study.
McGee, Frank.
As he entered Greening rose with
Mitchell, John H.
th- seme com History haste that bo bad
shown the night before.
Mix, Geo.
Ixxter nodded to him. "Early at
Newton, Oliva. (2)
wvrtr ks said pleaeantte.
Olben, May.
Potter, Mis» Laura.
Continued next week.
Rosa, Mrs. J. D.
Stanley, Miss Cate.
•TU think netr vhal po«/w s<»«4.” hr
5TOniA.
J. L. PAGE, P. M.
rtpuUKi.
TM IM Tn tat tat?! ItaM
•d bead "It «wma to him that If you
Newt Bryant, tha Franklin nr
made ou» r»al »Cort aow, «ven uowfcto
D
chant, waa in th» city today.