Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-02-09

leSSly III Nhllcpte'S c0nOpicQ
lI bed. To him the big room.
IL with its severe magnitcence,
suggested nothing of the gloom and
solitude that IL held in It's owners
eyes. The ponderous furniture. the
high ceiling. the heavy curtains. I'M
changed since the days OF Chilcotes
grandfather. all limited at far reach
Ing ownership that stirred him. The
ownership was mythical In his regard
and the possessions mirage. but they
filed the day and surely sufficient for
the day.
That was his frame OF mind as ho
opened his eyes on the following morn
ing and lay appreciative OF his COM
fort. OF the surrounding space. even OF
the light that filtered through the cur
tain chinks. suggestive OF a world re-
created. With day all things seemed
possible TO a healthy man. He stretch
cd his arms luXuriously. delighting In
the glossy smoOthness Of the sheets.
What was it Chilcote had saidg Bet
ter live for day than exist FOR q life
time. That was true. and life had be-
gun. At thirty six he was TO know IL
FOR the first time
He smiled. but without irony. Man
is ut his best at thirty-six. he unused.
He has retained his enthusiasms and
shed his eXubevances: he has learned
what 10 pick up and what 70 pass by;
he no longer imagines that TO drain q
cup one must taste the dre-s. He
closed his eyes and stretched again
not his arms only. but his whole body.
The pleasure Of his mental state in
sisted on a physical expression. Then.
sitting up in bed. be pressed the cleo
trio bell
Chilcote's new valet responded.
Pull those curtains. Eenwick." he
said What's the timer He had
passed the ordeal OF BenwicS's eyes
the night before.
The man was slow. even n little stu
pid. He drew back the curtains care
fully. then looked at the small clock on
the dressing table. EIGHT o'clock. sir
! didn't expect the bell SO early. sir"
Loder felt reproved. and pause fol-
lowed
May 1 bring your cup OF tea. sirT'
"No. not just yet I'll have a bath
first"
Renwlck showed ponderous uncer-
tainty. Warm. sirY' he hazarded-
"No. cold"
Still perplexed. the man left the
room.
Loder smiled 10 himself. The chances
OF discovery In that quarter were not
large. He was inclined TO think that
Chilcote had even overstepped necessi-
~ In the matter OF his Wallets dullness.
lie breakfasted alone. following Chill
cote's habit. and after breakfast found
his way TO the study.
AS lac entered Greenlng rose with
the same concillatory haste that he had
shown the night before
Ioder nodded 20 him. early az
workT' he said pleasantly.
The little man showed instant, al
most ridiculous. relief. Good morn
ing. sir" he said. "You. too. are early.
i rather feared your nerves troubled
you after left last night. for I found
your letters still unopened this morn
ing. But am glad To see you look SO.
we'll"
Loder promptly turned his back to
the light "Oh. last nights lettersy'
he said. ITO tell you the truth. Green
ing. my wife"-hls hesitation was very
slight-"my wife looked me up after
you left, and we gosslped clean for
got the post" He smiled in an ex-
planatory way as be moved 10 the
desk and picked up the letters.
With Greetings eyes upon him there
was no time for scruples. With very
creditable coolness he began opening
the envelopes one by one. The letters
were unimportant. and he passed them
one after another 20 the secretary. ex-
periencIng a slight thrill OF authority
as each left his hand. Again the fact
that power is visible In little things
came TO his mind.
"Give me my engagement book,
Greening." ne said when the letters
had been disposed Of.
The book that Greenng handed him
was neat i'm shape and bound. Ike Chill
cote's cigarette case, In lizard skin.
AS Loder took il the gold monogram
~ c." wInked at him in the bright
morning light. The incident moved his
sense of humor. lie and the book were
co-operators in the fraud, il seemed.
lie felt an inclination to wink back.
Nevertheless he opened Ii with proper
gravity ano skinned the pages
The page devoted to the day was al
most full. On every other line were
jottings in Chllcote's irregular hand,
and twice among the entries appeared
prominent cross in blue penciling.
Loder's interest Quickened as his eye
caught the mark. 1t had been agreed
between them that only engagements
essential to Chilcote's public life need
be carried through during his absence.
and these TO save his confusion were
TO be crossed In blue pencil The rest,
for the most part social claims, were
TO be left TO circumstance and I.oder's
inclination. Chilcote's erratic memory
always accounting for the breaking or
trivial promises.
But Loder in his new energy was
anxious for obligations. The desire for
fresh and greater tests grew with in
diligence. lie scanned the two lines
with eagerness. The first was an In