The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-24

was how he marked his appreciation"
He held out his hand and nodded to-
ward the scar.
ChiIcote glanced up. $50 that's the
explanation
Eyes. / tried to conceal the thing
when I restored the dog, but / was
bleeding abominabiy and / failed.
Then the whole business was changed.
1t was I who needed seeing to, my new
friend insisted: who should be looked
after and not she She forgot the dog
in the newer interest of my wounded
finger. The maid, who was practically
unhurt, was sent on to engage rooms at
the little inn, and she and I followed
slowly. sss
THAT walk impressed me. There was
an attractive mistiness of atmosphere
in the warm night, sensation more
than attractive in being made much of
by woman of ones own class and
country after five years wandering"
He laughed with a touch of irony.
But | went take up your time with
details You know the progress of an
ordinary love affair. Throw in few
more flowers and little more sunshine
than is usual, Il man who is practically
a hermit and a woman who knows the
world by heart and you have the whole
thing.
.1She insisted on staying in Santasa-
lafe for three days in order to keep my
finger ndaged. She ended by staying
three weeks in the hope of smashing up
my life
ION coming to the hotel she had Civ
nd in
tons to each other she led me to con
clude her an unmarried girl. It was al
the end Of the three weeks that 1 learn
ed that she was not a free agent, as l
had innocently imagined, but possessed
a husband whom she had left i'll with
malaria at Florence or Rome.
1.-The news disconnected me, and |
took no pains to hide it. After that the
end came abruptly. In her eyes l had
become a fool with middle class prin-
ciples; in my eyes But there is no
need for that. She left Santasalare the
same night in a great confusion of
trunks and hatboxes, and next morning
l strapped on my knapsack and turned
my face to the SOUTH
"And women don't count ever after!'
Chilcote smiled, beguiled out of him.
self
Loder laughed. That's what I've
been trying to convey Once bitten,
twice shy He laughed again and
slipped the two rings over his finger
with an air of finality.
Now, shall start? This is the latch
key" He drew a key from the pocket
of Chilcote's evening clothes. when
I get to Grosvenor square l am to find
your house, go straight in, mount the
stairs and there on my right hand will
be the door of your-I mean my own
private rooms. | think I've got it by
heart. 1 feel inspired. 1 feel IL
can't go wrong" He Syo
remaining rirr 4.vvres and picked
'Tll stick on till 1 get a wire," he
said. ..Then I'll come back and We'll
reverse again." He slipped on the coat
and moved back toward the table |
Now that the decisive moment had
come it embarrassed him. Scarcely |
knowing how to bring it to an end he |
held out his hand.
Chilcote took it, paling a little. |
Twill be all right.' he said, with a |
be all right, And I've made it plain |
about-about the remuneration? A |
hundred a week, besides all expenses"
Loder smiled again. MY pay? Oh, |
yes, you've made it clear as day. Shall /
we say good night now?"
Eyes. Good night"
There was a strange, distant note in
Chilcote's voice, but the other did not |
pretend to hear it. He pressed the
hand he was holding, though the cold
dampness of it repealed him.
Good night he said again.
Good night
They stood for a moment awkwardly
looking at each other, then Loder quiet
" disengaged his hand, crossed the
room and passed through the door.
Chilcote, left standing alone in the
middle of the room, listened while the
last sound of the others footsteps was
audible on the uncarpeted stairs Then,
with a furtive, hurried gesture, he
caught up the green shaded lamp and
passed into Loders bedroom