Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-12-20

Yes. one man Is an artist, the 9th
er a millionaire. One wants to know
what fame is like, the other wants to
know how it feels to be really s~infully
Sich. So they exchange experiences
for a month" She laughed.
Ohilcote laughed as we'll. But how"
he asked.
"Oh, 1 told you the idea was absurd.
Fancy two people so much alike that
neither their friends nor their servants
zee any difference! Such a thing
couldn't be, could it,"
Chilcote looked down az the fire.
"No," he said doubtfully. NO. sup
pose not"
O course not. There are likenesses.
but not freak likenesses like that
Chilcote's head was ben as he spoke.
but at the last words he lifted it.
"By Jove. I don't know about that"
be said. Not so very long ago l saw
two men so much alike that I-I'-
he stopped.
Lillian smiled.
He colored quickly. you doubt me?'
he asked.
my dear Jack" Her voice was del
icately reproachful.
"Then you think that my-my i'm
agination has been playing me tricks!'
my dear boy! Nothing of the kind.
Come back to your place and tell me
The whole tale?" She smiled again. and
patted the couch invitingly.
But Chilcote's balance had been up
set. For the first time he saw Lillian
as n of the watchful, suspecting
crowd before which be a constantly
on guard. Acting IN the sensation, he
moved suddenly toward the door.
IL have an appointment at the
house" he said quickly. I'll look in
another day when-when I'm better
company. I know I'm a bear today.
My nerves, you know He came back
TO the couch and took her hand. Then
he touched her cheek for an instant
with his fingers.
"Goodby," he said. Take care OF
yourself-and the Kitten he added
with forced gayety. as he crossed the
room.
That afternoon Chilcote's nervous
condition reached it's height. All day
he had avoided the climax. but no
evasion can be eternal. and this be
realized as he sat in his place on the
opposition benches during the half
hour of wintry twilight that precedes
the turning on of the lights. He real
lied it in that half hour, but the appli-
cation of the knowledge followed later.
when the time came for him to ones
ton the government on some point re-
iatlng to the proposed additional dry
dock at Talkley. the naval base. Then
for the first time he knew that the suf-
ferings Of the past months could have
a visible as we'll as q hidden side-could
d~isorganize his daily routine as they
had already demoralized his will and
character.
The thing came upon him with ex-
Taordinary lack of preparation. He sat
through the twilight with tolerable
calm, his nervousness showing only in
the occasional lifting of his hand to
his collar and the frequent changing
of his position, but when the lights
were turned on and he leaned back in
his seat with closed eyes he became
conscious of a curious impression-a
disturbing idea that through his closed
lids he could see the faces on the OBJ
posite side of the house, see the rows
Of eyes, sleepy, interested or vigilant.
Never before had the enNsation pre-
sented itself. but once up it ran
through all his susceptibilities. By an
absurd freak of fancy those varying
eyes seemed to pierce through his lids.
almost through his eyeballs. The cold
perspiration that was his daily horror
broke out Oh his forehead, and at the
sam moment Fraide. his leader, turn
ed, leaned over the back of his seat
and touched his knee.
Chilcote started and opened his eyes
IL believe l was DOING" he said
confusedly.
Fraide smiled his dry, kindly smile.
IA fatal admission for a member of
the opposition" he said. But I was
looking for you earlier in the day,
Chilcote. There is something behind
his Persian affair. l believe it to he
a mere first move on Russia's part.
You big trading people will find it
worth watching"
Chilcote shrugged his shoulders. ooh.
l don't know" he said. 81 scarcely
believe in it. Lakely put a match to
the powder in the st. Georges, but
twill only be n noise and a puff of
smoke"
But Fraide did not smile. What is
the feeling down at Wark:' he asked.
HAS it awakened any INTEREST,""
AT Wark: Oh, IL don't quite
know. | have lcen n little out Of
touch with Wnrk In the last few
weeks. A man has SO man. private
affairs to look to- He was unensy
under his chiefs scrutiny.
Fraide's lips parted as II 10 make re,
ply. but with II certain dignihed rct!,
n he closed them again and turned