Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-01-03

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she's expected in half an hour
"In half an hour? All right. That's
all l wanted" With a movement of
decision Loder walked back to the stair
head, turned to the right and opened
the door of Chilcote's rooms.
The door opened on q short, wide pas
sage. On one side stood the study, on
the other the bed, bath and dressing
rooms. With a blind sense of knowl-
edge and unfamiliarity, bred of much
description on Chilcote's part, he put
his hand on the study door and, still
exalted by the omen Of his first sue
cess, turned the handle.
Inside the room there was freight
and lamplight and a studious air of
peace. The realization of this and a
slow incredulity at Chilcote's voluntary
remuneration were his first impressions.
Then his attention was needed for more
imminent things.
AS he entered the new secretary was
returning q volume to its place on the
book shelves. At sight of him he push
ed it hastily into position and turned
round.
II was making a few notes Oh the
political position of Khorasan," he said.
glancing with slight apprehensiveness
at the others face. He was a small.
shy man, with few social attachments,
but an extraordinary amount of learn
ing-the antitlesis of the alert Bless
ington. whom he had replaced.
Loder bore his scrutiny without
finching. Indeed, it struck him sud
denly that there was a fund of inter
est, almost of excitement, in the en-
countering Of each new pair of eyes.
At the thought he moved forward to
the desk.
"Thank you. Greening," he said. "a
very useful bit of work.
The secretary glanced up, slightly
puzzled. His endurance had been Sc
verely taxed in the fourteen days that
he had filled his new post.
"I'm glad you think so, SIR" he said,
he%sitatingly. You rather poohpoohed
the matter this morning, if you remem-
ber."
Loder was taking off his coat, but
stopped in the operation.
"This morning?" he said. "Oh. did
I? Did ~ Then struck by the op-
portunity the words gave him he turn
ed toward the secretary. you've got
to get used to me, Greening," he said.
you haven't quite grasped me yet, l
can see. I'm a man of moods, you
know. Up to the present you've seen
my slack side, my Jared side, but 1
have quite another when l care to
show it. I'm a sort of Jekyll and Hyde
affair" Again he laughed, and Green
ing echoed the sound difidently. Chill
cote had evidently discouraged famil-
iarity.
Loder eyed him with abrupt under
standing. He recognized the loneli-
ness in the anxious, conciliatory man
ner.
You're tired" he said kindly. Go
to bed. I've got some thinking to do.
Good night" He held out his hand.
Greening took it, still half d~istrust-
full of this fresh side to so complex a
man.
Good night, SIR" he said. "Tomor-
row, if you approve, 1 shall go on with
my notes. hope you will have a
restful night"
For a second Loder's eyebrows went
up, but he recovered himself instantly.
"Ah, thanks, Greening," he said.
Thanks. think your hope will be
fulfilled
He watched the little secretary move
softly and alphabetically to the door,
then he walked to the fire and, rest
ing his elbows on the mantelpiece. he
took his face in his hands.
For Il space he stood absolutely
quiet, then his hands dropped to his
sides, and he turned slowly round. In
that short space he had balanced
things and found his bearings. The
slight nervousness shown in his
brusque sentences and ~overcontident
manner faded out, and he faced facts
steadily.
With the return of his calmness he
took a long survey of the room. His
glance frightened approximately as it
Travelled from the walls lined with we'll
bound books to the lamps modulated to
the proper light; from the lamps to the
desk fitted with every requirement.
Nothing was lacking. All he had once
possessed. all he had since dreamed of.
was here, but OIL Il greater scale. To
enjoy the luXuries of life a man must
go long without them. Loder had lived
severely-so severely that until three
weeks ago he had believed himself ex-
empt from the temptations Of lu-
manity. Then the voice of the world
had spoken, and within him another
voice had answered with a tone so
clamorous and insistent that it had
outcried his surprised and incredulous
wonder at its existence and it's claims.
That had been the voice of suppressed
ambition, and now as he stood in the
new atmosphere a newer voice lifted
itself. The joy of material things O
suddenly. overbalancing the last rem
nant of the philosophy he had reared.
He saw all things in a fresh light
the soft carpets, the soft lights, the
numberless pleasant, unnecessary
things that color the passing land
SpaDp and nil tho u,bool, of l;fo ypI,;o