Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-14

| they had evidently subsidized or been domI-
| mated BY other feelings.
| The next Indication OF life that came 10
him was the laying down OF the crystal bail
| 1t was laid back upon the table with =
| slight Jerk that indicated a decision come
| to: and almost simultaneously the seer's
| voice came TO him again. Her tone was
| lowers now than II had been before. and It's
extreme ease seemed slightly shaken
| whether by excitement. surprise or curios-
| lily 1t was impossible to say
You win think 1t strange" she began
/ You Will think Then she stopped.
/ There was O pause. as though she waited
for some help. but Loder remained mute
| In difficulty silent tongue and a cool head
| are usually mans best weapons
Her silence was dsconcer,ing. He heard
| her stir again.
| You will think It strange---' she began
| once more. Then quite suddenly she
checked and controlled her voice You
must forgive me for what am going to
say, she added in a completely different
tone. but crystal-gazing is such an iIlu-
| sive thing. Directly you put your hands
upon the table felt that there would be
no result: but I wouldn't admit defeat
| Women are such keen anglers that they
! can never acknowledge that any fish how
| ever big, has slipped the hook She
| laughed softly.
| At tho sound OF the laugh .-oder sa'ftei
h!i position for the frsl time He couli
| not have told why. but IL struck him win
| slight sense OF confusion. A precipItate
WISH 10 rise ana pass through the doorway
/ into the wider spaces of the conservatory
came to him. though he made no attempt
| to act upon It. He knew that, for some In
explicable reason. this woman behind the
| ecreen had lied to HMM the controlling
| OF her speech. In her change of voice.
There had been one moment IN which an
impulse or emotion had almost found
| voice. then training, instinct. or IL might
have been diplomacy had conquered and
tho moment had passed. There was a rid
die In the very atmosphere OF the place
and he abominated riddles.
| But Lady Astrupp was absorbed In her
own concerns Again she changed her po-
| sition, and to Loder. listening attentively,
seemed that she leaned forward and ex-
amined his hands afresh The sensation
| was so acute that he withdrew them invol-
| UNFAIRLY.
Again there a confused rustic: the
crystal bali rolled from the table, and the
seer laughed quickly. Obeying a strenuous
! Impulse Loder rose.
He had no definite notion OF what he ex-
| pected or what he must avoid. He was
only conscious that the pavilion. with its
| silk draperies. Its scent of musk. and its
intolerabie secrecy, was no longer endur-
able. He felt cramped and confused in
| mind and muscle. He stood for a second
TO straighten his limbs: then he
turned, and moving directly forward
passed through the portiere.
After the dimness OF the pavilion the con-
servatory seemed comparatively bright:
but without waiting to grow accustomed to
the altered light he moved onward with de-
| hberate haste. The long, green alley was
speedily traversed: in his eyes it no longer
possessed greenness. longer suggested
| freshness or repose 1t was simply means
to the end upon which his mind was set
AS he passed up the flight of steps he
drew his rings from his pocket and slipped
them on again. Then he stepped into the
glare of the thronged corridor.
Some one hailed him as he passed through
the crowd, but with Chilcote's most alb
sorbed manner he hurried on. Through the
door of the supper room he caught sight OF
Blessington and Eve, and then for the first
| time his expression changed, and he turned
directly toward them.
| Eve he said, will you excuse me? 1
have word to say to Blessington."
She glanced at him in momentary sur
prise; then she smiled in her quiet, self-pos
| sessed way.
| ''Of counsel" she said. I've been want
ing q chat with Millicent Cover. but Bobby
has required so much entertaining She
| smiled again, this time at Blessington, and
| moved away toward a pale girl In green
| who was standing alone.
| Instantly she had turned Loder took Bles-
sington'S arm.
II know you're tremendously busy" he
| began, in an excellent imitation of Chill
| cotes hasty mauner-'1 know you're ire
mendously busy, but I'm in a fix" One
| glance at Blesslngton's healthy. ingenious
| face told him that plain speaking was the
method to adopt.
| Indeed, sir?" In a moment Blessngton
! was the alert.
Yes. And II want your help"
The boy Redeemed. That Chilcote should
appeal to him stirred him to uneasy
I feeling of pride and uncertainty.
| Loder saw his advantage and pressed II
| home. IT'S come about through this crys-
| tai gazing business. I'm afraid l didn't
play my part-rather made of my
| SELF l wouldn't swallow the thing, and
and Lady Astrupp-" He paused measpr-
ing Blessington with glance. We'll. my
| dear boy, you-you know what women arei'
| Blessington was only twenty-three He
| rpidanpd nd q ,ed air Of rArp-
| fundity. Il know. sir" he said with
| shake of the head.
Loders sense of humor was keen, but he
| kept a grave face. II knew you'd catch
| my meaning but / want you to do some
thing more. If Lady Astrupp should ask
you who was in her tent this past ten min
| utes. l want you Again he stopped, look
ing at his companions face.
| Yes, sir?"
II want you to tell an immateriaI lie for
me-"
Bessington returned his glace; then he
| laughed little uncomfortably. But sure
| ly. sir"
She recognized me, you mean?' Loder's
eyes were as keen as steel.
| Yes
Then you're wrong She didn't
| Bessington's elebrows went up.
/ There was silence Loder glanced across
| the room. Eve had parted from the girl In
| green and moving toward them, ex-
! changing smiles and greetings as she came.
| My wife is coming back he said. Will
you do this for me. Blessington? lit will
| smooth things" He spoke quickly, contin-
| uing to watch Eve. AS he had hoped, Bles-
| singtofi's eyes turned in the same direction.
| Twill smooth matters" he repeated.
smooth them in--in a domestic way that
| can't explain"
The shot told. Blessington looked round.
| Fright sir!'' he said. You may leave IL
| to me" And before Loder could speak again
| he had turned and disappeared into the
| crowd.
| ITO be continued tomorrow
| Towpe-''Thevf forever talking ABOUT