The Red Cloud chief., 1907-03-01

Still quietly. but with n strange I'M
derglOw of excitement. Loder left the
fire and. coming forward, took II chair
ut Lakelcy's desk.
'Do YOU mind telling me what you're
driving att" he asked in his old. Ia
comic voice.
Lakclcy still scrutinizcd him with an
air of brisk satisfaction; then with n
gesture of linality he tossed his cigar
away.
MY dear chap" he said. there's GO
ing to lie Il breach somewhere and
Fraidc says you're the man TO step in
and fill it! You see, five years ago,
when things looked lively on the gulf
ana the Bundar Abhas business came
to light. you did somc promising work,
ard Il reputation like that sticks to II
man even when he turns slacker. l
won't deny tina you've Stacked abomi-
nably." lie added as Loder made an un-
easy movement, but Stacking has diff
fcrcnt effects. Some men run To seed,
others mature. l had almost put you
down on the black list, but I've altered
my mind in the last two months"
Again Loder stirred in his seat. \
host of emotions were stirring in his
mind. Every word wrung from Lakeley
was another stimulus to pride, another
subtle tribute to the curious force of
personality.
"Well?" he said. "Well?"
Lakeley smiled. "We all know that
Sefborough's ministry is-well. top
heavy" he said. scarborough Is build
ing his card house just n story too high.
It's a toss up what'll upset the balance.
1t might be the army, of course, or ii
might be education, but it might quite
as well he u matter of foreign policy!
They looked at each other in compre.
hensive silence.
"You know rs well as l that it's not
the question of whether Russia comes
into Persia, but the question of wheth-
err Russia goes out of Persia when these
Hazaras are subducd! I'll lay you II
you like, Chilcote, that within II week
we zeal that the rislngs are suppress
ed, but that Russia, instead of retiring,
has advanced those tempting twenty
miles and comfortably cnsconced her
self at MeShed-as she ensconced her
self on the island of Ashurada.' Lake.
ley's nervous energetic figure was brac-
ed. his light blue eyes Frightened by
the intensity of his interest.
IF this news ONE before the EaS-
ter recess" he went on, "the first nail
can be hammered in on the motion FOR
adjournment. And if the right man
does ii i'm the right way I'll lay my life
twill be a nail in S~efborough's coffin
Loder sat very still. Overwhelming
possibilities had suddenly opened be-
fore him. In a moment the unreality
of the past months had become real; n
tangible justification of himself and
his imposture was suddenly made pos
sible. In the stress of understanding
he, too, leaned forward. and, resting
his elbows on the desk, o his face
between his hands.
For n space Lakclcy made no remark.
To him man and mans moods came
second in interest to his paper and his
party politics. That Chilcote should be
conscious of the glorlcs he had opened
up seemed only natural; that he should
show that consciousness in Il becoming
gravity seemed only right. For some
seconds he made no attempt to disturb
[ him, but at last his own irrepressible
| activity made silence uncomfortable. He
|; caught up his pencil and tapped I'M
t patiently On the desk.
| 'Chilcote,' he said quickly and with
? q CLEAN Of sudden anxiety, you're not
? by any chance doubtful Of yourselfy'
2 At sound Of his voice Loder lifted his
t face. 1t was quite pale again, but the
| energy and resolution that had come
= into it when Lakeley first spoke We're
s still to be seen.
"No, Lakeley," he said very slowly,
: 'it's not the sort Of moment in which
n man doubts himself"
Il CHAPTER XIX.