Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-27


steps were quick and uneven as he trav-
ersed the intervening streets; his shoulders
lacked their decisive pose. and his pale face
was marked with shadows beneath the
eyes-shadows that bore witness to the
sleepless night spent in pacing Chilcotes
vast and lonely room. BY the curious eff
feet. of circumstances the likeness between
the two men had never been more signin-
cantly marked than that morning OF
April 10. when Loder walked along the
pavements crowded with early workers and
brisk with insistent news vendors ALREADY
alive to the value of last nights pohticat
crisis.
The irony of this last element in the days
concerns came to him fully when one news
boy. more energetic than his fellows.
thrust a paper in front of him.
Sensation in the 'Ouse. sir. Speech by
Mr.. Chilcote! Government defeat!
For moment Loder stopped ana ms
face Redeemed. The tide of emotions still
ran strong. His hand went inshHctiYefy
to his pocket: then his lips set He shook
his head and walked on.
With the same hard expression about his
mouth. he turned into Clifford's Inn. pass
ed through his own doorway, and mounted
the stairs.
This time there was no milk can on the
threshold of his rooms and the door yield
ed to his pressure without the need or
key With strange sensation of reluct-
ance he walked into the narrow passage
and paused. uncertain which room to enter
first. AS he stood hesitating voce from
the sitting room settled the question.
Who's there?" 1t called, irritably. What
do you want?'
Without further ceremony the intruder
pushed the door open and entered the
room. AS he did so he drew quick
Observation-Disclosures of disappointment or re-
lief 1t impossible to say. Whether he
had hoped for or dreaded it, Chicote was
conscious.
AS Loder entered he was sitting by the
cherries CRATE. the ashes of yesterdays
fire showing charred and dreary where the
sun touched them. His back was to the
light, and about his shoulders was an old
plaid rug. Behind him on the table stood
a cup, teapot and the can of milk. farther
off kettle set to boil upon tiny spirit
stove.
commonplace. Loder's first remark as he
glanced round the disordered room seemed
strangely inefficient
''Where's Robins?" he asked in brusque
voice. His mind teemed with big considera-
tions, yet this was his first involuntary
question.
Chilcote had started at the entrance of
his visitor: now he sat staring at him, his
hands holding the arms of his chair.
Where's Robins % Loder asked again.
II don't know. She-I--we didn't hit 1t
off. She's gone-went yesterday" He
shi, cred and drew the rug about him.
'Chilcote-" Loder began, sternly; then
he paused. There was something in the
others look and attitude that arrested
him. a chanRe or expression PASSED over
his own face; he turned about with
abrupt gesture, pulled off his coat and
threw 1T on a chair; then crossing DELHI
erately to the fireplace. he began to rake
the ashes from the CRATE.
Within q few minutes he had a fire
cracking where the bed of dead cinders
had been, and. having finished the task
he slowly from his knees. wiped his
hands and crossed to the table. On the
small spirit stove the kettle had boiled
and the cover was lifting and falling
with q tinkling sound. Blowing out the
flame. Loder picked up the teapot. and
with hands that were evidently accus-
toned to the task set about making the
tea.
During the whole operation he never
spoke, though all the while ne was fully
conscious of Chilcote's puzzled gaze. The
tea ready, he poured it into the cup and
carried it across the room.
Drink thsl' he said, laconically. THE
fire will be up presently"
Chilcote extended u cold and shaky
hand. You see" he began.
But Loder checked him almost savagely
Il do-as well though I had followed
you from Piccadilly last night! You've
been hanging about, God knows where,
till the small hours of the morning; then
you've come back-slunk back, starving
for your id poison and shivering
with cold. You've settled the first part of
the business, but the cold has still to be
reckoned with. Drink the tea. I've some
thing to say to you He ma stored his
vehemence, and walking to the window,
stood looking down into the court. His
eyes were blank. his face hard; his ears
heard nothing but the faint sound of
Chilcote's swallowing, the click OF the
cup against his teeth.
Ter time that seemed interminable he
stood motionless; then, when he judged
the tea finished, he turned slowly. Chill
cote had drawn closer to the fire He was
obviously braced by the warmth; and the
apathy that hung about him was to some
extent dfspelled. Still moving slowly
h
him of the empty cup. stood looking
down at him.
.'Chilcote." he said, very quie8y, i've
come to tell you that the thing must
end"
After he spoke there was prolonged
rsuse: then. as II shaken with sudden
consciousness, Chilcote rose. The rug
dropped from one shoulder and hung
down ludicrously; his hand caught the
back of the chair for support; his un-
shaven face looked absurd and repulsive
in it's sudden expression OF scared in
quiry. Loder involuntarily turned away.
y near it," he said, slowly. It's over;
we've come to the end
Put why?' ChiIcote articulated, blank
ly. Why? Why? In his confusion he
could think of no better word
Because / throw 1t up. My side Of the
bargains OFF,
Again Chilcote's lips parted stammering-
ly. The apathy caused by physical exhaus-
ton and his recently administered drug was
passing from him. the hopelessly shattered
condition of mind and body was showing
through it like skeleton through a thin
covering of flesh
"But why2'' he said again. ''why?"
Still I4oder avoided the frightened sur
prise of his eyes Because I withdraw"
he answered. doggedly
Then suddenly Chilcotes tongue was
loosened "Loder." he cried, excitedIy
.you can't do it! God! man, you can't do
IT." TO reassure himself he laughed
painfully thin echo of his old. sarcastic
laugh. "If it's a matter of greater oppor-
unity he began. of more money"
But Loder turned upon him.
BE quietr, ne said, so menacingly that
the other stopped. Then by an effort he
conquered himself Its not matter of
money chilcote'' he said, quietly; its a
matter OF necessity He brought the
word out with difficulty.
Chilcote glanced up. "Neeessity?' he re-
peated How? Why?"
The retitera ton reused Loder. Because
there was great scene in the house last
night" he began. hurriedly: because when
you go back your find that Scarborough
has smashed up over the assassination Of
Sir William Brice-F Field at Meshed and
that you have made your mark in big
speech; and because" Abruptly he stop
ped. The thing he had come to say-the
thing he had meant to say--would not be
said. Either his tongue or his resolution