The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-26


for. besides the lamp with it's green
? shade, large fire burned in the crate
and helped to dispeI the shadows.
AS he entered the room Chilcote rose
and came forward, his figure thrown
q into strong relief by the double light
He was dressed in shabby tweed
suit; his face looked pale and set with
slightly nervous tension. But, besides
the look and n certain added restless
ness of glance, there was no visible
change. Reaching Loder, he held out
his hand.
"WeH:' he said quickly.
The other looked at him question
ingIy.
We'll? Well? How has it gomez
1.-THE scheme? Oh, excellently" Lo-
der's manner was abrupt. Turning
from the restless curiosity in ChilcOte's
eyes. he moved a little way across the
room and began to draw off his coat.
Then, as If struck by the incfvility Of
the action, he looked back again. THE
scheme has gone extraordinarily" he
said. II could almost say absurdly.
There are some things, Chilcote, that
fairly bowl n man over"
A great relief tinged Chilcote's face.
Good he exclaimed. "Tell me all
about it,
But Loder was reticent. The mo-
ment was not propitious. 1t was as if
a hungry man had dreamed a great
banquet and had awakened to his star
walton. He was chary Of imparting his
visions.
There's nothing to TELL" he said
ch hat nf 70
is here in black and white. 1 don't
think you'll find / have slipped any
thing It's a clear business record"
From an inner pocket he drew out
bulky notebook and, recrossing the
room, laid it open on the table. 1t was
a correct, even minute, record Of ev-
cry action that had been accomplished
In Chilcote's name. Il don't think
you'll find any loose ends" he said as
he turned back the pages. Il had you
and your position in my mind all
through" He paused and glanced up
from the book. You have a position
that absolutely insists upon attention.
he added in a different voice.
At the new tone Chilcote looked up
as we'll mo moral lectures he said,
with Il nervous laugh. Il was anxious
to know If you had pulled it off-and
you have treasured me. That's enough.
1 was in q funk this afternoon to know
how things We're going-one of those
sudden, unreasonable funks. But now
that i see you''-he cut himself short
and laughed once more-"now that 1
see you. I'm hanged if 1 don't want to
prolong your engagement"
Loder glanced at him. then glanced
away. He felt a quick shame at the
eagerness that rose at the words-a
surprised contempt at his own readi-
ness to anticipate the mans weakness.
But almost as speedily as he had turn
ed away he looked back again.
"Tush, man. he said, with his old
intolerant manner. You're dreaming. |
You've had your holiday, and schools |
begun again. You must remember you
are dining with the Charringtons to- |
night. Young Charrington's coming of |
age-quite n big business. Come along. |
] want my clothes" He laughed and, |
moving closer to Chilcote, slapped him |
on the shoulder.
Chilcote started; then. suddenly be- |
coming imbued with the others man. /
ner, he echoed the laugh.
by Jove," he said. you're right! |
You're quite right. A man must keep
his feet in their own groove" Raising
his hand, he began to tumble with his
tie.
But Loder kept the same position.
you'll find the check book in its usual
drawer he said. I've made one
entry of f100, pay for the first week.
The rest can stand over until He
paused abruptly.
Chilcote shifted his position. Don't
talk about that 1t upsets me to antic-
ipate. I can make out a check to-
payable to John Loder."
NO. That can wait. The name of
Ioder is better out of the book We
can't be too careful" Loder spoke
with unusual impetuosity. Already a
Slight. unreasonable jealousy was col
oring his thoughts. Already he grudged
the idea of Chilcote with his unstable
glance and restless fingers opening the
drawers and sorting the papers that
for one stupendous fortnight had been
his without question. Turning aside |
he changed the subject brusquely.
"Come into the bedroom" he said.
Its half past If it's a minute and
the Charrington's show is at o." With
put waiting for reply, he walked
across the room and held the door
pen. - "a
There was no silence while they ex-1
clothes. Loder talked contin-
uousiy. sometimes in short, curt SEN
fences. sometimes with ironic touches
Of humor; he talked until Chilcote,
strangely affected by contact with an
other personality after his weeks of
solitude fell under his influence, his
2 excitement rising. his Imagination stir
ring at the novelty of change. At last, |
CARRIED once more in the clothes of his
own world, he passed from the bed
room back into the sitting room and ,
there halted, waiting for his COM
panion.
Almost directly Loder followed. He
came into the room quietly and. NOV
Ing at once to the table. picked up the
notebook.
I'm not going to preach he began,
$50 you needn't shut me up. But I'll
saw inst one thiug-a thing that will