Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-12-27

he had believed. Then as he still look
ed a fresh idea struck him, and he
laughed.
You have entirely forgotten Il
thing" he said. You can hardly dis
miss your wife"
my Wife doesn't count"
Again Loder laughed. I'm afraid 1
scarcely agree. The complications
would be slightly slightly He
I paused.
Chilcote's latent irritability broke
out suddenly. Look here" he said,
this isn't a chatting matter. 1t may
be m%oonshine to you, but it's reality
to me-
Again Loder took his face between
his hands.
Don't ridicule the idea. I'm in dead
earnest"
Loder said nothing.
''Think-think it over before you re-
fuse"
For a moment Loder remained mo-
tionless, then he rose suddenly, push
ing back his chair.
flush, man. You don't know what
you say. The fact of your being mar
ried bars it. ant you see that"
Again Chilcote caught his arm.
"You misunderstood" he said. You
mistake the position. l tell you my
wife and l are nothing to each other.
She goes her way: l go mine. We
have our W friends. our own rooms.
Marriage, actual marriage, doesn't
enter the question. We meet OCCASION
ally at meals and at other peoples
houses; sometimes we go out together
for the sake of appearances; beyond
that, nothing. If you take up my life
nobody in it will trouble you less than
Eve-I can promise that" He laugh
ed unsteadily.
Loder's face remained unmoved.
Even granting that" he said, 1.-The
thing is still impossible"
"Why:"
There is the house. The position
there would be untenable. A man is
known there as he is known in his
own club" He drew away from Chill
cote's touch.
every possibly. Very possibly
Chilcote laughed quickly and excitedly.
But what club is without its eccentric
member? 1 am glad you spoke of that
I am glad you raised that point. 1t
was q long time ago that l hit upon a
reputation for moods as a shield for
for other things, and the more useful
1t has become the more l have let it
grow. I tell you you might go down to
the house tomorrow and spend the
whole day without speaking to, even
nodding to, a single man, and as long
as you were l to outward appearances
no n would raise an eyebrow. In
the same way you might vote in my
place, ask a question, make a speech
If you wanted to-
At the word speech Loder turned in
voluntarily. For a fleeing second the
GOODNESS of his dropped and
his face changed.
Chilcote, with his nervous quickness
Of perception, saw the alteration, and a
new look crossed his own face.
why not" he said quickly. you
once had ambitions in that direction.
Why not renew the ambitions:'
land drop back from the mountains
into the gutterw Loder smiled and
slowly shook his head.
Better to live for one day than to
exist for a hundred" Chilcote's voice
trembled with anxiety. For the third
the other.
This time Loder did not shake off the
OBTAINING hand. He scarcely seemed to
feel it's pressure.
Look here" Chilcote's fingers tight
ened. "a little while ago you talked of
influence. Here you can step into a
position built by influence. You might
do all you ace hoped to do
Loder suddenly lifted his head. Alb
surd." he said. absurd! Such a scheme
was never carried through"
"Precisely why it will succeed. PEG
pie V suspect until they have a
precedent. Will you consider it: AT
least consider it. Remember, if there
is a risk it is l who am running it. On
to jeopardiZe."
Line Otner lauSneu curly.
Before l go tonight will you promise
me to consider it,"
"No."
"Then you will send me your decision
by wire tomorrow. l won't take your
answer now"
Loder freed his arm abruptly. "Why
not!" he asked.
Chilcote smiled ~nervously. Because
I know men and mems temptations.
We are all very strong till the quick is
touched. Then we all vince. It's
morphia with one man, ambitions with
another. In each case it's only Il mat
ter Of sooner or later" He laughed in
his satirical, unstrung way and held
out his hand. You have my address,
he said. "Au revoir."
Loder pressed the hand ana dropped
1t. "Goodby," he said meaningly. Then
he crossed the room quietly and held
the door open. "Goodby," he said again
as the other passed him.
AS he crossed the threshold Cliilcote