The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-01-17
PRINCETON UNION THURSDAY, JANUA NJ 1907

that he was John Loder and no other,
despite all armor Of effrontery and
dress, so dominated him that all other
considerations shrank before it. It
wanted but one word, one simple word
of denunciation, and the whole scheme
was shattered In the dismay of the
moment he almost wished that the
word might be spoken and the sus-
pense ended.
But the maid came on in silence, and
so incredible was the silence that
Loder moved onward too. He came
within yard of her, and still she did
| not speak. Then, as he passed her,
she drew back respectfully against
the wall. ...
The strain, so astonishingly short,
had been immense, but with it's slack
ening came a strong reaction. The ex-
pected humiliation seethed suddenly
to a desire to dare fate. Pausing
quickly, he turned and called the wo-
man back.
The spot where he had halted was
wildly bright, the ceiling light being
directly above his head, and as she
came toward him he raised his face de-
liberately and waited.
She looked at him without surprise
or interest. Yes, sir?' she said.
us your mistress imp he asked. He
could think of no other question, but it
served his purpose as a test Of his
voice.
Still the woman showed no SURPRISE
''She's not in, SIR" she answered. "But
she's expected in half an hour"
I'm half an hour? All right That's
all I wanted" With a movement of
decision Loder walked back to the stair
head, turned to the right and opened
the door Of Chilcote's rooms.
The door opened on a short, wide pas
sage. On one side stood the study. on
the other the bed, bath and dressing
rooms. With a blind sense of knowl-
edge and unfamiliarity, bred of much
description on Chilcote's part, he put
his hand on the study door and, still
exalted by the omen of his first sue
cess, turned the handle.
Inside the room there was freight
and lamplight and a studious air of
peace. The realization Of this and a
slow incredulity at Chilcote's voluntary
remuneration were his first impressions.
Then his attention was needed for more
imminent things.
AS he entered the new secretary was
returning volume to it's place on the
book shelves. At sight Of him he push
ed it hastily into position and turned
round.
II was making few notes on the
political position Of Khorasan," he said,
glancing with slight apprehensiveness
at the others face. He was a SMALL
shy man, with few social attachments,
but an extraordinary amount of learn
ing-the antithesis Of the alert Bless
ington, whom he had replaced.
Loder bore his scrutiny without
flinching. Indeed, it struck him sud-
denly that there was fund of inter-
est, almost of excitement, in the en-
countering of each new pair of eyes.
At the thought he moved forward to
| the desk
''Thank you, Greening," he said. "a
very useful bit of work. .:...-
The secretary glanced up, slightly
puzzled. His endurance had been Sc
| verely taxed in the fourteen days that
he had filled his new post
| ''I'm glad you think so, sir,'' he said,
hesitatingly. "You rather poohpoohed
the matter this morning, if you remem-
ber"
| Loder was taking off his coat, but
stopped in the operation.
'"This morning?" he said. ooh, did
I? Did I?' Then struck by the op-
portunity the words gave him he turn
ed toward the secretary. you've got
to get used to me, Greening," he said.
| "You haven't quite grasped me yet, I
can see. I'm a man of moods, you
| know. Up to the present you've seen
my slack side, my Jared side, but I
have quite another when I care to
show it. I'm sort of Jekyll and Hyde
affair."" Again he laughed, and Green
ing echoed the sound efficiently. Chill
cote had evidently discouraged famil-
iarity.
Loder eyed him with abrupt under
standing. He recognized the loneli-
hess in the anxious, conciliatory man.
ner.
you're tired" he said kindly. go
TO bed. I've got some thinking to do.
Good night" He held out his hand.
Greening took it, still half distrust-
full Of this fresh side to so complex a
man.
"Good night, sir" he said. "Tomor-
row, if you approve, shall go on with
my notes. hope you will have a
restful night"
ITO BE Continued