Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-03-21


hastlly-with a haste that only an ur.
gent motive could have driven him TO
adopt His steps were quick and M
even as he traversed the intervening
rtreets; his shoulders lacked their de
cisive pose, and his pale face was
marked with shadows beneath the
rycs--shadows that bore witness to the
,leeplcss night spent in pacing Chill
rotes vast and lonely room. BY the
curious effect of circumstances the
likeness between the two men had
never been more significantly marked
'han on that morning of April 10,
when Loder walked along the pave
mcnts crowded with early workers
and brisk with insistcnt news vendors
already alive to the value of last
Nights political crisis.
The irony of this last element in the
lays concerns came to him fully when
ne newsboy, more energetic than his
elbows, thrust paper in front of him.
Sensation in the 'ousc, sir Speech
" Mr.. Chilcote. Government defeat"
For moment Lolor 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 tho same hard expression about
his mouth he turned into Clifford $
inn, passed through his own doorway
and mounted the stairs.
This time there was no milk can on
the threshold of his rooms and the door
yielded to his pressure without the
need of key With strange sensa-
ton Of reluctance he walked into the
narrow PASSAGE and paused. uncertain
which room to enter first. As he stood
hesitatinG voice from the sitting
room settled the question.
"Who's there it called irrtably.
What do you WANT"
Without further ceremony the in
truder pushed the door omen and en-
tered the room, As he did SO he drew
a quick Observation-Disclosures of disappont-
Whether he had hoped for or dreaded
II, Chilcote was conscious.
AS Lodcr 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 or the table stood a cup,
teapot and the can of milk; farther
off a kettle was set to boil upon a
liny spirit stove.
In all strong situations we are more
sr less commonplace. L)dpr's first re-
mark as he glanced round the disor-
iered room seemed strangely nef-
hcient.
where's EoDinS?" he asked in a
brusquc voice. HIS mind teemed witll
big considerations. yet this wa, his
first involuntary question.
Chilcote had started at the entrance
of his visitor; now he sat staring at
him, bis hands holding the arms of his
chair
where's Robins?" Loder asked
again
81 don't know She / We did
not hit it off. She's gone-went yes
rug apout ii'n'
on'ico'e i'oue' began S'ern'v
ne i'"uscu' mere wa non'e'i'.ns
VI '"e o,,o' io'N anu ".''''''e IL"
arrested him. A change of expression
PaSseu oN'' nI' Wv" i"'e' ne '"rne,
about, with an abrupt gesture pulled
OH HIS coat anu threw IL OH cialr
al al 30 no
'nen' closS'ns ueHpeiateiy u uie nre
pace l.t "'.'"- = ''''.t .7 IRON
me EI"'''
"l'ilh " lie" minutes ne had hr'
crd'Nl'hB where lAc peu OF uead GIN
uerS hah b'ci, anu having nnisheu lh'
tdSh' ne rose SLOWLY from MS Knees
wiped MS Ea"IN ana crossed 10 the Ia
PIE TN the >'"''ll spirit stove the ket
ne had po'led' ana III" ever was INT
ing ana laIlluS Win C!klIng sound
Blowing out the lame, l.ouer plcKe'
up ule teapot anu win hands ina
were cVlooit'J accustomed 10 the task
set ABOUT making me Tea.
during the whole operation ne neve
spoRe' lhough all the While he wa
iuily conscious or Chllcote's puzzle'
gaze Inc Tea ready he poured IL int
the cup ana carried IL across the room
DrlllN TINS, ne sad lacohicaliy
Inc Hre Will De up presently.
Nniicote eAtehueu cola ana shaK'