Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-03-21

and responded with .d~isconeerting gen.
erosity. A sudden and very human dis
satisfaction with his reimbursement
scheme fell upon Loder. Opposition is
the whip to action; a too ready acqui-
essence the slackened rein.
Did l say that?" he asked quickly
The tone was almost Chilcote's.
She glanced up; then a sudden, in
comprehensive smile lighted up her
face.
"You didn't say, but you thought
she answered gravely. Thoughts are
he same as words to a woman. That's
why we are SO unreasonable" Again
she smiled. Some idea, battling and in
comprehensive to Loder, was stirring
in her mind.
Conscious of the impression, he NOV
ed still nearer. You jump to conclu-
sions," he said abruptly. "What 1
meant to imply
was precisely what I've under
stood" Again she finished his SEN
tence. Then she laughed softly. "How
very wise, but how very, very foolish
men are! You come to the conclusion
that because a woman isis interested
in you she is going to hamper you in
some direction, and after infinite pains
you summon all your tact and you set
about saving the situation" There was
interest, even a touch of amusement,
in her tone; her eyes We're still fixed
upon his in an indefinable glance. You
think you are being very diplomatic"
she went on quietly, "but in reality
you are being very transparent. The
woman reads the whole of your mean
ing in your very first sentence-if she
hasn't known it before you began to
speak,
Again Loder made an interruption.
but again she checked him.
NO" she said, still smiling. You
should never attempt such a task.
Shall l tell you why?"
He stood silent, puzzled and inter
ested.
Because" she said quickly, when a
woman really is Interested, the mans
career ranks infinitely higher in her
eyes than any personal desire for
power
For 81 moment their eyes met; then
abruptly Loder looked away. She ha,
gagged his intentions incorrectly, y,
with d~isconcerting insight. Again the
suggestion of al unusual personality
below the serenity of her manner re-
CURED to his Imagination.
With an impulse altogether foreign
to him he lifted his head and again
met her glance. Then at last he spoke,
but only two words. "Forgiye mel" he
said, with simple, direct sincerity.
CHAPTER XXI.
liter his interview with Eve,
A Loder retired to the study ard
spent the remaining hours ct
the day and the whole span Of
the evening in work. At 1 o'clock, still
feeling fresh in mind and body, he dis
missed Greening and passed into Chill
cote's bedroom. The interview with
Eve, though widely different from the
one he had anticipated, had left him
stimulated and alert. In the hours that
followed it there had been an added
anxiety to put his mind into harness,
an added qualification in finding it
answer to the rein.
A pleasant sense of retrospection
settled upon him as he slowly IN
dressed, and a pleasant sense Of inter
est touched him as, crossing to the
dressing table, he caught sight of Chill
cote's engagement book, taken with
other things from the suit he had
changed at dinner time and carefully
laid aside by Renwick.
He picked it up and slowly turned
the pages. 1t always held the sugges-
ton of a lottery, this dipping into an
other mans engagements and drawing
a prize or Il blank. 1t was a sensa-
ton that even custom had not dulled.
At first he turned the pages slowly,
then by degrees his fingers %quickened.
Beyond the fact that this present
evening was free he knew nothing Of
his promised movements. The abrupt
ness of Chilcote's arrival at Clifford's
inn in the afternoon had left no time
for superf1uous questions. He skim
med the writing with a touch of inter
ested haste. hen all at once he paused
and smiled.
big enough for a tombstone!." he
said below his breath as his eyes rest
ed on a large blue cross. Then he
smiled again and held the book to the
light.
"Dine 33 Cadogan gardens, s o'c.
Talk with L. he read. still speaking
softly to himself.
He stood for a moment bordering on
the entry, then once more his glance
reverted to the cross.
Evidently meant it to be SEEM he
unused. But why the deuce isn't he
more explicit?" AS he spoke a look of
comprehension suddenly crossed his
face and the puzzled frown between
his eyebrows cleared away.
With a feeling of satisfaction he re-
membered Lakeley's frequent and