The Red Cloud chief., 1907-03-22

his advantage. He wondered quickly
whether II hand could possibly suf-
fee for the taking out and lighting of
two cigarettes. Then all need for
speculation was pushed suddenly aside.
Lillian. looking into his face, saw his
fresh look of disturbance. and from
long experience again changed her tao.
ties. Laying the cigarette case on the
couch, she tut one hand Oh his shoulder,
the other on his left arm. Hundreds OF
times this carcssing touch had quieted
Cniicctc.
Dear old boy!' she said soothingly,
her hand moving slowly down his arm.
III n flash of understanding the con-
sequences Of this position came TO him.
Action was imperative, at whatever
risk. With IN abrupt gesture he rose.
The movement was awkward. He
got to his feet prccipitatcly. Lillian
drcw back, surprises and startled,
catching involuntarily ut his left hand
to steady her position.
Her fingers Eraspcd at. then held his.
He made no effort to release them.
With n logged acknowledgment, he ad-
mittcd himself worstcd.
How long she stayed i~mmovable,
holding his hand, neither of them knew.
The process Of Il woman's instinct Is so
subtle, so obscure, that it would be
futile to apply 1t to the commonplace
test Of time. She kept her hold tenaci-
ously. as though his fingers possessed
some peculiar virtue. Then at last she
spoke.
"Rings, JACKIE she said very slowly.
| And under the two short words n whole
world of incredulity and surmise made
! itself felt.
Loder laughed.
AT the sound she dropped his hand
ard rose from her knees. What her
suspicious. what her instincts were she
could not have clearly defined, but her
action was unhesitating. Without a
moments uncertainty she turned to the
fireplace. pressed the electric button
and Hooded the room with light.
There Is no force so dcmoralizing as
unexpected light. Loder took a step
backward, his hand hanging unguard-
cd by his side. and Lillian, stepping
forward, caught it again before he
could protest. Lifting it quickly, she
looked scrutiniZingly at the two rings.
All women jump to conclusions, II
it Is extraordinary how seldom they
jump short. Seeing only what Lillian
saw, knowing only what she knew, no
mar would have staked Il definite opln-
ion. but the other sex takes a different
view. AS she stood gazing at the rings
her thoughts and her conclusions sped
through her mind like arrows-all aim
ed and all tending toward one point.
She remembered the day when she and
Chilcote had talked of doubles, her
skepticism and his vehement defense
of the idea, his sudden interest in the
book 'Other Mems Shoes" and his
anathema against life and its irksome
round of duties. She remembered her
own first convinced recognition of the
eyes that had looked ut her in the door
way of her sisters house, and, last Of
all, she remembered Chilcote's unac-
countable avoidance of the same sub
ject Of ~likenesses when she had men-
toned 1t yesterday driving through the
park, and with it his unnecessarily
Nlll ltliutilaitlOh VI MS AiN DB-A
ions. She reviewed each item, then
she raised her head slowly and looked
at Loder.
He was prepared for the glance and
met it steadily. In the long moment
that her eyes searched his face 1t was
she and not he who changed color.
She was the first to speak. You We're
the man whose hands ] saw In the
tent she said. She made the state
mont in her usual soft tones, but q
slight tremor of excitement underran
her voice. Poodles, Persian kittens,
even crystal gazing balls, seemed very
far away in face of this tangible, faDu-
lous, present interest. You are not
Jack Chilcote," she said very slowly.
You are wearing his clothes and
speaking in his voice, but you are not
Jack Chilcote." Her tone ~quickened
with a touch of excitement. you
she said. II know quite well what ]
am saying, though l don't understand
1t, though I have no real proof She
paused, ~momentarily disconnected by
her companions silent and steady
gaze, and in the pause a curious and
unexpected thing occurred.
Loder laughed ~suddenly-a full, con
6dent, treasured laugh. All the wei
that the past half hour had spun about
him, all the intolerable sense Of an i'm
pending crash, lifted suddenly. H'
saw his way clearly, and it was Lilliar
who had opened his eyes.
Still looking at her. he smiled-i
smile OF reliant determination, such al