The Red Cloud chief., 1907-04-05

CllIOfuS Inn. lie lott CnllcOte'S house
hastily-with n haste that only an ur.
gent motive could have driven him to
adopt. His steps were quick and I'M
even as he traversed the intervening
streets; his shoulders lacked their de
clslve pose. and his pale face was
marked with shadows beneath the
eycs-shadows that bore witness TO the
slccplcss night spent in pacing Chill
cotc's vast and lonely room. by the
curious effect Of circumstances the
likeness between the two men had
To- been more significantly marked
than on that morning of April 10.
when Loder walked along the pave
mcnts crowded with early. workers
and brisk with insistcnt news wonders
already alive to the value of last
nights political crisis.
The irony Of this last element i'm the
days concerns came to him fully when
one newSbOy, more energetic than his
fellows. thrust Il paper In front of him.
Sensation in the 'ousc. sir. Speech
by Mr.. Chilcote! Government defeat!"
FOR Il moment Loder stopped and his
face REDEEMED. The tide of emotions
still ran strong. His hand went in
stinctively 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 Clilford's
inn, passed through his own doorway
and mounted the stairs.
This time there was no milk can Oh
the threshold of his rooms and the door
yielded TO his pressure without the
need of Il key. With n strange sensa
ton of reluctance he walked into the
narrow passage and paused, uncertain
which room to enter first. AS he stood
hesitating Il voice from the sitting
room settled the question.
who's there?' it called irritably.
What do you want?'
Without further ceremony the In.
truder pushed the door open and ell,
tered the room. As he did so he drew
u quick Observation-Disclosures of disappoint,
ment or relief it was impossible to say.
Whether he had hoped for or dreaded
il, Chilcote was conscious.
AS Loder entered he was sitting by
the cherries CRATE, the ashes of yes
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 q cup,
q teapot and the can OF milk; farther
off Il kettle was set to boil upon u
tiny spirit stove.
Tn all 1I,,n,, pit,,ntin,. ,,, - ,,n,s
or less commonplace. Loder's first re
mark as he glanced round the disor
dered room seemed strangely inef,
tlcient.
"Whcre's Robins?" he asked in /;
brusque voice. His mind teemed witt
big considerations. yet this vas his
first involuntary question.
Chilcote had started at the entrance
of his visitor; now he sat staring a
him, his hands holding the arms of hi:
chair.
where's Robins" Loder asked
again.
81 don't know. She l. We dl,
not hit it off. She's gone-went yes
terday." He shivered and drew tn
rug about him.
"ChilcOte''- Loder began sternly
Then he paused. There was something
IN the others look and attitude tina
arrested him. A change of expression
bassed over his own face. He turne'
about, with an abrupt gesture, pulle'
off his coat and threw 1t on a chair
hen. crossing deliberately to the fire
place, he began to rake the ashes froI
l the CRATE.
, Within n few minutes he had n fir
, cracking where the bed of dead cir
l ders had been, and, having finished tn
task, he rose slowly from his knees
> wiped his hands and crossed to the I;
BILE. On the small spirit stove the Ike
tie had boiled, and the cover was lf
ing and falling with a tinkling sou'S
Blowing out the fame, Loder pickle
. up the teapot and, with hands thu
l were evidently accustomed to the tasl
set about making the tea.
L During the whole operation he nev'
spoke, though all the while he wf
Z fully conscious of Chilcote's puzzle
z gaze. The tea ready, he poured 1t I'M
the cup and carried II across the roor
II "Drlnk this!' he said laconicall.
'The fire will be up presently"
Chilcote extended a cold and shak
hand. "You see he began.