The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-01-22

was denied TO Eve, TOT scarcity udu Tue
words left his lips before the thought
that dominated him asserted its prior
claim. Blind to the incredulity in her
eyes. he drew her swiftly forward and
half impelling, half supporting her
forced her to descend the stairs.
Never in after life could he obliterate
the remembrance OF that descent.
Fear, such as he could never expert
ence in his own concerns, possessed
him. One desire overrode all others,
the desire that Ewes reputation. which
he himself had so nearly imperiled,
should remain unimperiled. In the
shadow of that urgent duty, the de-
spair of the past hours, the appalling
fact so lately realized, the future, with
it's possible trials, became dark to his
Imagination. In his new victory over
self th - question of her protection pre-
dominated.
Moving under his compulsion, he
guided her hastily and silently down
the deserted stairs, drawing a breath
of deep relief as one after another the
landings were successfully passed, and,
still actuated by the suppressed need
of haste. he passed through the door
way that they had entered under such
different conditions only a few min
utes before.
To leave the quiet court, to gain the
Strand, to hail belated hanson, was
the work of a moment. BY an odd con-
trivance of circumstance the luck that
had attended every phase of his dual
life was again exerted in his behalf.
No one had noticed their entry into
Cliffords inn; no one was moved to
curiosity by their exit. With an invol-
untary thrill of feeling he gave express
sion to his relief.
THANK God it's over" he said as a
cab drew up. You don't know what
the strain has been"
Moving as If in a dream, Eve stepped
into the cab. AS yet the terrible de-
nouement to their enterprise had made
no clear impression upon her mind.
scious of, all that she instinctively ac-
knowledged, was the fact that Loder
was still beside her.
In quiet obedience she took her place,
drawing aside her skirts to make room
for him, and in the same subdued man
ner he stepped into the vehicle. Then,
with the strange sensation of RELIEVING
their earlier drive, they were aware of
the frightened rein and of the horses
first forward movement.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Eve, shutting out all other thoughts,
sat close to Loder, clinging tenaciously
to the momentary comforting sense of
protection. Loder, striving to marshal
his ideas, hesitated before the ordeal
of speech At last, realizing his re
spoAsibility, he turned to her slowly.
"Eve," he said in low voice and
with some hesitation, Il want you to
know that in all this-from the moment
| saw him-from the moment | under
stood have had you in my thoughts
you and no one else"
She raised her eyes to his face.
do you realize he began afresh
do you know what this-this thing
means?"
Still she remained silent
''It means that after tonight there
will be no such person in London as
John Loder Tomorrow the man who
was known by that name will be found
In his rooms; his body will be removed
and at the post norton examination i
will be stated that he died of an over
dose Of morphia. His charwoman vii
| identify him as solitary man who liv
ed respectfully for years and then sud
denly went down hill with remarkable
| speed. 1t will be quite common case
| Nothing Of interest will be found in hf:
rooms. No relation will claim his body
After the usual time he will be giver
the usual burial OF his class. These de
/ tails are horrible, but there are time:
when we must look at the horrible sid
! of life, because life is incomplete with
out It.
These things l speak Of are tn
| things that Will meet the casual eye
but in our sight they will have yer.
different meaning.
Eve" he said. more vehemently. =
whole chapter il my life has been clos
ed tonight, and my first instinct is {
shut the book and throw it away. Blu
I'm thinking of you. Remember, In
thinking of you. Whatever the trla
!, whatever the difficulty, no harm shal
come to you You have my word 70
that.
"I'll return with you now to eros
venor square. I'll remain there till
reasonable excuse can be given 70
Chilcote's going abroad. 1 will avoi
Fraide. l will cut politics-whateve
the cost. Then at the first REASONABLE
! moment l will do what I would d
now, tonight, if it were possible. l
go away. start afresh; do in anotne
country what have done in this"
There was a long silence; then Ev
turned TO him. The apathy OF mi
ment before had left her face. I'm al
other country" she repeated. In al