Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-04-09
49, III E-~
Masquerade
By KATHERINE CECIL THURSTON,
Author of 1.-The Circle" Etc.
copyrisht. 1904 by Harper &
By KATHERINE CECIL THURsToN
come to tell you that the thing must
Author Of "The Circle" ct,

come to tell you that the thing must
end"
After he spoke there was prolonged
pause: then ms If shaken with sudden
consciousness, Chilcote rose. The rug
dropped from one shoulder and hung
down ludicrously: his hand caught the
back Of the chair for support; his I'M
shaven face looked absurd and repul-
sive in it's sudden expression OF scared
inquiry. Loder involuntarily turned
away.
81 mean IT. he said slowly. TITS
over: we've come to the end"
But why9' Chilcote artic1lated
blankly. why? Why In his confu.
sion he could think Of no better word.
Because throw it up. My side Of
the bargains of!'
Again Chilcote's lips parted stammer.
ingly The apathy caused by physical
exhaustion and his recently administer
ed drug was passing from him; the
hopelessly shattered condition Of mind
and body was showing through 1t like
a skeleton through a thin covering Of
flesh.
| "But Why" he said again. why"
4 Still Loder avoided the frightened
surprise Of his eyes Because with.
draw he answered doggedly.
Then suddenly Chilcote's tongue was
loosened. ''Loder." he cried excitedly,
you can't do 1t! Great heavens, man,
you can't do itv' To reassure himself
he laughed--a painfully thin echo Of his
old sarcastic laugh. .'If it's matter
of greater opportunity" he began, 'ot
more money
| But Loder turned upon him.
BE quiet" he said so menacingly
that the other stopped. Then by an eff
! fort he conquered himself. cts not
matter of money, Chilcote." he said
I quietly. ITS matter Of necessity"
! He brought the word out with diff
| Guilty
ChlEcote glanced up. "Necessity?' he
repeated. How? Why?"
The reitera ton reused Loder. BE
cause there was great scene. In the
house last night" he began h,lrriedly.
/ Because when you go back you'll find
| that Scarborough has smashed up over
the assassination of Sir William Brice-
Field at Meshed and that you have
made your mark in a big speech, and
because Abruptly he stopped. The
| thing he had come to say-the thing he
had meant to say-would not be said.
Either his tongue or his resolution fail
| ed him, and for the instant he stood
as silent and almost as i'll at ease as
/ his companion. Then all ut once in
spiration came to him, in the sugges
ton Of wellnigh forgotten argument
by which he might influence Chilcote
/ and save his own self respect. Its all
over, Chilcote." he said more quietly.
ut has run itself out" And in dozen
sentences he sketched the story of Lii
liam Astrupp, her past relations with
himself, her present suspicious. 1t was
not what he had meant to say; 1t was
not what he had come to say but 1t
served the purpose-it saved him hui
| initiation.
| Chilcote listened to the last word.
Then, as the other finished, he dropped
neIvOusly back into his chair. Good
heavens, man." he said, "why didn't
you tell me? Why didn't you warn me,
! instead Of filing my mind with your
political position? Your political po-
sition" He laughed unsteadily. The
long spells Of indulgence that had
weakened his already manned faculties
showed in the laugh. in the sudden
breaking of his voice. You must do
something. Loderw he added nervously,
checking his amusement. "You must
do something"
Loder looked down at him. NO" he
said decisively Its your turn now.
| It's you who've got to do something"
/ Chilcote's face turned shade grayer.
81 can't" he said below his breath.
Cant? oh. yes. you can. We can
all do-anything It's not too late:
there's just sufficient time Chilcote,"
he added suddenly. .'don't you see that
| the thing has been madness all along
has been like playing with the most in
,, fernal explosives? You may thank
i whatever you have faith in Chat no
body has beer smashed up! You are
going back. Do you understand me?
You are going bacl-now, today, be-
fore it's too late" There was great
change in Loder; his strong, imper-
turbable face was stirred; he was
moved in both voice and manner.
Time after time he repeated his injunc-
ton, reasoning, expostulatng, insist
ing. 1t almost seemed that be fought
some strenuous invisible force rather
| than the shattered man before him.
Chilcote moved neryously in his seat.
It was the first real clash Of PERSONAL
ties. He felt it-recognized it by in
stinct The sense Of domination had
! fallen on him; he knew himself I'M
potent in the others hands. What
ever he might attempt in moments OF
] solitude, he possessed no voice in pres
ence of this invincible second self.
For awhile he struggled--he did not
| fight. he struggled to resist-then, lift
ing his. eyes, he met Loder's. "And
what will you Go:" he said weakly:
oder returned his questioning gaze.
but almost Immediately he turned
aside. TY' he said. "oh, shall leave
i London"
(To be Continued.)