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

On the likeness between us-and become
your dummy. when you are otherwise en-
gagedy"
ChiIcote colored you are unpleasantiy
blunt" he said.
But have caught your meaningg"
In the rough yes"
vice and go home" he said. You're un-
hinged"
The other returned his glance, and as
their eyes met Loder was reluctantly COM
PEELED to admit that, though the face was
disturbed. 1t had no traces Of insanity.
make you q proposal Chilcote re-
peated. nervously but with distinctness.
DO you acceptr'
For an instant Loder was at loss to md
reply sufficiently final. Chilcote broke
in upon the pause.
After all" he urged. what ask OF you
- simple thing. Merely to carry through
my routine duties for a week or two oc-
caslonaily when find my endurance CIV
ing way-when q respite becomes essential
The work would be nothing to q man In
your state OF mind. the pay anything You
IKE to name" In his eagerness he had
followed Loder to the desk. Won't you
give me an answer? told you 1 am neither
mad nor drunk"
Loder pushed back the scattered papers
that lay under his arm
Oniy lunatfc would propose such a
scheme. he said, brusquely and without
feeling.
"why?"
The others lips parted for a ouic< re-
tort; then in a surprising way the retort
seemed to fail him. "Oh. because the thing
isn't feasible. isn't practicable from any
Chilcote stepped closer "Why?" he in
sisted.
Because 1t couldn't work, man! Could
mt hold for a dozen hours"
Chiicote put out his hand and touched
his arm. but why?' he urged. ..Why?
Give me one unanswerable reason"
Loder shook of his hand and laughed but
below his laugh lay a suggestion of the
others excitement. Again the scene stirred
;im against his sounder Judgment; though
MS reply, when 1t came, was firm enough.
AS for reasons he said. There are a
hundred. II had time to name them Take
H. Tor the sake OF superstition. that I were
to accept your offer. should take my place
IN your house at-let US say at dinner time.
your man gets me into your evening
clothes and there, at the very start, you
have the first suspicion set up. He has
probably known you for years-known you
until every turn Of your appearance, voice
and manner is far more familiar to him
than 1t Is to you. There are no eyes like
servants"
Il have thought of that. My servant
and my secretary can both be changed.
VIII do the thing thoroughly"
Loder glanced at him In surprise. The
lieved. Then. as he still looked. fresh
Idea struck him. and he laughed
You have entirely forgotten one thing"
he said. You can hardly dismiss your
wife"
MY wife doesn't count"
Again Loder laughed. I'm afraid scarce
~ agree The complications would be
sllghtly-slightly"- He paused.
denly. Look here" he said, this isn't
chatting matter. 1t may be moonshine 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 1t over before you refuse"
For moment Loder remained motionless;
then he rose suddenly, pushing back his
chair.
flush. man! You don't know what you
say. The fact of your being married bars 1t.
Can't you see that?'
Again Chflcote caught his arm
You misunderstood he said. You mis-
take the position. tell you my wife and L
are nothing to each other. She goes her
way; I go mine. We have our own friends,
our own rooms. Marriage. actual marriage,
doesn't enter the question. We meet occa-
siorally at meals, and at other peoples
houses; sometimes we go out together for
the sake of appearances: beyond that. MOTH
ing. II you take up my life, nobody in it
will trouble you less than Eve--I can prom
Use that" He laughed unsteadily.
Loder's face remained unmoyed.
Even granting that" he said, 1.-The thing
is still impossible.
"Why?'
There Is the House. The position there
would be untenable. A man lie known there
as he Is known In his own club" He drew
away from Chilcote's touch.
VERY possibly. Very possibly Chllcote
laughed quickly and exc!tedly. But what
club Is without its eccentric member l
am glad you spoke OF that. / am glad you
raised that point. 1t was a long time ago
that hit upon reputation FOR MOODS as
a shield for--for other things. and the more
useful Ii has become the more l have let 1t
grow tell you you might go down to the
House tomorrow and spend the Whole Gay
without speaking to, even nodding to, a SIN
gle man, and as long as you were TO out
ward appearance no one would raise
an eyebrow. In the same way you might
vote In my place. ask a question, make
speech IL you wanted to"
AT the word speech Loder turned invol-
unfairly For a fleeing second the GOODNESS
of his manner dropped and his face
changed.
Chilcote with his nervous quickness OF
perception, saw the alteration and he"
look crossed his own face
why not?' he said quickly. You once
had ambitions in that direction. Why not
renew the ambitions2"
"And drop back from the mountains into
the sutter?" Loder smiled and slowly shock
his head.
"Better TO live for one day than to exist
with anxiety. The third time ne extended
his hand and touched the other.
This time Loder did not shake off the de-
tanning hand; he scarcely seemed to feel
its pressure.
Look here" Chilcote's fingers frightened.
"a little while ago you talked Of influence.