Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-04

he shouldn't have left me to climb to his
pedestal.
Loder's eyes questioned. In his newly
awakened interest he had let his pipe go
out.
Don't you grasp my meaning" Chill
cote went on. My father died and I was
elected for East Wark- You may say that
II had no real inclination for the position
1 could have kicked. But l tell you I
couldn't. Every local interest. political and
commercial. hung upon the candidate being
a ChiIcote. I did what eight men out of
ten would have done. 1 yielded to pres
sure
at was a fine openingr' The words es-
capped Loder.
Most prisons have wide gates" Chill
cote laughed again unpleasantly., That
was six years ago. l had started on the
morphia tack four years earlier. but up to
my fathers death 1 had 1t un-
der my thumb-or believed l had:
and In the realization of my new response
bilities and the excitement of the political
fight l almost put II aside. For several
months after entered parliament l work.
ed. I believe I made one speech that
marked me as coming man." He laughed
derisvey. II even married.
Married."
YES girl of nneteen-the ward OF a
great statesman. 1t was brilliant mar
riage-politically as well as socially. But
Il didn't work I was born without the
capacity for love. First the social life
palled on me; then my work grew irksome
There was only one factor to make lie en-
durable-norphia. Before six months were
out I had fully admitted that"
but your wife?''
"Oh. my wife knew nothing-knows moth
ing 1t is the political business the beastly
routine Of the political life, that is wear
ing me out" He stopped nervousy, then
hurried on again. Il tell you it's hell to
see the same faces. to sit In the same seat
day In. day out. knowing all the time that
you must hold yourself in hand, must keep
grin the reiQS--
1T is always possible to apply for the
Chiltern Hundreds"
ITO retire? Possible to retire? Chilcote
broke into a loud, sarcastic laugh. You
don't know what the local pressure of
place like Wark stands for. Twenty times
I have been within an ace OF chuckinB the
whole thing. Once last year 1 wrote pri-
vately to Vale. one OF our big men there.
and limited that my health was bad. Two
hours after he had read my letter he was
In my study. Had l been in Greenland the
Resignation Is a meaningless word to q
man like me-"
Loder looked down. 81 see." he said
slowly. 1T see"
the isolation OF the position. Five years ago
-three-even two years ago-I was able 10
endure it; now it gets more unbeareble
with every month The day Is bound to
nervously-"when 1t will be physically I'M
possible for me to be at my post"
Loder remained silent
Physically impossible" Chilcote repeat
ed, excitedly. Until lately l was able to
caIculate-to count upon myself to some
extent; but yesterday I received a shock
yesterday I discovered that-that'-again
he hestated painfully-"that have passed
the stage when one may calculate.
The situation was growing moro embar-
RAISING. To hide It's awkwardness. Loder
moved back to the crate and rebuilt the
&ucnts stiII avcited nv his unusual behe-
mence. followed him. taking up position
by the mantel-piece.
"Well?" he said. looking down.
Very slowly Loder rose from his task.
'Well?' he reiterated.
Have you nothing to say?"
Nothing, except that your story Is
unique. and that I suppose l am fattered
by your confidence" His voice was inteu-
tionally brusQue.
Chilcote paid no attention to the voice
Taking q step forward, he laid his fingers
on the lapel of Loder's coat.
"I have passed the stage where 1 can
count upon myself he said " and 1 want
to count upon somebody else I want to
keep my place in the worlds eyes and yet
be free
Loder drew back involuntarily, contempt
struggling with bewiderment in his express
sion.
Chilcote lifted his head by an extra
ordinary chance" he said. you can do for
me what no other man In creation could do.
It was suggested to me unconsciously by
the story of a book-a book In which men
change Identities l saw nothing in 1t at
the time, but this morning, as I lay in bed.
sick with yesterdays fiasco, it came back
to melt rushed over my mind in an In
spiration. 1t will save me-and make you.
I'm not insulting you, though you'd like
to think so.''
Without remark Loder freed himself from
the others touch and walked back to his
desk. His anger, his pride, and, against
his WILL his excitement were all aroused
He sat down. leaned his elbows on the
desk. and took his face between his hands.
The man behind him undoubtedly talked
madness; but after five years OF dreary
sanity madness had a fascination. Against
all reason it stirred and reused him. For
one instant his pride and his anger falter-
ed before II. then common-sense flowed
lack again and adjusted the balance.
You propose" he said slowly, that for
consideration of money l should trade