The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-12-21


Then his attention was needed for more
imminent things.
As he entered the new secretary was /
returning q volume to its place on the /
book shelves. At sight of him he push |
ed it hastily into position and turned |
round.
IT was making a few notes on the |
political position of Khorasan," he said, /
CHANGING with slight apprehensiveness /
at the others face. He was a small
shy man. with few social attachments.
but an extraordinary amount of learn
ing-the antithesis of the alert Bless
ington, whom ne had replaced.
Loder bore his scrutiny without
hinching. Indeed. 1t struck him sud
denly that there was a fund Of inter
est. almost OF excitement, in the en-
countering of each new pair OF eyes.
At the thought he moved forward to
the desk
Thank you. Greening." he said. "A
very useful bit Of work"
The secretary glanced up, slightly
puzzled His endurance had been Sc
verely taxed in the fourteen days that
he had filed his new post.
I'm glad you think So sir" he said,
hesitatingly. you rather poohpoohed
the matter this morning If you remem-
Der"
Loder was taking off his coat, but
stopped in the operation.
This morning?' he said. ooh, did
I? Did ~" Then struck by the OPP
portunity the words gave him he turn
ed toward the secretary. You've got
to get used to me, Greening," he said.
You haven't quite grasped me yet, l
can see I'm a man of moods, you
know. Up to the present you've seen
my slack side, my Jared side but
have quite another when l care to
/ show It, I'm a sort Of Jekyll and Hyde
affair" Again he laughed, and Green
ing echoed the sound dif1dently. Chill
cote had evidently discouraged famil-
iarlty.
| Loder eyed him with abrupt under
| standing He recognized the loneli-
ness in the anxious, conciliatory man
ner
You're tired" he said kindly. Go
/ W DCU. VIC gu SOAuS lhA44hAA4S ~ w.
Good night" He held out his hand.
Greening took 1t, still half distrust-
full of this fresh side to so complex a
man.
Good night, sir" he said. '"Tomor-
row, If you approve, shall go on with
my notes I hope you will have
restful night"
For second Loder's eyebrows went
up, but he recovered himself instantly
"Ah. thanks, Greening," he said
Thanks. think your hope will be
fulfilled"
He watched the little secretary move
softly and alphabetically to the door,
then he walked to the fire and. rest
ing his elbows on the mantelpiece, he
took his face In his hands.
For space he stood absolutely
quiet, then his hands dropped to his
sides, and he turned slowly round. In
that short space he had balanced
things and found his bearings. The
slight nervousness shown in his
brusque sentences and overconfident
manner faded out, and he faced facts
steadily.
With the return of his calmness he
took a long survey of the room. His
glance frightened appreciatively as ii
travelled from the walls lined with well
bound books to the lamps modulated to
the proper light; from the lamps to the
desk fitted with every requirement
Nothing was lacking. All he had once
possessed, all he had since dreamed Of
was here. but on a greater scale. TIC
enjoy the luxuries Of life a man must
90 long without them. L0der had lived
severely-so severely that until three
weeks ago he had believed himself ex
empt from the temptations of hu
mainly Then the voice Of the world
had spoken, and within him anothe
voice had answered with a tone sC
clamOrous and insistent that 1t haC
outcried his surprised and incredulou
wonder at its existence and it's claims
That had been the voice of suppressed
ambition, and now as he stood IN thu
new atmosphere a newer voice life,
itself The Joy of material things ros
suddenly, overwhelming the last rem
nant Of the philosophy he had reared
He saw all things in a fresh light
the soft carpets, the soft lights, tn
numberless pleasant unnecessar.
things that color the passing land
scape and oil the wheels of life. Thi
was power-power made manifest. Th
choice bindings Of ones books tn
quiet harmony Of ones surroundings
the gratifying Difference Of ones de
pendents-these We're the visible, tn
outward signs, the thing she had for
gotten.
Crossing the room slowly he LITE
and looked at the different papers O.
the desk. They had a substantial fee
ing, an importance, an air Of value
They were like the solemn keys to S
! many vexed problems. Beside the pa
e pers were a heap of letters neatly al
= ranged and as yet unopened. e turf
ed them over one by one They wer
e all thick and interesting to look a