The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-02-15


had Summoned him to ClInOrd's i'm
at : o'clock, and il was now well OF
toward g BE Puiied out his watch
Chilcote's watch. he realized with I
touch OF grim hurlor IS he stopped {,
exam, ne the dial by the light OF tbs
hre-then. as II the humOr had verget
10 another feeling. he stood straighi
again and felt for the electric button
IN the wall His fingers touched il
and simultaneously the room was
lighted -
The abrupt alteration from shadow
10 light came almost as a shock. The
feminine arrangement OF the tea table
seemed incongruous beside the sober
books and the desk laden with. papers
-incongruous as his own presence IN
the place. The thought was unpleas-
ant, and he turned aside as II to avoid
| It. but at the movement his eyes fen
on chilcote's cigarette box with its
cleaning monogram, and the within.
stcal suggestion OF his first morning
rose again. The idea that the mani
mate objects In the room knew him
Tor what he was, recognized the inter
loper where human eyes saw the right
ful possessor. returned to his mind.
Through all his disgust and chagrin a
smile forced itself to his lips. and.
crossing the room for the second time
be passed into Chilcote's bedroom.
There the massive furniture and
somber atmosphere fitted better with
his mood than the energy and action
which the study always suggested.
Walking directly to the great bed, he
sat on its side and for several minutes
stared straight in front Of him, appar-
emily seeing nothing; then at last the
apathy passed from him, as his pre-
vious anger against Chilcote had pass
ed. He stood up slowly, drawing his
long limbs together, and racrossed the
room, passing along the corridor and
through the door communicating with
the rest of the house. Five minutes
later he was in the open air and walk
Ing steadily eastward. his nat drawn
forward and his Overcoat buttoned mp.
As he traversed the streets he allow
ed himself no. thought. Once. as he
waited in Trafalgar square to find a
passage between the vehicles the. re-
OF Chilcote's voice coming
out Of the fog on their first night made
itself prominent. but he rejected 1t
quickly, guarding himself from even
an involuntary glance at the place OF
their meeting. The Strand, with its un-
life, came to him as something
almost unfamiliar, Since his identified
hon with the new life no business had
drawn him east of Charing Cross, and
his first sight of the narrower stream
Of traffic struck him as garish and I'M
pleasant As the impression came be
accelerated his steps, moved by the
wish to make regret and retrospection
alike Impossible by contact with ac-
tual forces.
Still walking hastily, he entered Cliff
lords inn, but there almost uncon-
Iciously his feet halted. There was
something In the quiet immutability Of
he place that sobered energy. both
mental and physical: sense Of
hangelessness-the changelessness of
nanlmate things. that rises in such sol
mn contrast to the vaPiableness Of !
mere human nature, which. q new en- /
,ironment new outlook. sometimes |
ven new presence. has power to up |
leave and rem0ld. He paused, then |
nth slower and steadier steps crossed i
he little court and mounted the Ia |
nillar stairs Of his own house.
AS he turned the handle Of his own.
DOR some one stirred inside the sitting
pom. Still under the influence Of the
tones and trees that he had just left,
e moved directly toward the sound
nd. without waiting for permission,
ntered the room. After the darkness
I the passage it seemed we'll alight,
Dr.. besides the lamp with its green
1ade, a large fire burned In the crate
nd helped to dlspel the shadows.
AS he entered the room Chilcote rose
I'D came forward. his figure thrown
ito strong relief by the double light.
e was dressed in shabby tweed
lit; his face looked pale and set with
slightly nervous tension. But, besides
e look and certain added restless
ISIS of glance, there was no visible
lange. Reaching Loder, he held out
8 hand
"WellT' he said quickly.
The other looked at him question {
gly. /
well? Well? How has 1t gomez
THE scheme? oh. excellentlyp Lo-
RS manner was abrupt Turning
ON the restless curiosity In Chilcote's
es, he moved little way across the |
ON and began to draw off his coat. '
len, as if struck by the incivility Of t
e action. he looked back again. The 4
heme has gone extraordinarily, he
Id. 'T could almost say absurdly. q
Iere ara some things, Chiieotes that
lrly bowl a man over" .
4 great relief tinged Chilcote's face. q
loodt" he exclaimed. Tel me all n
out It,"
But Loder was reticent. The mo- O
mt was not propitious. 1t was as II h
hungry man had dreamed great
nquet and had awakened to his star
49, Ia ,raa cha ~ - IN, pa rfin o. his | y