Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-02-14

career ranks infinitely higher in her
eyes than any personal desire for
power"
For a moment their eyes met; then
abruptly Loder looked away. She had
gagged his intentions incorrectly, yet
with disconcerting insight. Again the
suggestion of an unusual personality
below the serenity of her manner re-
Cured to his Imagination.
With an impulse altogether foreign
to him he lifted his head and again
met her glance. Then at last he spoke.
but only two words. Forgive mel" he
said, with simple, direct sincerity
CHAPTER XII.
FTER his Interview with Eve,
Loder retired to the study and
ERt 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
followed it there had been an added
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 as he slowly I'M
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 Renwick.
He picked it up and slowly turned
the pages. 1t always held the sugges-
ton of lottery, this dipping into an
other mans engagements and drawing
a prize or blank. 1t was 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 Chilcotes arrival at Clifford's
for superfluous questions. He skim
med the writing with touch of inter
ested haste, then all at once he paused
and smiled.
big enough for a tombstoner' he
said below his breath as his eyes rest
ed on a large blue cross. Then he
smiled again and held the book to the
light
"Dine 33 Cadogan gardens, s o'c.
Talk with L." he read, still speaking
softly to himself
He stood for a moment bordering on
the entry, then once more his glance
reverted to the cross.
evidently meant it to be seen,'' he
unused. But why the deuce isn't he
more explicitg' AS he 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 Cadogal gardens and dis
/
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 five
days of his return home.
So he argued as he stood with the
book still open in his hands, the blue
cross staring mperatively from the
white paper And from the argument
rose thoughts and suggestions that
seethed in his mind long after the lights
had been switched off, long after the
fire had died down, and he had been
left wrapped in darkness in the great
canopied bed.
And so it 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 convic-
tons by a glance at the directory, but
for once the strong wish that evolves
a thought conquered his caution. His
work was absorbing; the need of veri-
fication seemed very small. He let the
suggestion pass.
At 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 mau was at any time fayora-
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 it 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.
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