Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-01-24
BURLINGTON FREE PRESS THURSDAY, JANUARY "a. 1907

Six year nearer oblivion
Again slight ncredulous contempt
crossed the others eyes. "ObllvionT
he said. where are your ambitions"
"rhey don't exist
Don't exist? Yet you voice your
country? l concluded that much in
the fog"
Chllcote laughed sarcastically.
when one has voiced ones country
for six years one gets boarse. It's a
natural consequence"
The other smiled. "Ab. GiscontentW
he said. "The modern cnnker. But we
must both be getting under way. Good
night. Shall we shake hands-to prove
that we are genuinely materially
Chilcote had been standing unusually
still, following the strangers words.
caught by his self reliance and i'm
pressed by his personality. Now. as
he ceased to speak. he moved quickly
forward, impelled by nervous curl
| oslty.
"Why should we just hail each other
| and pass-likc the proverbial ships?"
he said impulsively. "If nature was
careless enough to let the reproduction
meet the original she must abide the
consequences"
The other laughed. but his laugh was
short. "Oh, I don't know. our roads
lie differently. You would get nothing
again laughed shortly. NO" he said.
"Id be content to pass if I were you.
The unsuccessful man is seldom II
profitable study Shall we say good
night?"
He took Chilcotc's hand for an in
slant, then, crossing the footpath, he
passed into the roadway toward The
Strand.
1t was done in moment but With
his going n sense of loss fell upon Chill.
cote. He stood for space. newly con.
scious of unfamiliar faces and unfa
mliar voices In the stream of passers.
! by. Then, suddenly mastered by m i'm.
pulse, he wheeled rapidly and darted
after the tall, lean figure 50 ridiculous.
| ly like his own.
Halfway across Trafalgar square he
| overlook the stranger lie had paused
on one OF the small stone Islands that
! break the current of traffic and was
waiting for an opportunity to cross the
street. In the glare Of light from the
! lamp above his head Chilcote saw for
the first time that, under a remarkable
neatness of appearance, his clothes
were well worn-almost shabby. The
/ discovery struck him with something
stronger than surprise. The idea OF
| poverty seemed homogeneous in connec.
| ton with the reliance the reserve, the
! personality of the man. With certain
embarrassed haste he stepped forward
| and touched his arm.
Look here" he said as the other
turned quietly. 81 have followed you
! to exchange cards 1t can't injurs
either Of us, and II wish 10 know
my other self" He laughed nervously
as he drew out his cardcase.
| The stranger watched him in silence
| There was the same faint contempt
! but also there was a reluctant interest
in his glance as it passed from tho
! AhECLo WIN Alit NhSt " lIic
pale face with the square jaw, straight
mouth and level eyebrows drawn low
over the gray eyes. When Mt last the
card was held out to him he took it
without remark and slipped it into his
pocket.
Chilcote looked 1T him eagerly. "Now
the exchangeT' he said.
For a second the stranger did not re-
spond. Then, almost Unexpectedly, he
smiled.
after all, if It amuSes you he
said; and, searching in his waistcont
| pocket, he drew out the required card
at will leave you quite unenlight-
ened,' he added. THE name Of q fail
ure never spells anything" With an
other smile, partly amused, partly iron
ical, he stepped from the little island
and disappeared into the throng Of
| traffic.
Chilcote stood for m instant gazing
at the point whore lie had vanished:
then, turning to the lamp, he lifted the
card and read the name it bore, "Mr.
John Loder, 10 Cliffcrd's Inn"
CHAPTER II.
thn morning fC11ouiOC tho