Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-03-30
CHAPTER XVIII.


solved themselves into one question:
What use had Lillian made of those
solitary mOmcntsy 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 gardensr' he called mo.
So"
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 1T
tlngs. Instantly he pressed the bell the
door was opened by Lillian's discreet
deferential manservant.
"Is Lady Astrupp at homeY' he
asked
The man looked thoughtful "Her
ladyship iunched at home. sir he be
gan cautiously.
But Loder interrupted him. ASK her
TO see mo-" he said laconically.
The servant expressed no surprise
His only comment was 10 throw the
door wide.
IF you'll wait i'm the white room.
sir" be said. 'I'u inform her ladyship"
Chilco,e was evidently a frequent and
a favored visitor
In this manner Loder for the second
time entered the house so unfamiliar
and yet so familiar I'm all that Il sug
gested. Catering the drawing room. ne
had leisure so look about him. II was
n beautiful room. large and lofty. Lux
ury was evident on every hand. but &c
was not the luxury that pals or OF
tends. Each object was graceful and
possessed It's own intrinsic value. The
atmosphere was too encm!nate to an
peal 90 him but he acknowledged the
taste and artistic delicacy Il convened.
Almost nj the moment OF aclnowledg-
ment the door opened 20 admit Lillian.
81 thought II would be YOU" she said
systematically.
Loder came forward. you expected
me-" he said guardedly. A sudden
conviction filled him that IL was not
the evidence or her eyes. but something
az once subtler and more definite that
prompted her recognition OF him.
She smiled. why should / expect
your OF the contrary. I'm waiting 10
know why you're hcreg"
He was silent for an Instant Then
he answered i'm her own light zone.
AS far as that goes" he said. let's
make 1t my duty call-having dined
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
stress on the name-"I never imagined
you punctilious. 1 should have thought
bohemian would have been more the
word"
Loder felt disconnected and annoyed.
Either, Ike himself, she was fishing for
Information OF she was deliberately
playing with him. In his perplexlty he
glanced across the room toward the
fireplace
Lillian saw the look. Won't YOU sit
DOWN. she said. indicating the couch.
I promise not to make you smoke. I
shan't even ask you to take of your
glovesr'
Loder made no movement His mind
was unpleasantly upset. IL was nearly
a fortnight since he had seen LILLIAN.
and In the interval her attitude had
changed, and the change puzzled him.
II might mean the philosophy Of a wo-
man wno, knowing herself without ade-
quate weapons. withdraws from a COM
bat that has proved frultless. or II
might imply the merely catlike desire
to toy with a certainty He looked
quickly at the delicate face. the green
eyes somewhat obliqueiy set. the unre-
liable mouth. and Instantly he inclined
TO the latter theory The conviction
that she possessed the telegram filed
him suddenly. and with il came the de-
sire TO put his belief to the test-to
know beyond question whether her
smiling unconcern meant malice or
mere entertainment
when you first came into the room -
he said quietly. you said I thought II
would be you Why did you say that?
Again 81 smi.ed-the smile that
might be malicious or might be merely
amused oh she answered at last.
Il only meant that though had been
told Jack ChilcOte wanted me. 1t wasn't
Jack Chilcote | expected to see!"
After her statement there was
pause. Loder's position was difficult.
Instinctively convinced that. strong in
the possession OF her proof she was en-
joying his tantalized discomfort, he yet
craved The actual evidence that should
set his suspicious 10 rest. Acting upon
the desire, he made a new beginning.
do you know why Gamer" he
asked.
Lillian looked up innocently ITS so
hard TO be certain OF anything In this
world" she said. But one is always
at liberty to guess"
Again he was perplexed. Her att
tude was not quite the attitude OF one
who controls the game. and yet He
looked at her with a puzzled scrutiny.
Women for him had always spelled the
incomprehensible. He was at his best.
his strongest. his surest. In the presence
OF men Eee'Q@ his disadvantage vat