Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-03-21

minutes in the study; then, as | came
downstairs Crapham met me in the
hall He told me that Lillian Astrupp
had called and wished to see me and
that he had shown her into the morn
ing room
The morning roomY" Loder sudden
iy stepped back from the table. THE
morning room: With your telegram
lying on the bureau?'
His sudden speech and movement
startled Chilcoto. The blood rushed to
his face, then died out. leaving it ashen.
Don't do that Loderw he cried. IL
can't bear it!''
With an immense effort Loder con-
troled himself. sorry" he said. go
/ on"
I'm going on. tell you I'm going
on. | got a horri1 shock when Crap
| ham told me. Your story came clatter-
ing through my mind. | know Lillian
had come to sec you l knew there was
! going to he Il scene -.
"bUt the telegram Tie telegram"
CAilcote paid no heed to the Interrupt
}
of ldnss. Il knew she had come to see
you. | knew there was going to be Il
scene. When | got to the morning room
my hand was shaking 50 that | could
scarcely turn the handle then, as the
door opened. ! could have cried out
with relief. I've WAS there as well"'
Eve
| ipj- 50
glad to see her in my life He laughed
almost Historically. 81 was quite
civil to her. and she was-quite sweet
TO me Again he lau-hed.
I.oder's lips frightened
You see, it saved The situation.
Even If Lillian wanted 10 he nasty,
she couldn't while Eve was there. We
talked for about ten minutes. We
were quite an amiable trio. Then Lii
liam told ne why she'd called. She
wanted me to make fourth in n
thcater party at the Arcadian tonight,
and IL was 50 pleased and 50 relieved
that l said yes" He paused and
laue he'd again unsteadily.
In his tense anxiety Loder gSund
said fiercely. "Go on
Don't" Chilcotc exclaimed. I'm
going on--Tm going on lie passed
his handkerchief across his lips. I'VE
talked for ten minutes or so, and then
Lillian left, | went with her 10 the
hall door, but Crapham was there too
SO l was still safe, She laughed and
chatted and seemed in high spirits as
we crossed the hall, and she was still
smiling as she waved to me from her
motor, But then. Loder-then, as
stood in the hail, it al! came to me
suddenly. l remembered that Lillian
must have been alone in the morning
room before Eve found her. remem-
bered the telegram. ran back to
the room, meaning to question Eve as
to how long Lillian had been alone
but she had left the room. | ran to
the bureau-but the telegram wasn't
there
Gomez"
yes, gone That's why I've come
straight here"
For moment they confronted each
other. Then, moved by sudden i'm
pulse, Loder pushed Chilcote aside
and crossed the room An instant lat
er the opening and shutting OF doors
the hasty pulling out of drawers ant
moving of boxes came from the bed
room.
Chilcote, shaken and nervous, stood
for minute where his companion hae
left him, At last, impelled by curios
ty, he too crossed the narrow passage
and entered the second room.
The full light streamed in through
the open window; the keen spring al
blew freshly across the housetops, ant
on the window sill band OF grimy
joyous sparrows twittered and preene(
themselves. In the middle OF the room
stood Loder. His coat was or, ant
. round him on chairs and floor lay al
array of waistcoats, gloves and ties
. For space Chilcotc stood in the door
way staring at him, then his lips part
! ed and he took step forward
"Loder," he said anxiously. "Loder
what are you going to do?"
| Loder turned, His shoulders wen
stiff his face alight with energy. IN
~ong back" he said, ito unravel tn