Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-04-03

Loder retired to the study and
I'M spent the remaining hours OF
the day and the whole span OF
| the evening in work. At ! 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
| anxiety to put his mind into harness,
! an added qualification in finding 1t
| answer to the rein.
A pleasant sense Of retrospection
| settled upon him rs he slowly un-
| dressed, and 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 Renwlck.
He picked 1t up and slowly turned
| the pages. 1t always held the sugges-
ton Of n lottery, this dipping into an
other mans engagements and drawing
a prize or blank. 1t was q 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
t,~ 1nP< <t,p,o
for superfiuous questions He skim
med the writing with a touch of inter-
,ested haste, then all at once he paused
lnd smiled.
big enough for tombstone! he
Haid below his breath as his eyes rest
ed on large blue cross. Then he
smiled again and held the book to the
light.
"Dine 33 Cadogan gardens, o'c.
Talk with L." he read. still speaking
softly to himself.
He stood for moment bordering on
the entry, then once more his glance
reverted to the cross.
Evidently meant 1t to be seen." he
unused. "But why the deuce isn't he
more explicit?' AS lie spoke 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
pressing suggestion that he should dine
with him at Cadogan gardens and dis
cuss the political outlook.
Lakeley must have written during
his absence, and Chilcote having mark
ed the engagement. felt no further re-
sponsibility. The invitation could
scarcely have been verbal, as Chilcote,
he knew, had lain very low in the Eve
days Of his return home.
So he argued as he stood with the
book still open in his hands, the blue
cross staring imperatively from the
| white paper And from the argument
rose thoughts and suggestions that
| seethed in his mind long after the lights
had been switched of, long after the
| fire had died down, and he had been
left wrapped in darkness in the great
canopied bed.
| And SO 1t came about that he took
his second false step. Once during the
press of the next mornings work it
crossed his mind to verify his conyic-
tons by a glance at the directory, but
| for once the strong wish that evolves
thought conquered his caution. His
| work was absorbing; the need Of veri-
| fcation seemed very small He let the
suggestion pass.
At Z O'clock he dressed carefully. His
mind was full of Lakeley and Of the
possibilities the night might hold; for
more than once before the weight of
the ST. Georges Gazette, with Lakeley
at its back, had turned the political
scales. To be marked by him as a
coming man was at any time favora-
able portent; to be singled out by him
at the present juncture was momen-
tous. A thrill of expectancy, almost
excitement, passed through him as he
surveyed his appearance preparatory
to leaving the house.
Passing downstairs, he moved at
once to the hall door; but almost as
his hand touched 1t he halted, attracted
| by movement on the landing above
him. Turning he saw Eve.
She was standing quite still, looking
down upon him as she had looked once
before. AS their eyes met she changed
her position hastily.
you are going out?" she asked. And
1t struck Loder quickly that there was
suggestion, a shadow Of disappoint-
ment in the tone Of her voice. Moved
by the impression, he responded with
unusual promptness.
EYES," he said "I'm dining out
dining with Lakeley."
She watched him intently while he
spoke; then, as the meaning Of his
words reached her her whole face
frightened.
with Mr.. Lakeley?'' she said. ooh,
I'm glad-very glad. It is quite
another step" She smiled with warm,
| impulsive touch of sympathy.
| Loder, looking up at her, felt his
senses stir. At sound of her words his
secret craving for success quickened to
stronger life. The man whose sole In
centive lies within may go forward
coldly and successfully; but the man
who grasps double inspiration, who,
even unconsciously, is impelled by an
other force, has stronger impetus for
attack, surer, more vital hewing
no1yor Sill watching her he answer