The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-01-15

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When he heard Chilcote lay down his
tumbler he looked back again. "Wen.
what is it?" he said what have you
come for?' He strove resolutely to
keep his voice severe but, try as he
might, he could not quite subdue the
eager force that lay behind his words.
Once again, as on the night of their
second interchange, life had become a
phoenix, rising to fresh existence even
While he sifted its ashes. "Well%' he
said once again.
Chllcote had set down his glass He
was nervously passing his handker-
chief across his lips There was some
thing in the gesture that attracted Lo-
der. Looking at him more attentively,
he saw what his own feelings and the
others conventional dress had blinded
him to-the almost piteous panic and
excitement in his visitors eyes.
Something's gone wrong" he said,
with abrupt intuition
Chilcote started 'Yes-no-that is,
yes" he stammered
Loder moved around the table.
.
ed, "and you've come to tell me-"
The tone unnerved Chilcote. He sud
denly dropped into a chair Tit
wasn't my faultp' he began. II have
had horrible timer
Loder's lips frightened YES" he
said, yes, 1 understand"
The other glanced up with a CLEAN
of bis old suspicion. "'Twas all my
nerves, Loder''-
'Of course. Yes, of course" 10
der's interruption was curt.
Chilcote eyed him doubtfully. Then
recollection took the place of doubt,
and change passed over his express
sion. at wasn't my fault" he began
hastily. con my soul, it wasn't! 1t
was Crapham's beastly fault for show
ing her into the morning room
Loder kept silent. HIS curiosity had
nared into sudden life at the others
words, but he feared to break the shat
teri train of thought even by a word.
L the silence Chilcote moved un-
easily. You see," he went on at last
when was here with you II felt
strong. I-I"- He stopped
"Yes, yes. When you were here with
me you felt strong
Eyes, that's it. While l was here
felt l could do the thing. But when
went home-when l went up to my
rooms Again he paused, passing his
handkerchief across his forehead.
when you went up to your rooms?f
Loder strove hard to keep his control.
ITO my room?- Oh, II forget
about that. 1 forget about the night
j He hesitated confusedly. IAN / re-
member is the coming down to break
fast next morning-this morning at
u o'clock
Loder turned to the table and poured
himself out some whisky. YES" he
acquiesced in very quiet voice.
At the word Chilcote rose from his
seat His disquietude was very evi
dent. "Oh, there was breakfast on the
table when l came downstairs-bre
fast, with flowers and q horrible, daZ
zling glare of sun. 1t was then, Loder
as l stood and looked into the room
that the impossibility of 1t all came K
me-that | knew l couldn't stand it
couldn't go on"
Loder swallowed his whisky slowly
His sense of overpowering curiosity
held him very still, but he made nC
effort to prompt his companion.
Again Chilcote shifted his position
agltatedly. 1T had to be DONE" h'
said disjointedly. Il had to do it-thel
and there. The things were on the bu
reau-the pens and ink and telegraph
forms. They tempted me-"
|, Loder laid down his glass suddenly
An exclamation rose to his lips, but b
checked it.
At the slight sound Of the tumble
touching the table Chilcote turned, Blu
there was no expression on the other
face to alright him.
"They tempted me-" he repeated has
tily. ''They seemed like magnets; the
seemed to draw me toward them.
sat at the bureau staring at them for
long time Then terrible compulsio
:, seized me-something you could neve
Understandable l caught up the neal
{ est pen and wrote just what was in ~
( mind 1t wasn't a telegram, properl
: speaking. 1t was more a letter.
5 wanted you back, and l had to max
5 myself plain. The writing of the me:
: sage seemed to steady me; the mer
+; forming of the words quieted my mine
: l was almost cool when l got up froI
f the bureau and pressed the belr'-
: 1.-The bellT'
l YES | rang for a servant. / ha
to send the wire myself, so l had
r get a cab" His voice rose to irrit:
bility. 81 pressed the bell sever;
j times, but the thing had gone wroni
Q 'twouldnt work. at last l gave it l
j and went into the corridor to call son
one"
i "Well?" In the intense suspense
. the moment the word escaped Loder
e "Oh, l went out Of the room, b
/ there at the door. before I could ca
. ANYBODY Knocked IN against TIL