The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-04-26
CHAPTER XVI.

and again without breakfast
Loler covered the distance be
- tween Grosvenor square ant
Clifford's inn. he left Chilcote's house
hastily-with a haste that only an ur
gent motive could have driven him t.
adOpt His steps were quick and un
even as he traversed the intervening
streets; his shoulders lacked their de
cisive pose. and his pale face was
marked with shadows beneath tbs
eyes-shadows that bore witness to the
sleepless night spent in pacing Chill
cOte's vast and lonely room. BY the
curious effect of circumstances the
likeness between the two men had
never been more significantly marked
than on that morning of April 10,
when Loder walked along the pave
ments crowded with early workers
and brisk with insistent news vendors
already alive to the value of last
nights political crisis.
The irony Of this last element in the
days concerns came to him fully when
one newsboy, more energetic than his
fellows, thrust paper in front of him
Sensation in the 'ouse. sir! Speech
by Mr.. Chilcote! Government defeat!
For moment LOder stopped and his
face Redeemed. The tide of emotions
still ran strong. His hand went in
Stinctiyely to his pocket; then his lips
set, He shook his head and walked on.
With the same hard expression about
his mouth, he turned into Clinford's
inn, passed through his own doorway
and mounted the stairs.
This time there was no milk can on
the threshold of his rooms and the door
yielded to his pressure without the
need of key. With a strange sensa-
ton of reluctance he walked into the
narrow passage and paused, uncertain
which room to enter first. AS he stood
hesitating voice from the sitting
room settled the question.
who's thereT' it called irritably.
What do you want|'
Without further ceremony the in
truder pushed the door open and en-
tered the room, As he did so he drew
a quick breath-whether of disappoint-
ment or relief it was impossible to say
Whether he had hoped for or dreaded
1t, Chilcote was conscious,
AS Loder entered he was sitting by
terday's fire showing charred and
dreary where the sun touched them.
His back was to the light, and about
his shoulders was an old plaid rug.
Behind him on the table stood a cup,
, teapot and the can of milk; farther
Tiny spirit stove.
In all strong situations we are more
pr less commonplace. Loder's first re-
mark as he glanced round the disor-
tered room seemed strangely inef
icient.
where's Robins?" he asked in a
,rusque voice. His mind teemed with |
big considerations yet this was his
irst involuntary question.
Chilcote had started at the entrance !
Il his visitor; now he sat staring at
lin, his hands holding the arms of his !
hair.
where's Robins?" Loder asked
gain.
II don't know. She l. We did
lot hit 1t off. She's gOne-went yes
erday" He shivered and drew the
ug about him.
"Chilcote''- Loder began sternly
hen he paused There was something
n the others look and attitude that
rrested him. A change of expression
assed over his own face. He turned
bout, with an abrupt gesture, pulled
ff his coat and threw 1t on chair;
hen, crossing deliberately to the fire
iace, he began to rake the ashes from
he CRATE.
Within a few minutes he had a fire
where the bed of dead Gin
ers had been, and, having finished the
ask, he rose slowly from his knees,
1iped his hands and crossed to the ia
le On the small spirit stove the ket- :
e had boiled. and the cover was lift
lg and falling with a tlnkling sound.
slowing out the fame, Loder picked .
~ luc tCdIOb WIN Nhot
'ere evidently accustomed to the task, a
Fl about making the tea. :
During the whole operation he never h
poke, though all the while he was =
lily conscious of Chilcote's puzzled h
axe The tea ready, he poured 1t into Z
ne cup and carried II across the room. .
Drink thisy he said laconically. +,
me are viii be up presently" !
Chilcote extended cold and shaky :
and. you see"-- he began. .
But Loder checked him almost saw :,
yely. II do-as well as though l had =
Flowed you from Piccadilly last night. ;,
ou've been hanging about, God knows r
here, till the small hours Of the morn :,
z: then you've come back-slunk :,
lck, starving for your Internal poison !,
I'd shlvering with cold. You've set u
ID the first part Of the business. but
e cold has still to be reckoned with. =,
rink the tea. I've something to say =,
you" He mastered his vehemence :,
ID, walking TO the window, stood :,
oklng down into the court. His eyes =,
ere blank, his face hard; bis ears =,