The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-12-13
CHAPTER ".

little more IHdu name anu
Cllford's inn mere dead let
ter. Yet Cllnord's inn lies as safely
slowed away in the shadow of the law
courts as any grave under a country
church wall It IS as green of grass,
as gray of stone, as irresponsible to the
passing footstep.
Facing TIE rallied ia grass plot Of It's
little court stood the house in which
John Loder had his rooms Taken at
first glance the house had the desert
ed air of an Office, inhabited only In
the early hours, but as night fell lights
would be seen to show out, first on one
floor. then on another-faint, human
beacons unconsciously signaling each
other. The rooms LOder Inhabited
were on the highest floor, and from
their windows one might gaze phIlo
BophicalIy on the treetops, forgetting
the uneven pavement and the worn
railing that hemmed them around In
the landing outside the rooms his name
appeared above his door, but the paint
had been solied by time and the letters
for the most part reduced to shadows,
30 that, taken In conjunction with the
gaunt staircase and bare walls, the
place had a cheerless look.
Inside, however, the effect was some
what mltigated. The room on the right
hand as one entered the small passage
that served as hall was of fair size,
though low ceiled The paint of the
wall panellng, like the name above the
outer door, had long ago been worn to
a dirty and nondescript hue. and the
floor was innocent of carpet. Yet in
the middle Of the room stood a fine old
Cromwell table. and on the plain deal
bookshelves and along the mantel
piece were some valuable books -polit-
zeal and historical. There were no cur
talns on the windows and a common
reading lamp with q green shade stood
on q desk. 1t was the room of man
with few hobbies and no pleasures,
who existed because be was alive and
worked because he must.
Three nights after the great fog John
Loder sat by his desk in the light of
the green shaded lamp. The remains
OF very frugal supper stood on the
center table, and in the CRATE small
and S-onomical looking fire was burn
ing
Having written for close on two
hours, he pushed back his chair and
stretched his cramped fingers. Then
he yaWned, rose and slowly walked
across the room. Reaching the mantel-
piece he took pipe from the pipe rack
and some tobacco from the jar that
stood behind the books. His face
l.,
common with men who have worked
long at an uncongenial task. Shredding
the tobacco between his hands he
slowly filled the pipe, then lighted it
from the fire with a spill Of twisted
paper.
Almost at the moment that he APP
Piled the light the sound of steps
mounting the interpreted stairs outside
caught his attention and he raised his
head to listen.
Presently the steps halted and he
heard match struck The stranger
was evidently uncertain of his where
abouts. Then the steps moved forward
again and paused.
An expression of surprise crossed
Loder's face and he laid down his pipe
AS ths visitor knocked he walked
quietly across the room and opened the
door
The passage outside was dark and
the newcomer drew back before the
light from the room.
"Mr. Loder?" he began interroga-
lively. Then all at once he laughed In
embarrassed apology. Forgive me-"
cpgI 4srTh, 1F~1,A 80 +B,o- .lor-1o.I -
/ didn't realize who it was"
Loder recognized the voice as belong
ing to his acquaintance OF the fog.
ooh. it's you." be said. Won't you
come in?' His voice was little cold.
This sudden resurrection left him sur
prised. and not quite pleasantly sur
prised. lie walked back TO the fire
place, followed by his guest.
The guest seemed nervous and agi-
tated. Il must apologize for the hour
of my visit" he said. .My-my time is
not quite my own"
Loder waved his hand. Whose time
is his own?" he said.
Chilcote. encouraged by the remark,
drew nearer to the fire. Until this mo-
ment he had refrained from looking di-
rectly at his host. Now, however, he
raised his eyes. and, despite his prepa-
ration, he recoiled unavoidably before
the extraordinary resemblance. Seen
here in the casual surroundings Of 4
badly furnished and crudely lighted
Saom, it was even more astounding
THAI It had been in the mystery Of the
fog.
Forgive me" he said again. at IS
physical, purely physical I am bowled
over against my viii"
L.oder smiled. The slight contempt
chat Chilcote had first inspired rose
again. and with it a second feeling less
easily defined The man seemed 50 IN
stable. so incapable, yet 50 grotesquely
suggestive to himself.
1.-THE likeness IS rather overwhelm-
ing, he said, but not heavy enough to
sink under. Come nearer the fire. What