The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-30

His coat was Off and hung on the chair
behind him, and he pulled vigorously
on long cigar.
Hello. That's right" he said lacon-
| ically. Make yourself comfortable
half a second. while / skim the ST.
| Stephens"
His saIutation pleased Loder. With
a nod of acquiescence he crossed the
| office TO the brisk fire that burned in
| the CRATE.
| For a minute or two Lakeley worked
steadily, occasionally breaking the quiet
by an unintelligible remark or a vigor-
Gus stroke of his pencil. at last he
dropped the paper with a gesture OF
/ satisfaction and leaned back In his
! chair.
WELL" he said, what d'you think
| Of this? How's this for complica-
| tiont'
| Loder turned round. 81 think" he
| said quietly, that we can't overesti-
mate it,"
| Lakeley laughed and took a long pull
| at his cigar. "And we mustn't be
| afraid to let the Scarborough crowd
| know it, ehy' He waved his hand to
| the poster of the first edition that hung
before his desk.
Loder, following his glance. smiled
Lakeley laughed again. "They might
have known it all along if they'd cared
to deduce," he said. did they really
believe that Russia was going to sit
calmly looking across the Heri-Rud
while the shah played at mobilizing?
But what became of you last night?
We had a regular prophesying of the
whole business at Bramfell's; the great
Fraide looked in for five minutes. I
went ON with him to the club after
ward and was there when the news
came In. Twas great nightv'
Loder's face lighted up. II can mag
inc it," he said with an unusual touch
of warmth.
Lakeley watched him intently for
moment. Then with a quick action
he leaned forward and rested his ell
bows on the desk.
Its going to be something more
than imagination for you, Chilcote." he
said impressively. Its going to be
solid earnestw He spoke rapidly and
with rather more than his usual
shrewd decisiveness: then he paused to
see the effect Of his announcement.
Loder was still studying the flaring
poster. At the others words he turn
cd sharply. Something in Lakeley's
voice, something In his manner. arrest
ed him. A tinge Of color crossed his
face.
Reality" he said what do you
meang"
For further space his companion
watched him, then with a rapid move |
ment he tilted back his chair.
'fYes," he said. Yes; old Fraides |
instincts are never far out. He's quite |
right You're the man.
Still quietly. but with a strange I'M
derglow of excitement. Loder left the
fire and. coming forward. took a chair |
at Lakeley's desk.
do you mind telling me what you're |
driving atT' he asked in his old, la
comic voice.
Lakeley still scrutinized him with an
air of brisk satisfaction; then with a |
gesture of finality he tossed his cigar |
away.
my dear chap" he said, there's go
ing to be breach somewhere-and
Fraide says you're the man to step in
and fill it! You see, five years ago,
when things looked lively on the gulf
and the Bundar Abbas business came
to light, you did some promising work,
and a reputation like that sticks to
man even when he turns Stacker! Il
won't deny that you've Stacked abomi-
nably." he added as Loder made an un-
easy movement, "but Stacking has diff
ferent effects. Some men run to seed,
others mature. I had almost put you
down on the black list, but I've altered
my mind in the last two months"
9 Again Loder stirred in his seat. A
host OF emotions were stirring in his
mind. Every word wrung from Lakeley
was another stimulus to pride, another
subtle tribute to the curious force of
'.well?' he said. "Weil?"
Lakeley smiled. eve all know that
ministry is-well, top
heavy" he said. Scarborough is build
ing his card house just a story too high.
It's toss up what'il upset the balance.
1t might be the army, of course, or it
might be education, but it might quite
rs well be q matter Of foreign policy"
They looked at each other in compre-
hensive silence.
You know as well as 1 that it's not
the question of whether Russia comes
into Persia, but the question OF wheth-
er Russia goes out OF Persia when these
Hazaras are subdued! I'll lay You what
you like. Chilcote. that within one week
We hear that the risings are suppress
I'd, but that Russia, instead OF retiring,
has advanced those tempting twenty
miles and comfortably ensconced her
self at Meshed-as she ensconced her
self on tho island of AShurada." Lake [
ley's nervous. energetic figure was brac-
ID, his light blue eyes frightened by
the intensity of his interest.
IF this news comes before the Eas-
ter recess" he went on, 1.-The first nail
IAN be hammered in on the motion for
adjournment And IL the right man
loes it in the right way I'll lay my life ,
twill be nail in Sefborough's coffin
Loder sat very STILL Overwhelming
had suddenly opened be-
ore him. In q moment the unreality