The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-03-08

faneOusly The seer's voice came TO him
again. Her tone was lower now than
Il had been before. aud its extreme
ease seemed slightly shaken-w whether
by excitement. surprise or curiosity II
was impossible 10 say
~You win think IL strange she be.
gan. -Yoa wsil think Then she
stopped
There was a pause. rs though she
waited for some help. but Loder re-
mained mute. In difficulty silent
tongue and a cool head are usually
nau's best weapons.
His silence was disconcerting. he
heard her stir again.
You will think IL strange" she be-
gan once more. Then quite suddenly
i she checked and controlled her voice.
you must forgive me for what l am
/ going to say" she added in a COM
pletely different tone, but crystal gaz-
+: ing is such an Elusive thing Directly
! YOU put your hands upon the table !
felt that there would be no result, but
wouldn't admit the defeat. Women
are such keen anglers that they can
never acknowledge that any fish, how
ever big, has slipped the hook" She
laughed softly.
At the sound of the laugh LOder shift
ed his position for the first time. He
could not have told why but 1t struck
him with a slight sense of confusion.
A Precipitate wish to rise and pass
through the doorway into the wider
spaces of the conservatory came to
him. though he made no attempt to act
upon 1t. He knew that, for some mex
plicable reason, this woman behind the
screen had lied to HMM the CONTROL
ing Of her speech, In her change Of
voice. There had been one moment in
which an impulse or an emotion had al
most found voice: then training, in
stinct. or it might have been diplomacy,
had conquered, and the moment had
passed. There was riddle in the very
atmosphere of the place-and he abom-
mated riddles.
But Lady Astrupp was absorbed in |
her own concerns. Again she changed
her position and TO Loder, listening
it seemed that she leaned !
forward and examined his hands
afresh. The sensation was so acute .
that he withdrew them Involuntary.
Again there was confused rustic.
The crystal ball rolled from the table,
and the seer laughed quickly. Obeying
a strenuous impulse, Loder rose.
He had no definite notion of what he
expected or what he must avoid. He
was only conscious that the pavilion,
with its silk draperies, its scent of
musk and its intolerable secrecy, was
no longer endurable. He felt cramped
and confused in mind and muscle. He
stood for second to straighten his !
limbs; then he turned and, moving di- |
rectly forward, passed through the !
Dortiere.
After the dmness, of the pavilion the
seemed comparatively
bright, but without waiting to grow
to the altered light he
moved onward with deliberate haste. $
The long green alley was speedily {
reversed III his eyes it no longer t
,ossesscd greenuess, no longer suggest e
d freshness or repose. 1t was simply :
means to the end upon which his !
mind was set
As he passed up the flight of steps he
rev his rings from his pocket and
Tipped them OH again. Then he step Q
ed into the glare of the thronged cor p
idor
Some one hailed him as he passed "
trough the crowd, but with Chilcote's ;,
lost absorbed manner he hurried on.
through the door of the supper room
e caught light of Blessngton and
we, and then for the first time his G.
xpressiop changed. and he turned di- N
Getty toward them. a.
Eve" he said. will you excuse me? m
have a word to say to Blessington." m
She glanced at him in momentary -
lrprise; then she smiled in her quiet,
If possessed way.
"Of course" she said. I've been re
anting chat with Millicent Cover, CT
1t Bobby has required so much enter m
She smiled again, this time as
Blessington. and moved away to- CO
ard Il pale girl in green who was n
anding alone 81,
Instantly she had turned Loder took
esslngton's arm. '"
Il know you're tremendously busy" os
began in an excellent imitation of
lilcotes hasty manner-'I know Sc
u're tremendously busy, but I'm in a in,
:" One glance at Blessington's
althy, ingenious face told him that A,
ain speaking was the method to ~.
opt.
Indeed. srT' IN moment Bless
yton was on the alert. US
Yes And II want your help" tie
The boy Redeemed That Chilcote
build appeal to him stirred him TO an ha
easy feeling OF pride and uncertain vii
oder saw his advantage and pressed
nome. IT'S come about through this III
stai gazing business. I'm afraid ]