Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-02-09

s
directly above his head. and as she
came toward him he raised his face de-
liberately AID waited
She looked nc him without surprise
or interest. yes. sir2" she said.
lis your mistress ing' he asked. He
could think Of no other question. but il
served his purpose as a test Of his
voice.
Still the woman showed no surprise.
shes not in. sir" she answered. But
she's expected tn half an hour"
I'm hair an hourl All right. That's
all l wanted" with n movement OF
decision Loder walked back 70 the stair
head. turned TO the right and opened
the door OF Chilcote's rooms.
The door opened on a short. wide pas
sage. On one side stood the study. on
the other the bed. bath and dressing
rooms. With blind sense OF knowl-
edge and unfamiliarlty. bred OF much
description on Chilcote's part. he put
his hand on the study door and. still
exalted by the omen OF his first sue
cess. turned the handle.
Inside the room there was drelight
peace. The realization OF this and n
slow Incredibly at Chllcote's voluntary
remuneration were his first impressions.
Then his attention was needed for more
imminent things
As he entered the new secretary was
returning a volume 10 its place on the
book shelves. At sight OF him he push
ed IL hastily into position and turned
round
Il was making a few notes on the
political position OF Khorasan." he said,
glancing with slight apprehensiveness
at the others face. He was a small.
shy man. with few social attachments.
but an extraordinary amount or learn
ing-the antithesis OF the alert Bless
ington. whom he had replaced.
Loder bore his scrutiny without
nlnching. Indeed, II struck him sud
denly that there was n fund OF inter
est. almost Of excitement. In the en-
counterins Of each new pair OF eyes.
At the thought he moved forward to
the desk.
THANK you. Greening," he said. "a
very useful bit OF work"
The secretary glanced up. slightly
puzzled. His endurance had been Sc
verely taxed in the fourteen days that
he had filed his new post
''I'm glad you think so. sir" he said,
hesitatlngly. "You rather poohpoohed
the matter this morning. If you remem-
Der"
Loder was taking or his coat. but
stopped I'm the operation.
This morningy" he said. ooh. did
II Did IT' Then struck by the op-
portunity the words gave him he turn
ed toward the secretary. You've got
TO get used to me. Greening." he said.
'You haven't quite grasped me yet I
can see. I'm man OF moods. you
know. Up 20 the present you've seen
my slack side, my Jared side. but I
have quite another when I care to
show II. I'm sort of Jekyll and Hyde
affair" Again he laughed. and Green
Ing echoed the sound difiidently. Chill
cote had evidently discouraged famll-
iarity.
Loder eyed him with abrupt under
standing He recognized the IonelI-
ness In the anxious. conciliatory man
ner.
You're tired" he said kindly. GO
to bed. I've got some thinking to do.
Good night" He held out his hand.
Creening took 1t, still half distrust-
ftl OF this fresh side to so complex a
man.
Good night, sir" he said. ''Tomor-
row, II you approve. ! shall go on with
my notes. hope you will have
reStful night"
For a second Loder's eyebrows went
up. but he recovered himself Instantly.
"Ah. thanks. Greening." he said
Thanks. i think your hope viii be
fulfilled"
lie watched the little secretary move
softly and apologetically TO the door.
then her,walked to the fire and. rest
ing his elbows on the mantelpiece. he
took his face In his hands
For a space he stood absolutely
quiet. then his hands dropped to his
sides. and he turned slowly round In
that short space he had balanced
things and found his bearings The