Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-11-13
e. Ms 70 .MASQUERADER.
 By Katherine Cecil Thurston,
 Author of "Ths Circle" Etc. Copyrtoht. 1905, leos, bu Harper & Brothers
copr.ont. 1908. lso4, bv Harper & Brothers
CHAPTER XXvI.
By Katherine Cecil Thurston.

&ssssssssssssssssssssssss
 CHAPTER XXvI.
 f~1HE next morning at 8 o'clock,
 and again without breakfast, Loder covered the distance be- o tween Grosvenor square and Cliford's inn. He left Chilcote's house hastily with. haste that only an UT gent motive could have driven him to adopt. His steps were quick and un- even as he traversed the intervening streets; his shoulders lacked their de cisive pose, and his pale face was marked with shadows beneath the eyes-shadows that bore witness to the sleepless night spent in pacing Chill cote's vast and lonely room. By the curious effect of circumstances the likeness between the two men had never been more significantly marked than on that morning of April 19, when Loder walked along the pave ments crowded with early workers and brisk with insistent news vendors already alive to the value of last nights political crisis.
 The Irony of this last element in the days concerns came to him fully when one newsboy, more energetic than his fellows, thrust a paper in front of him.
 Sensation in the 'ouse, sir! Speech by Mr. Chilcote! Government defeat!'
 For moment Loder stopped and his face reddened. The tide of emotions still ran strong. His hand went in stinctively to his pocket; then his lips set. He shook his head and walked on.
 With the same hard expression about his mouth, he turned into Clifford's inn, passed through his own doorway and mounted the stairs.
 This time there was no milk can on the threshold of his rooms and the door yielded to his pressure without the need of a key. With a strange sensa- tion of reluctance he walked into the narrow passage and paused, uncertain which room to enter first. As he stood hesitating a voice from the sitting room settled the question.
 Who's there?' it called irritably. "What do you want?"
 Without further ceremony the in- truder pushed the door open and en- tered the room. As he did so he drew a quick breath-whether of disappoint- ment or relief it was impossible to say. Whether he had hoped for or dreaded 1t, Chilcote was conscious.
 As Loder entered he was sitting by the cheerless grate, the ashes of yes terday's fire showing charred and dreary where the sun touched them. His back was to the light, and about his shoulders was an old plaid rug. Behind him on the table stood cup, . teapot and the can of milk; farther of kettle was, set to boil upon a tiny spirit stove.
 In all strong situations we are more or less commonplace. Loder's first re- mark as he glanced round the disor- dered room seemed strangely inef- flcient.
 "Where's Robins?' he asked in a brusque voice. His mind teemed with big considerations, yet this was his first involuntary question.
 Chilcote had started at the entrance of his visitor; now he sat staring at him. his hands holding the arms of his chair.
 Where's Robinsw Loder asked again.
 q don't know. She T. We did not hit it off. She's gone-went yes terday." He shivered and drew the rug about him.
 "Chilcote"- Loder began sternly. Then he paused. There was something in the others look and attitude that arrested him. A change of expression passed over his own face. He turned about. with an abrupt gesture, pulled on his coat and threw 1t on a chair: then. crossing deliberately to the fire place, he began to rake the ashes from the grnte.
 Within a few minutes he had a fire cracking where the bed of dead cin- ders had been. and. having finished the task. he rose slowly from his knees. wiped his hands and crossed to the ta- ble. On the small spirit stove the ket- tie had boiled, and the cover was lift ing and falling with tinkling sound. Blowing out the flame. Loder picked up the teapot and. with hands that were evidently accustomed to the task. set about making the tea. During the whole operation be never spoke. though all the while he was eully conscious of ChIlcote's puzzled gaze. The tea ready. he poured 1t into the cup and carried it across the room. Drink this-' he said laconically. ''The fire will be up presently" Chilcote extended a cold and shaky hand. You see"- be began. But Loder checked him almost sav- agely. "I do-as well as though I had followed you from Piccadilly last night. You've been hanging about. God knows where, till the small hours of the morn ing: then you've come back-slunk back. starving for your internal poison and shivering with cold. You've set tied the first part of the business. but the cold has still to be reckoned with Drink the tea I've something tO say to you" He mastered his vehenence and. walking to the window. stood looking down into the court. His eyes