The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-01-09

his advantage He wondered quickly
whether one hand could possibly suf-
fee for the taking out and lighting Of
two cigarettes Then all need for
speculation was pushed suddenly aside
Lillian, locking into his face, saw his
fresh look Of disturbance. and from
long experience again changed her tao
ties. Laying the cigarette case on the
couch, she put one hand on his shoulder,
the other on his left arm. Hundreds of
times this caressing touch had duieted
Chilcote.
Dear old boy.' she said soothingly,
her hand moving slowly down his arm.
In flash of understanding the con-
sequences of this position came to him.
Action was imperative, at whatever
risk. With an abrupt gesture he rose.
The movement was awkward. He
got to his feet precipitately. Lillian
drew back. surprised and startled,
catching involuntarily at his left hand
to steady her position.
Her fingers grasped at. then held his.
He made no effort to release them.
With a logged acknowledgment, he adj
mitted himself worsted.
How long she stayed immovable,
holding his hand, neither of them knew.
The process of a woman's instinct Is so
subtle, so obscure, that 1t would be
futile to apply 1t to the commonplace
test of time. She kept her hold tenaci-
ously, as though his fingers possessed
some peculiar virtue. Then at last she
spoke.
Rings, Jack?" she said very slowly.
And under the two short words whole
world of incredulity and surmise made
itself felt
Loder laughed.
At the sound she dropped his hand
and rose from her knees. What her
suspicious, what her instincts were she
| could not have clearly defined, but her
action was unhesitating. Without
moments uncertainty she turned to the
fireplace, pressed the electric button
and flooded the room with light.
There is no force so demoralizing as
unexpected light. Loder took a step
| backward, his hand hanging unguard-
ed by his side, and Lillian, stepping
forward, caught it again before he
could protest. Lifting it quickly, she
looked scrutinizingly at the two rings.
All women jump to conclusions, and
| 1t Is extraordinary how seldom they
| jump short. Seeing only what Lillian
saw, knowing only what she knew, no
man would have staked definite opin-
ion, but the other sex takes different
view. AS she stood gazing at the rings
her thoughts and her conclusions sped
through her mind like arrows-all aim
ed and all tending toward one point.
She remembered the day when she and
Chilcote had talked of doubles, her
skepticism and his vehement defense
| Of the idea, his sudden interest in the
book "Other Mems Shoes" and his
anathema against life and its irksome
round Of dgties. She remembered her
own first convinced recognition of the
eyes that had looked at her in the door
way of her sisters house, and, last OF
all, she remembered Chilcote's unac-
countable avoidance of the same sub
! iect of likeneSSeS when she had men
toned 1t yesterday driving through the
park, and with it his unnecessarily
curt reputation of his former opin-
ions. She reviewed each item, then
she raised her head slowly and looked
at Loder.
He was prepared for the glance and
met it steadily In the long moment
that her eyes searched his face it was
she and not he who changed color
She was the first to speak. You were
the man whose hands l saw in the
tent" she said. She made the state
ment in her usual soft tones, but &
slight tremor of excitement underrar
her voice. Poodles, Persian kittens
even crystal gazing balls, seemed very
far away in face of this tangible fabu
lOus, present interest. You are no
Jack Chilcote," she said very slowly
You are wearing his clothes anC
speaking in his voice, but you are no
Jack Chilcote" Her tone quickenet
with q touch of excitement. 'Yol
needn't keep silent and look at me,
she said II know quite well what
am saying, though | don't understand
it, though have no real proof Sh
paused, momentarily disconnected b,
her companions silent and stead
gaze and in the pause a curious an
. unexpected thing occurred.
Leder laughed suddenly-a full, cor
fident, treasured laugh. All the we
that the past half hour had spun abou
him, all the intolerable sense of an in
pending crash, lifted suddenly. n
. saw his way clearly, and it was Lillia
who had opened his eyes.
Still looking at her, he smiled
. smile Of reliant determination, such Q
Chilcote had never worn in his lif
And with a calm gesture he release
his hand
The greatest charm of woman is ht
I. imagination" he said quietly. 'Witl
r out it there would be no color in lif
t we would come into and drop out of
with the same uninteresting tone
: drab reality" He paused and smile
!