The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-11-01

Conscious Of the impression, he NOV
ed still nearer. You jump to conclu-
sions," he said abruptly. What ]
meant to imply
was precisely what I've under
stood" Again she finished his SEN
tence. Then she laughed softly. How
very wise, but how very, very foolish
men are! You come to the conclusion
that because a woman isis interested
in you she is going to hamper you in
some direction, and after infinite pains
you summon all your tact and you set
about saving the situation" There was
interest, even a touch of amusement,
in her tone; her eyes were still fixed
upon his in an indefinable glance. You
think you are being very diplomatic"
she went on quietly. "but in reality
you are being very transparent. The
woman reads the whole Of your mean
ing in your very first sentence-if she
hasn't known 1t before you began to
speak"
Again Loder made an interruption,
but again she checked him.
NO" she said, still smiling. "You
should never attempt such a task.
Shall tell you whyY'
He stood silent, puzzled and inter
ested
Because" she said quickly, when a
woman really is interested, the mans
career ranks infinitely higher in her
eyes than any personal desire for
power"
For a moment their eyes met; then
abruptly Leder looked away. She had
gagged his intentions Incorrectly. yet
with disconcerting insight Again the
suggestion of an unusual personality
below the serenity of her manner re-
Cured to his Imagination.
With an impulse altogether foreign
to him he lifted his head and again
met her glance. Then at last he spoke.
but only two words. Forgive me-" he
said, with simple, direct sincerity.
CHAPTER XXI.
liter his interview with Eve,
YAI Loder retired to the study and
h spent the remaining hours of
e. the day and the whole span OF
the evening In work. At l O'Clock. still
feeling fresh in mind and body, he dis
missed Greening and passed into Chill
cote's bedroom. The interview with
Eve, though widely different from the
one he had anticipated. had left him
stimulated and alert In the hours that
followed it there had been an added
anxiety to put his mind into harness.
an added qualification in finding it
answer to the rein.
A pleasant sense of retrospection
settled upon him as he slowly I'M
dressed, and a pleasant sense of inter
est touched him as. crossing to the |
dressing table, he caught sight of Chill |
cOte's engagement book, taken with
other things from the suit he had
changed at dinner time and carefully |
laid aside by Renwick.
He picked it up and slowly turned |
the pages. 1t always held the sugges- |
ton of lottery, this dipping into an
other mans engagements and drawing |!
a prize or a blank. 1t was a sensa- |
ton that even custom had not dulled
At FIRST he turned the pages slowly, |
then by degrees his fingers quickened. |
Beyond the fact that this present |
evening was free he knew nothing of |
his promised movements. The abrupt
ness of Chilcote's arrival at Clifford's |
inn In the afternoon had left no time
for superduous questions. He skim
med the writing with touch of inter
ested haste, then all at once he paused
and smiled.
big enough for tombstonew he
said below his breath as his eyes rest
ed on a large blue cross Then he
smiled again and held the book to the
light.
Dine S3 Cadogan gardens, o'c.
Talk with L. he read, still speaking
softly to himself.
He stood for a moment bordering on
the entry, then once more his glance
reverted to the cross.
Evidently meant it to be seen," he
unused. But why the deuce isn't he
more explicit?" As he spoke a look of
comprehension suddenly crossed his
face and the puzzled frown between
his eyebrows cleared away.
With a feeling Of satisfaction he re-
membered Lakeley's frequent and
pressing suggestion that he should dine
with him at Cadogan gardens and dis
cuss the political outlook.
Lakeley must have written during
his absence. and Chilcote. having mark
ed the engagement. felt no further re-
sponsibility. The invitation could
scarcely have been verbal, as Chilcote,
he knew, had lain very low in the Eve
days OF his return home
So he argued as he stood with the
book still open in his hands, the blue
cross staring imperatively from the
white paper. And from the argument
rose thoughts and suggestions that
seethed in his mind long after the lights
had been switched of. long after the
fire had died down, and he had been
left wrapped In darkness in the great
bed.
And so 1t came about that he took
his second false step. Once during the
press of the next mornings work it