The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-01-21

"ChilcOte is dead"
apprehension of the moment, no sound
escaped them. Loder, resolutely. cross
ing the landing, knew nothing of the
silent appeal
For second she stood hesitating;
then her own weakness, her own
shrinking dismay, were submerged in
the interest of his movements Slowly
mounting the remaining steps, she fol
lowed him as if fascinated toward the
door that showed dinghy conspicuous
in the light of an unshaded gas jet.
Almost at the moment that she reach
ed his side he extended his hand to-
ward the door The action was deci-
sive and hurried, as though he feared
to trust himself
Fer a space he fumbled with the
lock. And Eve, standing close behind
him, heard the handle ereak and turn
under his pressure. Then he shook the
door
AT last. slowly, almost reluctantly,
he turned round. I'm afraid things
aren't quite-quite right" he said in
low voice THE door is locked, and I
can see no light"
She raised her eyes quickly. But
you have. keyw she whispered.
Haven't you got a key?' 1t was OBJ
vious that to both the unexpected check
to their designs was fraught with dan
ger
"Yes, but He looked toward the
door. Eyes, have key. Yes, you're
right" he added quickly. I'll use 1t.
Wait while 1 go inside"
Filled with a new nervousness. op-
pressed by the loneliness, the silence
about her, Eve drew back obediently.
The sense of mystery conveyed by the
closed door weighed upon her. Her
susceptibilities were tensely alert as
she watched Loder search for his key
| and insert 1t in the lock With min
gled dread and curiosity she saw the
| door yield and cape open like black
cash in the dingy wall, and with a sud
den sense Of desertion she saw him
pass through the aperture and heard
him strike match.
The wait that followed seemed ex-
traordinarily long. Listening intently,
she heard him move softly from one
room to the other. And at last, to her
acutely nervous susceptibilities, 1t
seemed that he paused in absolute 81
lence. In thee intensity Of listening
| she heard her own faint, irregular
breathing, and the sound filled her with
panic. The quiet, the solitude, the
vague. instructive apprehension, be-
came suddenly uncomfortable. Then all
at once the tension was relieved. L0der
reappeared.
He paused for a second in the shad-
owy doorway; then he turned instead
", drew TIE door to and locked it.
Eve stepped forward. Her glimpse
OF him had been momentary-acd she
had not heard his voice yet the con
seriousness of his bearing filed her with
instructive alarm Abruptly and with
out reason her hands turned cold, heI
heart began to beat violently. john
she said below her breath.
For answer he moved toward her
His face was bereft of color; there was
look of CONSERVATION In his eyes
! Come" he said. Come at once.
must take you home" He spoke in 6
shaken, uneven voice.
} Eve, looking up at him, caught hi
hand. "Why? Why?' she questioned
Her tone was low and scared.
Without replying he drew her i'm
peratively toward the stairs. Go yer.
| softly" he commanded. NO one mus
see you here"
In the first moment she obeyed hin
instinctively; then, reaching the hea'
Of the stairs, she stopped. With on
: hand still clasping his. the other cling
ing nervously to the banister. she re
fused to descend John" she whis
: pered, I'm not a child. What is it
What has happened? 1 must know"
For a moment Loder looked at he
uncertainty: then, reading the expires
sion in her eyes, he yielded to her dc
{ mand
( He's dead he said in a very lo7
! voice. "Chilcote is dead"