Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-01-26
CHAPTER III.

r 1EAVING his house. Chllcote
walked forward quickly and
aimlessly With the sting OF
- the outer air the recollection of
last nights adventure came back upon
him. Since the hour Of his waking IL
had hung about with vague per
sistence. but now in the clear light OF
day II seemed 10 stand out with n full
or PECULIARLY.
The thing was preposterous. never
thelcss IL was genuine. lie was wear
ing the overcoat he had worn the night
before and. acting on impulse. ne thrust
his hand into the pocket and drew out
the strangers card.
MIR John Lodcri'' lie read the name
over as he walked along. and il me-
chanically repeated itself I'm his brain.
falling into measure with his steps.
Who was John Loder? What was heT
The questions tantalized him tin his
pace uncousciously Increased The
thought that two men so absurdly
alike could inhabit the same CITY and
remain unknown TO each other faced
him as problem. It tangled with his
personal worries and aggravated them.
There seemed 10 be almost a danger In
such an extraordinary likeness. lie be-
gan 20 regret his impetuoslty In thrust
Ing his card upon the man. Then.
again. how he had let himself go on
the subject CT Lexingtonl How mar
rowly he had escaped compromised
lie turned hot and cold at the recollec-
ton vf what he had said and what he
might have said. Then for the nrst
time he paused In his walk and looked
about him.
On leaving Grosvenor square he had
turned westward. moving rapidly till
the Marble arch was reached. There
still oblivlous 10 his surroundings. Inc
had crossed the roadway TO the Edg-
ware -Qad. passing along il to the
labyrinth OF shabby streets that lie be-
hind Paddington. Now. as he glanced
about him. he saw with some surprise
how far he had come
The damp remnants OF the fog stin
hung about the housetops in n filmy
veil. There were no gllmpses OF green
to break the monotony OF tone. All
was quiet. dingy, neglected. But to
Chilcote the shabblness was restful.
the subdued atmosphere a satisfaction.
Among these sad houses. these passers-
by. each filled with his own concerns,
he experienced a sense OF respite and
relief. In the fashionable streets that
bounded his own horizon n a man
paused In his walk to work out an idea
he instantly drew n crowd OF inquisi-
tive or contemptuous eyes. Here IL I
man halted for half an hour il was no.
body's business but his own.
Enjoying this thought, he wandered
on for close upon an hour, moving
from one street 10 another with steps
that We're listleSs or rapid. as inclina-
ton prompted, Then. still acting with
vagrant aimlcssneSs. he stopped In his
wanderings and entered a small eating
house.
The place was low ceIled and dirty,
the air hot and steaming with the
smell Of food. but ChllcOte passed
through the door and moved to one OF
the tables with no expression OF dis
gust and with far less furtive watch
fulness than he used In his own house.
by a curious mental twist he felt
greater freedom. larger opportunities
in drab surroundings such as these
than in the broad issues and weighty
responsibilities OF his own life. Choos-
Ing corner seat. be called for coffee;
and there. protected by shadow and
wrapped IN cigarette smoke, be set
about ina CHING himself some vagrant
unit who had slipped his moorings and
was blissfulIy adrift.
The Imagination was pleasant while
IL lasted. but with him nothing was
permanent. or late the greater part
OF his sufferings had been comprised
In the irritable fickleness OF all his
aims-the distaste for and impossibili
~ OF sustained effort In any direction.
He had barely lighted a second cigar
cite when the old restlessness fell
upon him. He stirred nervously In his
seat. and the cigarette was scarcely
burned out when he rose. paid his
small bin and left the shop.
Outside on the pavement he halted.
pulled out his watch and saw that two
hours stretched in front before any
appointment claimed his attention. He
wondered vaguely where he might 60
to. what he might do. in those two
hours. In the last few minutes n dis
taste for solitude had risen In his
mind. giving the close street a loneIs-
ness that had escaped him before.
AS be stood wagering a cab passed
slowly down the street The sight OF
a well dressed man reused the cab
man. Flicking his whip. he passed
Chilcote close. feigning to pull up.
The cab suggested civilization. Chill
cote's mind veered snddrnly. and he
CONTINUED ON QvYTu pa0u