The Red Cloud chief., 1907-02-08

with cool mead, II steady step ana
friendly pressure of the fingers on
Blessington's arm. he allowed himself
to be drawn across the reception rooms.
through the long corridors and down
the broad fight of steps that led to the
conservatory.
The conservatory was a feature Of
the Bramfell town house. and to Loder
it came as something wonderful and
unlooke ed for, with its clustering green
branches. its slight unoppressive
scents, its temperately pleasant atmos-
phere. lie felt no wish to speak as.
still guided by Blessington, he passed
down the shadowy paths that In the
half light had the warmth and mystery
OF a southern garden. Here and there
from the darkness came the whisper
ing Of voice or the sound OF laugh,
bringing with II the necessary touch Of
life. Otherwise the place was still.
Absorbed by the air Of solitude, con-
trasting so remarkably with the noise
and crowded glitter left behind in the
reception rooms, he had moved half
way down the long green aisle before
the business in hand came back to him
with a sudden sense of annoyance. 1t
seemed so paltry to mar the quiet of
the place with the absurdity Of side
show. He turned to Blessington with
a touch OF abruptness.
"What am I expected to do?" he
asked.
Blessington looked up, surprised.
hu \ 81 ~ ha hn
he instantly altered his tone. "Oh.
Just enter into the spirit of the thing.
Lady Astrupp won't put much strain
on your credulty, but she'll make q
big call on your solemnity." He laugh
ed.
He had an infectious laugh and Lo-
der responded to it,
but what am | to do?" he persisted.
"Oh, nothing Being the priests she
naturally demands acolytes. but she'll
let you know that she holds the prior
place. The tent Is so fixed that she.
sees nothing beyond your hands. SO
there's absolutely no G1lr He
laughed once more. 'rly
he lowered his vooo lis
steps. Here we arc" he whispered
In pretended awe.
| At the end of the path the space wild.
ened to the full breadth of the conserv-
atory. The light was DINNER. giving
an added impression Of distance; away
to the left LOder heard the sound Of
splashing water, and on his right hand
he caught his first glimpse OF the tent
that was his goal.
! 1t was an artistic little structure-a
pavilion formed of silky fabric that
showed bronze in the light of an orien-
tai lamp that hung above its entrance.
AS they drew closer a man emerged
from it. He stood for moment in
uncertainty, looking about him; then,
catching sight of them, he came for
ward. laughing
by George" he exclaimed, its as
dark as limbo in there l didn't see
you at first. But l say, Blessington,
it's beastly shame TO have that thun.
dercloud barrier shutting off the sOr-
ceress. If she gazes at the crystal,
mayn't we have something to gaze ut
tooi'
Blessington laughed. "You want too
much, Galltry," he said. Lady AS
trupp understands the value Of the I'M
attainable. Come along, sir!' he added
to Loder, drawing him forward with
an energetic pressure Of the arm.
Loder responded, and as he did so a
flicker of curiosity touched his mind
for the first time. He wondered FOR
an instant who this woman was who
aroused so much comment And with
the speculation came the remembrance
of how she had assured Chilcote that
on enc point at least he was invulner-
able He had spoken then from the
height of past eXperience-an eXpe-
rience so fully passed that he wonder
ed now If it had been as staple guar
antee as he had then believed. Mans
capacity for outliving is astonishingly
complete. The long ago incident in the
Italian mountains had faded, like n
crayon study in which the tones have
merged aud gradually lost character
The past had paled before the present
as golden hair might pale before black.
The simle came with apparent irrelc-
vance. Then again Blessington pressed
his arm.
'Now, slrr' he said, drawing away
and lifting the curtain that hung before
the entrance of the tent.
Lodcr looked at the amused Doyish
face lighted by the hanging lamp and