The Red Cloud chief., 1906-12-28

years of dreary sanity madness had a
fascination. Against all reason it
stirred and reused him. For one in
slant his pride and his anger faltered
before ii, then common sense flowed
back again and adjusted the balance.
You propose he said slowly. that
for Il consideration of money | should
trade on the likeness between us and
become your dummy, when you are
otherwise engagedT'
Chilcote colored. you are unpleas-
antly blunt" he said.
But | have caught your meaningT
"In the rough, yes"
Loder nodded CURLY. "Then take
my advice and go home" he said.
you're unhinged."
The other returned his glance, and
as their eyes met Loder was reluctant
~ compelled to admit that, though the
face was disturbed, 1t had no traces
Of insanity.
IL make you Il proposal" Chilcote
repeated %nervously. but with distinct
ness. "Do you acccptY'
For an instant Loder was ut Il loss
to find II reply sufficiently final. Chill
cote broke in upon the pause.
after ALL" lie urged, what | ask of
you is Il simple thinG-merely to carry
through my routine duties for II week
or two occasionally when | find my
endurance giving away, when Il respite
becomes essential. The work would
be nothing to Il man in your state of
mind, the pay anything you like to
name" In his eagerness he had fol.
lowed Loder to the desk. Wont you
give me an answer? l told you l am
neither mad nor drunk"
Loder pushed back the scattered pa
pers that lay under his arm.
"Only a lunatic would propose such
n scheme" he said brusquely and
without feeling.
"WhyT"
The others lips parted for a quick
%retort; then In a surprising way the
retort seemed to fail him. "Oh, be-
cause the thing isn't feasible, isn't
practicable from any point of view!'
Chilcote stepped closer. "Why?' he
insisted.
Because 1t couldn't work, man
couldn't hold for a dozen hours"
Chilcote put out his hand and touch
ed his arm. But whyY" he urged.
: why? Give me one unanswerable
reason"
Loder shook Off the hand and laugh
ed, but below his laugh lay a sugges-
ton of the others excitement. Again
the scene stirred him against his
/, ,nu,Jn- t,,dupnnnt thnnUh hiS rpnly
when 1t came was sound enough.
: "As for reasons" he said, there are
a hundred, IL l had time to name them,
Take it, for the SAX Of supposition,
r that l were to accept your offer. ]
n should take my place in your hou
u at-let us say at dinner time. o
man gets me into your evening clothes
and there at the very start you have
d the first suspicion set up. He has
probably known you for years, know
T. you until every turn Of your appear
ance, voice and manner Is far more
IS familiar to him than 1t is to you
1t There are no eyes like a servants"
y 81 have thought Of that. My serv
Ie ant and my secretary can both ID
" changed. l will do the thing thor
" oughly."
Loder glanced at him In surprise
The madness had more method tina
he had believed. Then as he still iooi
rs ed a fresh idea struck him, ana n
v laughed.
you have entirely forgotten on
" thing" he said. you can hardly Oil
I'd MISS your wife"
ne my wife doesn't count
Again Loder laughed. I'm afraid
scarcely agree. The complication
IS, would be slightly slightly II
paused.
r. Chilcote's latent irritability brol
lal out suddenly. Look here he sal
a this isn't Il chatting matter. 1t mt
be moonshine to you, but it's reall
to me-"