Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-27
his hand Into the pocket and drew out
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his hand Into the pocket and drew out the strangers cnrd.
 "Mr. John Loder!" He read the name over as hc walked along, and 1t me. chanically repeated Itself in his brnin. failing into measure with his steps. Who was John Loler? What was hef The questions tantalized him till his pace unconsciously increased. Tho thought that two men so absurdly alike could inhabit the same city and remain unknown to each other faced him as problem. It tangled with hls personal worries and aggravated them. There seemed to be almost danger In such an extraordinary likeness. He be- gan to regret his inipetuosity in thrust ing his card upon the man. Then. again. how he had let himself go on the subject of Lexington! How mar. rowly he had escaped compromise! He turned hot and cold at the recollec- tion of what he had said and what he might have said. Then for the first time he paused In bis walk and looked about him.
 On leaving Grosvenor square he had turned westward. moving rapidly till the Marble arch was reached. There. still oblivious 10 his surroundings, he had crossed the roadway to the Edg- ware road, passing nlong 1t to the labyrinth of shabby streets that lie be- hind Paddington. Now, as he glanced about him, he saw with some surprise how far he he'd come.
 The damp remnants of the fog still hung about the housetops An Q filmy veil. There were no glimpses of green to break the monotony of tone. All was quiet. dingy, neglected. But to Chilcote the shabbiness was restfrl, the subdued atmosphere satisfaction. Among these sad houses, these passers- by, each filled with his own concerns. he experienced sense of respite and relief. In the fashionable streets that bounded bis own horizon if q man paused in his walk to work out an Idea he instantly drew crowd of inquist- tive op contemptuous eyes. Here if . man halted for half an hour it was mo- body's business but his own.
 Enjoying this thought, he wandered on for close upon an hour, moving from one street to another with steps that were list!ess or rapid, as inclina- tion prompted, Then. still acting with vagrant aimlessness, he stopped in bis wanderings and entered small eating house
 The place was low ceiled and dirty. the air hot and steaming with the smell of food, but Chilcote passed through the door and moved to one of the tables with no expression of dis gust and with far less furtive watch fulness than he used in hls own house. By a curious mental twist he felt greater freedom. larger opportunities in drab surroundings such as these than in the bro1l issues and weighty responsibilities of his own life. Choos- ing corner seat, he called for coffee: and there, protected by shadow and wrapped in cigarette smoke, he set about imagining himself some vagrant unit who had slipped his moorings and was blissfully adrift.
 The imagination was pleasant while 1t lasted. but with him nothing was permanent. Of late the greater part of his suffcrlpgs had been comprised in the irritable fickleness of all hls aims-the dis.aste for and impossibilI- ty of sustained effort fin any direction. He had barely lighted second cigar ette when tie old restlessncss fell upon him. He stirred neryously In his seat, ana the cigarette wns scarceiy burned ont when he rose,' paid his small bill and left the shop.
 Outside on the pavement he halted. pulled out his watch and saw that two hours stretched In front before any appointment claimed his attention. He wondered vaguely where he might 90 :o. what he might do. In those two hours. In the lust few minutes dis taste for solitude had risen In his mind, giving the close street loneli- ness that had escaped him before.
 As he stood wavering a cab passed slowly down the street. The sight of a we'll dressed man reused the cab man. Fllcking his whip. he passed Chilcote close. feigning to pull up.
 The cab suggested civilization. Chil- cote's miad vecred suddenly, and he raised his hand. The vehicle stopped. and he climbed in.
 "Where, slr?' The cabman peered down through the roof door.
 Chllcote raised his bead. "Oh, any where near Pail Mall," he said. Then. as the horse started forward. he put up hls hand and shook the trapdoor. ''waitr he called. five changed my mind. Drive to Cadognn gardens. No. S."
 The distance to Cadogan Gardens was covered quickly. Chilcote had hardly realized that his destination was reached when the cab pulled up. Jumping out. he paid the fare and walked quickly to the hall door of No. g3.
 "Is Lady Astrupp at homeY' he ask cd sharply as the door swung back h answer to hls knock.
 The servant drew back deferentiaIly. ~Her ladyshlp has almost finished lunch. sir. he said.
 For answer Chilcote stepped through che doorway and walked halfway across the hall.
 "All right" he said. But don't dis turb her on my account I'll walt in the white room till she has inished.-