The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1907-01-25

hc sdiu DruSQuoIy ana
without feeling.
"Why?
The others lips parted for a quick
retort; then In surprising way the
retort seemed to fail him. "Oh. be-
cause the thing isn't feasible, isn't
practicable from any point Of viewr'
Chilcote stepped closer. "Why?" he
insisted
Because it couldn't work, man
couldn't hold for a dozen hoursv'
Chilcote. put out his hand and touch
ed his arm. But why?" he urged.
why? Give me one unanswerable
reason"
Loder shook Off the hand and laugh
ed, but below his laugh lay a sugges-
tion Of the others excitement Again
the scene stirred him against his
sounder Judgment, though his reply
when 1t came was sound enough.
"As for reasons" he said, there are
hundred, II had time to name them.
Wake 1t, for the sake Of supposition,
mat l were to accept your offer. I
should take my place in your house
at-let US say at dinner time. Your
man gets me into your evening clothes.
ana there at the very start you have
the first suspicion set up. He has
probably known you for years, known
you until every turn Of your appear
ance, voice and manner Is far more
familiar to him than It is to you.
There are no eyes like a servant's."
II have thought Of that. My serv-
ant and my secretary can both be
changed. / will do the thing thor
oughly."
Loder glanced at him In surprise.
The madness had more method than
he had believed. Then as he still look
ed fresh idea struck him, and he
laughed.
You have entirely forgotten one
thing" he said. You can hardly dis.
miss your wife,"
"My wife. doesn't count"
Again Loder laughed. "I'm afraid 1
scarcely agree. The complications
would be slightly - slightly He
paused.
Chilcotes latent irritability broke
out suddenly. Look here" he said,
''this isn't chatting matter. 1t may
be moonshine to you, but it's reality
to me-"
Again Loder took his face between
his hands.
Don't ridicule the idea. I'm in dead
earnest"
Loder said nothing.
'Think-think it over before you re-
fuse"
For a moment Loder remained mo-
fionless, then he rose suddenly, push
Ing back his chair.
flush, man! You don't know what
You say. The fact Of your being mar
ried bars it. Can't you see thatr'
Again Chilcote caught his arm
you misunderstood" he said. "You
mistake the position. tell you my
wife and I are nothing to each other.
She goes her way; I go mine. We
have our own friends, our own rooms.
Marriage, actual marriage, doesn't
enter the question. We meet occasion
ally at meals and at other peoples
houses; sometimes we go out together
for the sake of appearances; beyond
that. nothing. If you take up my life
nobody In it will trouble you less than
Eve-I can promise that" He laugh
ed unsteadily.
Loder's face remained unmoved.
Even granting that" he said, 'the
thing Is still impossible"
"Why"
There is the house. The position
there would be untenable. A man is
known there as he Is known in his
own club" He drew away from Chill
cote's touch.
Every possibly. Very possibly"
Chilcote laughed quickly and excitedly.
"But what club Is without its eccentric
member? I am glad you spoke Of that.
/ am glad you raised that point. It
was long time ago that hit upon a
reputation for moods as a shield for
for other things, and the moro useful
1t has become the more / have let 1t
grow. tell you you might go down to
the house tomorrow and spend the
whole day without speaking to, even
nodding to, a single man, and as long
as you were to outward appearances
no one would raise an eyebrow. In
the same way you might vote in my
place, ask a question, make a speech
If you wanted to-
At the word speech Loder turned In
voluntarily. For fieeting second the
coldness Of his manner dropped and
his face changed.
Chilcote, with his nervous quickness
Of perception, saw the alteration, and a
new look crossed his own face.
"Why notT" he said quickly. "You
once had ambitions In that direction
Why not renew the ambitions?"
"And drop back from the mountains
into the gutter?" Loder smiled and
slowly shook his head.
Better to live for one day than tC
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