Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-04-17
THE
Masquer adler
By KATHERINE CECIL THURSTON,
Author 1.-THE Circle" Etc.
copyrisht, 1908. Harper {. Brothers
By KATHERINE CECIL THURS
copyr..ht. 1904. by Harper & Brothers
Author of 1.-THE Circle" Etc

CHAPTER XXXIII-(Continued
Still In silence, she stepped to the
pavement and stood aside while Loder
dismissed the cab. To both there was
something symbolic, something prophet
ic, In the dismissal. Without intention
and almost uncOnsciously they drew
closer together as the horse turned, its
hoofs Gathering ON the roadway. Its
harness jingling. and, still without real
izatlon, they looked after the vehicle as
1t moved away down the long, shadow
ed thoroughfare toward the lights and
the crowds that they had left. AT last
involuntarily they turned toward each
other
Come" Loder said abruptly. Its
only across the road"
Fleet street Is generally very quiet
once midnight is passed, and Eve had
no need of guidance or protection as
they crossed the pavement. shining like
ice in the lamplight. They crossed II
slowly, walking apart, for the dread OF
physical contact that had possessed
them in the cab seemed to have fallen
on them again.
Inquisitiveness has little place in the
region Of the city, and they gained the
opposite footpath unnoticed by the cas-
ual passerby. Then, still holding apart
they reached and entered Clifford's Inn
Inside the entrance they paused. and
Eve shivered involuntarily. How
gray it ISL she said family. And how
cold! Like a graveyard"
Loder turned to her. For one mo.
ment control seemed shaken. His blood
surged, his vision clouded. The sense
that life and love wera still within his
reach filed him overwhelmingly. He
turned toward Eve; he half extended
his hands. Then, stirred by what I'M
pulse, moved by what instinct, it was
Impossible to say, he let them drop to
his sides again.
"Comep' he said. Come! This is the
way. Keep close to me. Put your
hand on my ARM"
He spoke quietly. but his eyes were
resolutely averted from her face as
they crossed the dim, silent court.
! Entering the gloomy doorway that
led to his own rooms, he felt her fin
gers tremble on his arm, then tighten
in their pressure as the bare passage
and cherries stairs met her view, but
he set his lips
Gomez he repeated in the same
strained voice. Come! 1t isn't far
three or four fights.
With white face and q curious ex
preston in her eyes Eve moved for
ward. She had released Loder's arm
as they crossed the hall, and now
reaching the stairs, she put out hel
hand gropingly and caught the banis
ter. She had Il panied, numb sense OF
submission, of suffering that had sunk
to apathy Moving forward without re
sistance. she began to mount the stairs
I. The ascent was made in silence. Lo
der went first, his shoulders braced
his head held erect. Eve, mechanically
watchful of all his movements, fol
lowed a step or two behind. With
weary monotony one flight Of stairs
/ succeeded another, each to her unac
customed eyes seeming more colorless
more solitary, more desolate than the
preceding one.
Then at last, with sinking sense OF
apprehension, she realized that theil
goal was reached.
The knowledge broke sharply through
her dulled senses, and. confronted by
the closeness of her ordeal, she paused
her head lifted, her hand still nervous
" grasping the banister. Her lips part
ed as if in sudden demand for aid, but
in the nervous expectation, the panied
apprehension of the moment, no sound
escaped them. Loder, resolutely cross
ing the landing, knew nothing of the
silent appeal.
For second she stood hesitating
then her own weakness, her OWL
shrinking dislnay, were submerged in
the interest of his movements. Slowly
mounting the remaining steps, she fol
lowed him as if fascinated toward the
door that showed dinghy conspicuous
in the light of an unshaded gas jet.
Almost at the moment that she reach
ed his side he extended his hand to
ward the door. The action was deci-
sive and hurried, MS though he feared