Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-05-09

way that they had entered under such
different conditions only a few min
utes before.
To leave the quiet court, to gain the
Strand, to hail a belated hanson, was
the work of a moment. By an odd con-
triVance of circumstance the luck that
had attended every phase of his dual
life was again exerted in his behalf.
No n had noticed their entry into
Clifford's inn; no n was moved to
curiosity by their exit. With an invol-
untary thrill of feeling he gave express
sion to his relief.
"Thank God it's oyer!!' he said as a
cab drew up. you don't know what
the strain has been"
Moving as If in a dream, Eve stepped
into the cab. AS yet the terrible de-
nouement to their enterprise had made
no clear impression upon her mind.
For the moment all that she was con-
scious of, all that she instinctively ac-
knowledged, was the fact that Loder
was still beside her.
In quiet obedience she took her place,
hoiuS u SI Us l. Adhc lOOm
for him, and in the same subdued man.
ner he stepped into the vehicle. Then,
with the strange sensation of RELIEVING
their earlier drive, they were aware Of
the frightened rein and of the horses
first forward movement.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Eve, shutting out all other thoughts,
sat close to Loder, clinging tenaciously
to the momentary comforting sense of
protection. Loder, striving to marshal
his ideas, hesitated before the ordeal
Of speech. At last, realizing his re-
sponsibility, he turned to her slowly.
GIVE" he said in a low voice and
with some hesitation, II want you to
know that in all this-from the moment
l saw him-from the moment l under
stood have had you in my thoughts
you and no one else"
She raised her eyes to his face.
"Do you realize he began afresh.
"Do you know what this-this thing
means?"
Still she remained silent.
ut means that after tonight there
will be no such person in London as
John Loder. Tomorrow the man who
was known by that name will be found
In his rooms; his body will be removed,
and at the post norton examination it
will be stated that he died of an over
dose of morphia. His charwoman will
Identify him as a solitary man who liv-
ed respectfully for years and then sud
denly went down hill with remarkable
speed. 1t will be quite a common case.
Nothing Of interest will be found in his
rooms. No relation will claim his body.
After the usual time he will be given
the usual burial of his class. These de
tails are horrible, but there are times
when we must look at the horrible side
Of life, because life is incomplete with
out it.
"These things l speak of are the
things that will meet the casual eye.
but in our sight they will have a very
different meaning.
GIVE" he said, more vehemently, ga
whole chapter in my life has been clos
ed tonight, and my first instinct is to
shut the book and throw it away. But
I'm thinking of you. Remember, I'm
thinking of you. Whatever the trial.
whatever the difficulty, no harm shall
come to you. You have my word for
that.
"Ill return with you now to Gros-
n square. I'll remain there till a
reasonable excuse can be given for
Chilcote's going abroad. I will avoid
Fraide. l will cut politics-whatever
the cost. Then at the first reasonable
moment l will do what l would do
now, tonight, if it were possible. Til
go away, start afresh; do in another
country what l have done in this"
There was a long silence; then Eve
turned to him The apathy of a mo-
ment before had left her face. "In an
other country?" she repeated. in an
other country?'
eyes, a fresh career in a fresh coun-
try, something clean to offer you. I'm
not too old to do what other men have
done"
He paused, and for a momen Eve
looked ahead at the cleaning chain of
lamps. Then very slowly she brought
her glance back again. NO." she said
very slowly. You are not too old. But
there are times when age-and things
like age-are not the real consideration.
1t seems to me that your w inclina-
ton, your own individual sense of
right and wrong, has nothing to do
with the present moment. The ques-
ton is whether you are justified in go
ing away'-she paused, her eyes fixed
steadily upon his-"whether you are
free to go away and make a new life.
whether it is ever justiiable to follow
a phantom light when-when there's a
lantern waiting to be carried" Her
breath caught. She drew away from
him, frightened and elated by her own
words.
Loder turned to her sharply. "Eve!"
he exclaimed; then his tone changed.
"You don't know what you're saying"
he added quickly. "You don't under
stand what you're saying"
Eve leaned forward again. YES"
b said slowly. II do understand"
Her voice was controlled, her manner
convinced. She was no longer the girl