The Red Cloud chief., 1907-05-03

gun, and II painful silence filed the
room. Then, as before, Eve moved in
sinctivcly toward him, but this time
her steps were slow and uncertain.
Nearing his side, she put out her hand
as If for comfort and support and, feel
ing his fingers tighten round it, stood
for "A moment resting in the contact.
81 understand" she said at last very
slowly. Il understand. When will YOU
take me to him?"
For Il moment Loder said nothing,
not daring 10 trust his voice. Then he
answered low and abruptly. Now
lie said. Nov. at once! Now, Ills
moment. if | may. And-Gnd rcmcm-
Der that | know what IL costs YOU
As if imhucd with fear that his cour.
age might fail him, he suddenly re-
leased her hand, and. crossing the room
to where n long. dark cloak lay rs SIC
had thrown it on her return home, lee
picked il IN. walked to her side ANA
silently wrapped it about her. Then.
still acting automatically, he moved
to the door, opened it and stood aside
while she passed out into the corridor.
In complete silence they descended
the stairs and passed To the hall door.
There Crapham. who had returned to
his duties since IOder'S entrance. came
quickly forward with an offer of scrv-
ice.
But I.odcr dismissed him curtly, and,
with something of the confusion bred
of Chilcotc's regime. the man drew
back toward the staircase.
With n hasty movement Loder step
ped forward and opening the door
admitted a breath OF chill air. Then
oh the threshold he paused. 1t was his
first sign Of heSitation-the one instant
In which nature rebclled against the
conscience s o tardily awakened. He
stood motionlcSs for n moment, and II
Is doubtful whether even Eve fully
flthOmcd the bitterness of his renun-
clation-thc blackncss of the night that
stretched before his eyes.
Behind him was everything: before
him nothing. The everything symbolic
cd by the luxurious house. the eagerly
attentive servants, the pleasant atmoS-
phcrc OF responsibility: the nothing rep
resented by the broad public thorough.
fare, the passing figures, each uncOn-
sciouS Of and unintcrcSted in his exist
onco. AS IN interloper he had entered
this house: as an intcrloper-a mas
q~uerader-he had played his part, lived
his hour. proved himself; as an inter
loper he was now passing back INTO the
dim world Of unrealizcd hopes and un-
achieved ambitions.
He stood rigidly quiet, his strong fig
IRE silhOuctted against the lighted hall.
his face cold and set; then, with a
touch Of fatality, chance cut short his
struggle.
An empty hanson wheeled around
the corner of the square. The cabman.
seeing him, raised his whip In query.
and ~inyoluntarily he nodded an acqui,
escence A moment later he had helped
Eve into the cab.
Middle Temple lane" he directed.
pausing on the step.
middle Temple lane is opposite Cliff
ford's inn," he explained as he took his
place beside her. when we get out
there we have only to cross Fleet
street"
Eve bent her head in token that she
understood, and the cab moved out
into the roadway.
Within a few minutes the neighbor-
hood Of GrosvenOr square was eXchang-
ed for the noisier and more crowded
one OF Piccadilly, but either the cab
man was overcautious or the horse was
below the average, for they made but
slow progress through the more crowd
ed streets. To the two sitting in ST.
lence the pace was well nigh unbear-
able. With every added movement the
tension grew. The methodical care
with which they moved seemed like
the tightening of a string already
strained to breaking poin:. yet neither
spoke, because neither had the courage
necessary for the words.
Once or twice as they traversed the
Strand. Loder made a movement as If
to break the silence, but nothing fol-
lowed Ii. lie continued to lean for
ward with a certain logged stiffness,
his clasped hands resting on the doors
of the cab. his eyes staring straight
ahead. Not once as they threaded their
way did he dare to glance at Eve,
though every movement, every stir OF
her garments, was forced upon his
consciousness by his acutely awakened
senses.
When at last they drew up before
the dark arcllway of Middle Temple
lane he descended hastily, and as he
mechanically turned to protect Ewes
dress from the wheel he looked at her
fully for the first time since their en-