Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-02-02

In creation could do"
otherwise engagedg"
Chilcote colored. "You are unpleas
antly blunt" he said.
But I have caught your meaningTs
I'm the rough. yes
Loder nodded CURLY. Then take
my advice and 90 home" he said
You're unhinged"
The other returned his glance. and
as their eyes met Loder was reluctant
" compelled to admit that. though the
race was disturbed II had no traces
OF insanity.
Il make you a proposal" Chllcote
repeated nervously. but with distinct
ness. do you acceptf"
For an instant Loder was at a los,
to find a reply sufficiently final Chill.
cote broke in upon the pause.
After an he urged. what I ask OF
/ you is simple thing-merely to carry
through my routine duties for week
or two occasionally when l end my
I endurance giving away. when a respite
becomes essential The work would
be nothing 10 man in your state OF
mind, the pay anything you like to
name In his eagerness he had FOL.
lowed LOder 10 The desk Won't YOU
give me an answer I told You I am
neither mad nor drunk"
Loder pushed back the scattered pa
pers that lay under his arm.
only a lunatc would propose such
scheme" he said brusquely and
without feeling.
WHY
The others lips parted FOR n quick
retort; then in a surprising way the
retort seemed TO fail him. "Oh. be-
cause the thing isn't feasible. isn't
practicable from any point OF viewr'
Chiicote stepped closer. "Whyg'' he
insisted
Because IL couldn't work. man
couldn't hold for dozen hoursr'
Chiicote put out his hand and touch
ed his arm. But whyf" he urged.
Why Give me one unanswerable
reason"
Loder shook OF the hand and laugh
ed. but below his laugh lay a sugges-
ton of the others excitement Again
the scene stirred him against his
sounder judgment. though his reply
when II came was sound enough.
AS for reasons" he said. there are
n hundred, II / had time 20 name them.
Take IT, for the sake OF supposition.
that ! were 20 accept your Offer. I
should take my place IN your house
at-let us say at dinner time. Your
wan 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 appear
ancc. voice and manner is far more
familiar TO him than Il is to YOU.
There are no eyes like n servants"
Il have thought OF that. Ny serv-
ant and my secretary can both be
changed. Will do the thing thor
oughly."
Loder glanced at him In surprise.
The madness had more method than
he had believed. Then as he still look
Ell n fresh idea struck him. and he
laughed.
"You have entirely forgotten one
thing" hs said. You can hardly dis
miss your wife"
MY wife doesn't count"
Again Loder laughed. I'm afraid I
scarcely agree. The complications
would be slightly - slightly" He
paused
Chilcote's latent irritabiHty broke
out suddenly. Look here" ne said.
this isn't chaalng matter. 1t may
be mooushine 10 you. bu* 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 it over before you re-
fuse"
For a moment Loder remained mo-
tonless. then he rose suddenly. push
Ing back his chair.
Iush. man! You don't know what
you say. The fact OF your being mar
ried bars 1t. Can't you see thatg"
Again Chilcote caught his arm.
You misunderstood" he said. You
mistake the position. / tell you nv
wife and l are nothing to each other.
She goes her way; / 60 mine. We
have our own friends. our own rooms.
Marriage, actual marriage. doesn't
enter the question. We meet occasion
ally at meals and at other peoples
houses; sometimes we go out together
Tor the sake OF appearances; beyond
that, nothing. II you take up my life
nobody In II will trouble you less than
Eve-i can promise that" He laugh
ed unsteadlly.
Loder's face remained unmoved.
Even granting that" he said, "the
thing Is stu impossible"
'WhyY
There is the house. The position
there would be untenable. A man Is
known there rs he Is known In his
own club" He drew away from Chill
cotes touch.
Very possibly. Very possibly"
Chilcote laughed quickly and excitediy.
But what club Is without lis eccentric
member? ! am glad you spoke OF that.
l am glad you raised that point. 1t