Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-04-25

e. of the case were simple. Chill
cote had left an discriminating telegram
on the bureau in the morning room at
Grosyenor square. By an unlucky
chance Lillian Astrupp had been shown
up into that room, where she had re-
Mained alone until the moment that
Pve, either by request or by accident,
had found her there. The facts re-
solved themselves into one question:
What use had Lillian made Of those
solitary moments? Without deviation,
Loder's mind turned toward one
answer. Lillian was not the woman
to lose an opportunity, whether the
space at her command was long or
short.
So convinced was he that, reaching
Trafalgar square, he stopped and
hailed a hanson.
"Cadogan gardens!" he called. mo
49,"
The moments seemed very few be-
fore the cab drew up beside the curb
and he caught his second glimpse Of
the enameled door with Its silver fit
tngs. Instantly he pressed the bell the
door was opened by Lillian's discreet,
deferential manservant.
"Is Lady Astrupp at homer" he
asked.
The man looked thoughtful. Her
Iadyship lunched at home, SIR he be.
gan cautiously.
But Loder interrupted him. ASK her
to see me-" he said laconically.
The servant expressed no surprise,
His only comment was to throw the
door wide.
'1f you'll wait in the white room.
SIR" he said. I'm inform her ladyship."
philcote was evidently a frequent and
a favored visitor.
IN this manner Loder for the second
time entered the house so unfamiliar
and yet Sc familiar in all that it sug-
gested. Entering the drawing room, he
had leisure to look about him. 1t was
q beautiful room, large and lofty. Lux
ury was evident on every hand, but it
was not the luxury that pals or Of
tends. Each object was graceful and
possessed its own intrinsic value. The
atmosphere was too efeminate to ap-
peal to him, but he acknowledged the
taste and artistic delicacy 1t conveyed.
Almost at the moment of acknowledge
ment the door opened to admit Lillian.
"I thought it would be you" she said
enigmatically.
Ioder came forward. "You expected
me?' he said ~guardedly. A sudden
conviction filed him that it was not
the evidence of her eyes, but something
at once subtler and more definite that
prompted her recognition of him.
She smiled. why should l expect
sou? On the contrary, I'm waiting to
know why you're here?"
He was silent for an instant. Then
he answered in her own light tone.
"As far as that goes" he said, "let's
with you. I'm an old fashioned per
SON"
For a full second she surveyed him
amusedly. Then at last she spoke.
my dear Jack'-she laid particular
BtreSS on the name-"I never imagined
you punctiliouS. | should have thought
bohemian would have been more the
word
Loder felt Disconnected and ANNOYED.
Either, like himself. she was fishing for
information or she was deliberately
playing with him. In his perplexity he
glanced across the room toward the
fireplace.
Lillian saw the look. Won't you sit
down. she said. indicating the couch
II promise not to make you smoke. |
shan't even ask you to take off your
Gloves
Loder made no movement. His mind
was unpleasantly upset. 1t was nearly
a fortnight since he had seen Lillian
and in the interval her attitude had
changed, and the change puzzled him
1t might mean the philosophy of a wo
man who, knowing herself without ade
Quate weapons, withdraws from a com
bat that has proved fruitless, or il
might imply the merely catlike desire
to toy with a certainty. He looked
quickly at the delicate face, the greer
eyes somewhat %obliquely set. the unre
AdDlS Iuoull, VI INSTANTLY ue iuClllGl
to the latter theory. The conviction
that she possessed the telegram filled
him suddenly, and with it came the de
sire to put his belief to the test-tt
know beyond question whether he
smiling unconcern meant malice o
mere entertainment.
"When you first came into the ROOM
be said quietly, you said I thought i
would be you Why did you say that
Again she smiled-the smile tina
might be malicious or might be merel.
amused. "Oh," she answered at last
II only meant that though I had bee
told Jack Chilcote wanted me, it WASH
Jack Chilcote 1 expected to see!"
After her statement there was
pause. Loder's position was difficult
1nstinctively convinced that, strong il
the possession of her proof, she was en-
joying his t%antalized discomfort, he We
craved the actual evidence that shout
set his suspicious to rest. Acting upo
the desire, he made a new beginning.
"Do you know why l came?" b