The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-01-08


and coat and in silence ushered ND the |
shallow staircase.
AS the last step was reached it came
to him again to mention his hosts
name, but simultaneously with the sug-
gestion the servant stepped forward
with a quick silent movement and
threw open door.
"sMr. Chilcotew he announced in a
subdued, discreet voice.
Loder's first impression was of a
room that seemed unusually luxurious,
soft and Swallowed. Then all impress
sion of inanimate things left him sud
denly.
For the fraction of a second he stood
IN the doorway, while the room seemed
emptied of everything except u figure
that rose slowly from a couch before
the fire at sound of Chilcotes name.
Then, with calmness that to himself
seemed incredible he moved forward
into the room.
lie might, of course, have beaten a
retreat and Obviated many things, but
lie is full of might have beenS, and re-
treat never presents itself agreeably to
strong man. His impulse was to face
the difficulty, and he acted on the i'm
4 pulse.
Lillian had risen slowly, and as he
neared her she held out her hand
Jack" she exclaimed softly, how
sweet of you to remember
The voice and words came to him
with great distinctness, and as they
came one uncertainty passed forever
from his mind-the question as to
what relation she and Chilcote held to
each other. With the realization came
the thought of Eve, and in the midst
of his own difficulty his face hardened.
Lillian ignored the GOODNESS. Taking
his hand she smiled. You're unusual
ly punctual," she said. But your
hands are cold. Come closer to the
fire"
Loder was not sensible that his
hands were cold, but he suffered him
self to be drawn forward.
One end of the couch was in fire
light, the other in shadow By a for
tunate arrangement of chance Lillian
selected the brighter end for herself
and offered the other to her guest.
With a quick sense of respite he &C
cepted it. At least he could sit secure
from detection while he temporized
with fate.
For a moment they sat silent, then
Lillian stirred. Wont you smoker
she asked.
Everything in the room seemed soft
and enervating- subdued glow OF
the fire, the smell of roses that hung
about the air and, last of all, Lillian's
slow, soothing voice. With a sense OF
oppression he stiffened his shoulders
and sat straighter in his place.
mo" he said, Il don't think l shall
smoke"
She moved nearer to him. "Deal
Jack" she said pleadingly, don't say
you're in a bad mood. Don't say yor
want to postpone again" She looked
UP at him and laughed little in noel
CONSERVATION.
Loder was at loss.
Another silence followed, while Lii
liam waited; then she frowned sudden
~ and rose from the couch Lik
many indolent people, she possessed
touch of obstinacy, and now that he
triumph over Chilcote was obtained
now that she had indicated her RICH
to command him, her original purpos
: came uppermost again. Cold or inter
ested Indifferent or attentive, she In
tended to make use of him.
She moved to the fire and stood lool
. ing down into it.
. Jack" she began gently, "a reall
= amazing thing has happened to me.
L do so want you to throw some light"
Loder said nothing.
There was a fresh pause while sh
softly smoothed the silk embroider
: that edged her gown. Then once MOI
- she looked up at him.
did l ever tell you" she bega,
that l was once in a railway accidel
y on a funny little italian railway ce
= turtles before l met your She laughe
- softly and with a pretty air Of con
dence turned from the fire and r
- sumed her seat.
"Astrupp had caught fever in Flo
ence, and I was rushing away for fe
= of the infection, when our stupid lit
train ran off the rails near Pistor
= and smashed itself up. Fortunately v
;, were within half a mile Of village,
~ we weren't quite bereft. The villa
~ was impossibly like toy village, al
-, the accommodation what one would G
pect in a Noah's ark, bat it was all O
i" solutely picturesque. put up at [
n little inn with my maid and Ko Kc
he Ko 10 was such a sweet dog-a VIII
poodle. l was tremendously keen
as poodles that year" She stopped q
II looked thoughtfully toward the fire.
- But to come to the point of
an story, Jack, the toy village had b
,ic doll" She laughed again. lie was
ci- Englishman-and the first person
come to my rescue on the night Of
as smashup. He was staying at the
Mt abs ark inn, and after that first mis-