Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-03-14

in the fire. This done, he returned to
the desk, read the letters that awaited
Chilcote, and, scribbling the necessary
notes upon the margins, left them in
readiness for Greening. Then, moving
with the same quiet suppression, he
passed from the room. down the stairs
and out into the street by the way he
had come.
CHAPTER Ky.
~N the fifth day after the momen.
tous LIST of April on which he
nj mad recalled Loder and re-
left his house and walked toward Bond
street. Though the morning was clear
and the air almost warm for the time
of year, he was buttoned into a long
overcoat and was wearing a mufler
and a pair Of doeskin gloves. AS he
passed along the street he kept close
to the house fronts to avoid the sun
that was everywhere stirring the Win
ter bound town like a %suffusion Of
young blood through old veins. He
avoided the warmth because in this
instance warmth meant light, but as
he moved he shivered slightly from
time to time with the haunting, perme-
persistent shadow.
He was i'll at ease as he hurried for
ward. With each succeeding day Of
the old life the new anlHyances. the
new obligations. became more hamper
Ing. Before his compact with Loder
this old life had been a net about his
feet. Now the meshes seemed to have
narrowed, the net itself to have spread
till 1t smothered his whole being. His
W household, his own rooms even,
offered no sanctuary. The presence Of
another personality tinged the atmos-
phere. 1t was preposterous, but it was
u%ndeniable. The lay figure that he had
set in his place had proved to be flesh
and blood, had usurped his life, his
position, his very personality, by sheer
right of strength. AS he walked along
Bond street in the first sunshine of the
year, jostled by the we'll dressed crowd.
he felt a pariah.
AAS ISNoilOo oC lhC dC" oloCl vi
things, but the revolt was a silent one
the iron of %eXpediency had entered into
his soul. He dared not jeopardiZe Lo-
der's position because he dared not dis
pense with Loder. The door that
guarded his vice drew him more re-
sistlessly with every indulgence, and
Loder's was the voice that called the
open sesame"
He walked on aimlessly. He had
been but five days at home, and al
ready the quiet, grass grown court of
Clifford's inn, the bare staircase. the
comfortless privacy of Loder's rooms,
seemed a haven of refuge. The speed
with which this hunger had returned
frightened him.
He walked forward rapidly and With
out encountering a check. Then sud
denly the spell was broken. From the
slowly moving, brilliantly dressed
throng of people some one called him
by his name, and, turning, he saw Lii
liam Astrupp.
She was stepping from the door of a
jewelers., and as he turned she paus-
ed, holding out her hand.
1.-THE very person 1 would have wish
ed to see" she exclaimed. ''Where
have you been these hundred years?
I've heard of nobody but you since
you've turned politician and ceased to
be a mere member of parliament" She
laughed softly. The laugh suited the
light spring air, as she herself suited
the pleasant, superficial scene.
He took her hand and held it, while
his eyes Travelled from her delicate
face to her pale cloth gown, from her
soft furs to the bunch of roses fasten-
ed in her muff. The sight of her was
a curious relief. Her cool, slim fingers
were so casual, yet sc clinging; her
voice and her presence were so redo
lent Of easy, artificial things.
"How we'll you look" he said invol-
UNFAIRLY.
Again she laughed. That's my pre-
rogative," she responded lightly. But
l was serious in being glad to see you.
Sarcastic people are always so intui-
tive. Pm looking for some one with
intuition"
Chilcote glanced up. "~Extravagant
againY he said dryly.