Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-02-23


Then he realized that the soft. ingra-
tiating tones were sounding once
more.
ITS the passing OF my hands over
yours while look into the crystal that
sets up sympathy slender hand
moved swiftly into the light and picked
up the ball-"and makes my eyes see
the pictures IN your mind. Now, viii
you please take or your rings2'
The very naturalness OF the request
disarmed him. IL was n risk. But. as
Chilcote had said, risk was the salt OF
lifel
I'm afraid you think me very
troublesome" The voice came again.
delicately low and conciliatory.
For a brief second Loder wondered
uncertainty how long or how well Chill
cote knew Lady Astrupp; then be dis
missed the question. Chilcote had
never mentioned her until tonight. and
then casually as Lady Bramfelrs sister.
What a coward he was becoming in
throwing the dice with fatel without
further delay be drew OF the rings.
slipped them into his pocket and re-
placed his hands on the smooth table
top.
Then. at the moment that he replaced
them. a peculiar thing occurred.
From the farther side OF the dark
partition came the quick. rustliag stir
OF a skirt and the slight scrape OF a
chair pushed either backward or for
ward. Then there was silence.
Now. silence can suggest anything
from profound thought 10 lmbecillty,
but In this case It's suggestion was nil.
That something had happened. that
some change had taken place, was as
patent 20 Loder as the darkness OF the
curtain or the band OF light that crossed
the floor but what had occasioned II,
or what IL stood for. be made no at
tempt 70 decide. He sat bltingly con-
sclous OF his hands spread open on the
table under the scrutiny OF eyes that
were Invisible 10 him. wildly aware
OF the awSwardness OF his position.
He felt with instructive certainty that
a new chord had been struck: but a
man seldom acts on instructive certain
ties. II the exposure Of his hands had
struck this fresh note. then any added
action would but heighten the dilemma.
He sat silent and motionless.
Whether bis impasslvity had any
bearing on the moment he had no way
OF knowing: but no further movement
came from behind the partition. What
ever the emotions that had caused the
sharp swish OF skirts and the sharp
scrape OF the chair. they had evidently
subsidized or been dominated by other
feelings.
The next indication OF life that came
10 him was the laying down OF the
crystal ball. 1t was laid back upon the
table with a slight jerk that indicated
decision come to: aud almost stimuli
taneOusly the seer's voice came 10 him
again. Her tone was lower now than
IL had been before. and its extreme
vase seemed slightly shaken-whether
by excitement. surprise or curiosity IL
was impossible 10 say.
you viii think IL strange" she be-
gan. You will think"- Then she
stopped.
There was a pause. as though she
waited for some help but Loder re-
NAMED mute. In difficulty a silent
tongue and a cool head are usually
mans best weapons.
His silence was disconcerting. He
heard her stir again.
You will think it strange" she be-
gan once more. Then quite suddenly
she checked and controlled her voice.
you must forgive me for what / am
going TO say" she added in a COM
pletely different tone. but crystal gaz-
ing is such an Elusive thing. Directly
you put your hands upon the table I
felt that there would be no result, but
wouldn't admit the defeat. Women
are such keen anglers that they can
never acknowledge that any fish. how
ever big. has slipped the hook" She
laughed softly.
at the sound of the laugh Loder shift
ed his position for the first time. He
could not have told why. but 1t struck
him with slight sense OF confusion
precipitate wish to rise and pass
through the doorway into the wider
spaces Of tie conservatory came TO
him. though be made no attempt to act
upon It, He knew that, for sos=e mex
plicable reason, this woman behind the
screen had lied TO HMM the contron-
ing OF her speech. in her change or
voice. There had been one moment In
which an impulse or al emotion had al
most found voice: then training, in
stinct. or it might have been diplomacy.
had conquered, and the moment had
passed. There was riddle in the very
atmosphere OF the place-and he abom-
mated riddles.
But Lady Astrupp was absorbed In
her own concerns. Again she changed
her position. and to Loder. hstening
attentively. IL seemed that she leaned
forward and examined his hands
afresh. The sensation was so acute
that he withdrew them involuntarily.
Again there was a confused rustic.
The crystal ball rolled from the table.
and the seer laughed quickly Obeying
strenuous tuprlse. T.o'"r rose.