The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-12-28

LOu6F look the mana JlaL ne EXTENDED
and pressed the fingers unconsciously.
The sight of this man was like the find
ing Of an oasis at the point where the
desert is sandiest deadliest, most I'M
bearable.
Eyes, you are-unexpected," he an
swered.
Chilcote looked at him, then looked
out into the court. I'm done up he
said I'm right at the end Of the
tether" He laughed as he said it. but
in the dim light of the hall Loder
thought his face looked i'll and harassed
despite the flush that the excitement of
the meeting had brought to it. Taking
his arm, he drew him toward the stairs.
$50 the rope has run out, eh?' he
said, in imitation Of the others tone.
But under the quiet Of his manner his
own nerves were throbbing with the
peculiar alertness Of anticipation, a
sudden sense of mastery over life that
lifted him above surroundings and
above persons-a sense OF stature,
mental and physical, from which he
surveyed the world. He felt as if fate
In the moment of utter darkness had
given him sign.
AS they crossed the hall Chilcote
had drawn away and was already
mounting the stairs And as Loder
followed it came sharply to his mind
that here, in the slipshod freedom of
door that was always open and stairs
that were innocent of covering, lay his
nj oh aI
in outward avowal, but acknowledged
by the inward, keener sense that mani
tests the individual.
In silence they mounted the stairs,
but on the first landing Chilcote
paused and looked back, surveying
Loder from the superior height of two
steps
II did very well at first" he said 81
did very well. I almost followed your
example for q week or so. l found
myself on a sort of pinnacle, and
chung on. But in the last ten days I've
I've rather lapsed"
"Why? Loder avoided looking at
his face. He kept his eyes fixed de-
terminedly on the spot where his own
nduQ SIlppGQ Tie DduISleEa
''WhyT' Chilcote repeated. ooh, the
prehistoric tale-weakness stronger
than strength. "Tm-Tm sorry to
come down on you like this, but it's
the social side that bowls me over. It's
the social side I can't stick"
"The social side? But I thought
Don't think. 1 never think; it en-
foil
ciples and theories. We did arrange
for business only, but one can't set up
barriers. Society pushes itself every
where nowadays, into business most
of ell. 1 don't want you for theater
parties or dinners. But big reception
with q political flavor is different A
man has to be seen at these things. He
needn't say anything or do anything
but it's bad form If he fails to show
up"
Loder raised his head You must
explain" he said abruptly.
Chilcote started slightly at the sud
den demand
II suppose I'm rather irrelevant. -
he said quickly. Fact is, there's a re
l..
! know Blanche acknowledgements
| Bramfell sister to Lillian Astrupp.'
| His words conveyed nothing to Loder
/ but he did not consider that All ex-
| plantations were irksome to him and he
invariably chafed to be done with
them.
And you've got to put in an appear
ance-for party reasons?' Loder broke
in
Chilcote showed relief. Eyes. OLD
Fraide makes rather a point of it-sc
does Eve" He said the last words
carelessly; then. as If their sound re
called something, his expression chang
ed. a touch of satirical amusement
touched his lips and he laughed
by the way, Loder," he said, my
wife was actually tolerant of me fol
nine or ten days after my return.
thought your representation was to bt
quite impersonal? I'm not jealous,
he laughed. TN not jealous, 1 assur,
you, but the burned child shouldn'
grow absentmlnded"
At his tone and his laugh Loder',
blood stirred With a sudden, unex
pected impulse his hand frightened OF
the banister, and, looking up, he caugh
sight Of the face above him-his owl
face 1t seemed. alighted with malicious
interest. At the sight strange sensa
ton seized him, his grip on the banis
ter loosened. and, pushing past Chill
cote. he hurriedly mounted the stairs.
Outside his own door the other over
took him.
'LoderF' he said. ''Loder! / mean
no harm. A man must have a laugl
sometimes"
But Loder was facing the door an,
did not turn round.
A sudden fear shook Chilcote. "Lc
der!" he exclaimed again. You woul
not desert me? I can't go back tc
night l can't so back"
Still Loder remained immovabIe.
Alarmed by his silence, Chilcote steI
ped closer to him.