Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-04-10
BY KATHERINE CECIL
copyrisht. 1900. by Harper & Brother.
Author Of 1.-THE Circle"

/, was nervously passing his hnndker
chief across his lips. There was some
thing in the gesture that attracted I.o
der. Looking Mt him more attentlvely
! he saw what his own feelings ans TIL
| others conventional dress had blinde,
him to-the almost piteous panic ant
excitement In his visitors eyes.
Something's gone wrongv' he said
with abrupt intuition.
Chilcote started "Yes-no-tha is
yes" he stammered.
Loder moved around the table
Something's gone wrong he repeat
ed, "and you've come to tell me-
The tone unnerved Chilcote. He sud
denly dropped into a chair. "It-i
wasn't my faultY' he began TT have
| had horrible time"
Loder's lips frightened EYES," ht
| said, yes, understand
| The other glanced up with CLEAN
of his old suspicion. Twas all my
nerves, Loder''
"Of course. Yes of course" Lo
der's interruption was curt.
Chilcote eyed him doubtfully. Their
recollection took the place of doubt
and change passed over his expires
sion 1T wasn't my fault" he began
hastily. ION my soul, 1t wasn't! II
was Crapham's beastly fault for show.
ing her into the morning ROOM
| Loder kept silent. His curiosity had
Ao ~
words, but he feared to break the shat.
tered train Of thought even by word.
In the silence Chilcote moved I'M
easily. you see," he went on at last
when / was here with you III felt
strong II He stopped.
Eyes. yes. When you were here with
me you felt strong"
eyes, that's it. While was here l
felt could do the thing. But when l
went home--when went up to my
rooms Again he paused, passing his
handkerchief across his forehead.
when you went up to your rooms? r
Loder strove hard to keep his control.
ITO my room?- Oh, IL forget
about that I forget about the night
E[e hesitated confusedly. call I re-
member is the coming down to break
fast next morning-this morning at
u o'clock i
Loder turned to the table and poured
himself out some whisky. YES" he
acquiesced in very quiet voice.
At the word Chilcote rose from his
seat. His disquietude was very evil
dent. "Oh, there was breakfast on the
table when came downstairs-break-
fast, with flowers and a horrible, daz-
zling glare of sun. It was then, Loder,
as stood and looked into the room,
that the impossibility of it all came to
me-that I knew l couldn't stand IT.
couldn't go on"
Loder swallowed his whisky slowly.
His sense Of overpowering curiosity
held him very still, but he made no
effort to prompt his companion.
Again Chilcote shifted his position
agitatedly. ut had to be done," he
said disjointedly. II had to do it-then
and there. The things were on the bu-
reau-the pens and ink and telegraph
forms. They. tempted me-"
Loder laid down his glass suddenly.
An exclamation rose to his lips, but he
checked IT.
At the slight sound of the tumbler
touching the table Chilcote turned, but
there was no expression on the others
face to alright him.
''They tempted me-" he repeated has
tily. They seemed like magnets; they
seemed to draw me toward them.
sat at the bureau staring at them for
long time. Then terrible compulsion
seized me-something you could never
understand-and l caught uQ the near