Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-11-16

mana 6tlll Clasplng nlDs tno Otner Ciing- \ ing. nervously to the banister. she re-
 fused to descend. ".John," she whis-
 pered, I'm not child. What Is 1t? l What has happened? must know" I For a moment Loder looked, at her
 uncertainty; then, reading the expres-
 sion in her eyes, he yielded to her de- i mand.
 .'He's dead." he said in a very low \ voice. "Chilcote is dead"
 CHAPTER XXXIv. f~lO fully appreciate a great an @T nouncement we must have time at our disposal. At the mo- o ment of Loder's disclosure time
 was denied to Eve, for scarcely had the { words left his lips before the thought ! that dominated him asserted It's prior 1 claim. Blind to the incredulity in her 1 eyes, he drew her swiftly forward and half impelling, half supporting her I forced her to descend the stairs. l Never in after life could he obliterate
 the remembrance of that descent.
 Fear, such as he could never experi- | ence in his own concerns, possessed him. One desire overrode all others, l the desire that Eve's reputation, which
 he himself had so nearly imperiled,
 should remain unimperiled. In the.
 shadow of that urgent duty, the de-
 spair of the past hours, the appalling ] fact so lately realized, the future, with
 It's possible trials, became dark to his 1 imagination. In his new victory over self the question of her protection pre- dominated.
 Moving under his compulsion, he
 guided her hastily and silently down the deserted stairs, drawing breath of deep relief as one after another the
 landings were successively passed, and,
 still actuated by the suppressed need of haste, he passed through the door,
 way that they had entered under such
 different conditions only few min
 utes before.
 To leave the quiet court, to gain the
 Strand, to hall a belated hanson, was the work of moment By an odd con trivance of circumstance the luck that
 had attended every phase of his dual life was again exerted In his behalf. No one had noticed their entry into Cllford's inn; no one was moved to curiosity by their exit With an invol- untary thrill of feeling he gave expres- sion to his relief.
 Thank God it's overv' he said as a cab drew up. You don't know what the strain has been."
 Moving as if in dream, Eve stepped into the cab. As yet the terrible de nouement to their enterprise had made no clear impression upon her mind. For the moment all that she was con scious of, all that she instinctively ac- knowledged, was the fact that Loder was still beside her.
 In quiet obedience she took her place, drawing aside her skirts to make room for him, and in the same subdued man. ner he stepped into tho vehicle. Then. with the strange sensation of reliving their earlier drive. they were aware of the frightened rein and of the horses drSt forward movement.
 For several seconds neither spoke Eve, shutting out all other thoughts. sat close to Loder, clinging tenaciously to the momentary comforting sense of protection. Loder. striving to marshal his ideas, hesitated before the ordeal of speech. At last, realizing his re- sponsibility. he turned to her slowly.
 Eve" he said in low voice and with some hesitation, "I want you to know that in all this-from the moment saw him-from the moment I under i stood-I have had you in my thoughte- you and no one else"
 She raised her eyes to his face.
 Do you reallze"-, he began afresh. | Do you know what this-thls thing | mcansT
 Still she remained silent.
 Ut means that after tonight there will be no such person in London as John I,oder. Tomorrow tie man who l was known by that name will. be found In his rooms: his body will be removed. i and at the post mortem examination lt will be stated that he died of an over dose of morphla. His charwoman will | identify him as a solitary man who liv- 1. ed respectfully for years and then sud denly went down hill with remarkable speed. It will be quite common case. Nothing of interest will be found in his rooms. No relation will claim his body. After the usual time he will he given the usual burial of his class. These de- tails are horrible. but there are times when we must look at the horrible side of life, because life is incomplete with out 1t.
 These things speak of are the things that will meet the casual eye. but In our sight they will have a very [ different meaning.
 Eve" he said. more vehemently. "a whole chapter In my life has been clos ed tonight. and my first instinct is to shut the book and throw it away. But I'm thinking of you. Remember. I'm of you. Whatever the trial whatever the dificulty. no harm shall | come to you. You have my word for that.
 "T'Il return with you now to Gros- venor square. I'll remain there till a excuse can be given for ChIlcote's going abroad will avoid Fraide. I will cut politics-whatever fho ,--,nf Th.r, at fhc frzf rparoua b1a