The Red Cloud chief., 1907-03-29

Loder stood shocked and spellbound by
the SIGHT.
reaching the pavement outside, he went
straight forward until Grosvenor square
was left behind, then he ran. At the
risk of reputation, at the loss of dig
uity, he ran until he saw Il cab. Hail
Ing it, he sprang inside, and as the
cabman whipped up ana the horse re-
spondcd to the call he realized for the
first time the full significance of what
had occurred.
Realization, like the need for action,
came to him slowly, but when it came
it was with terrible lucidity. He did
not swear as he leaned back in his
seat mechanically watching the stream
of men on their way to business, the
belated cars of green produce blocking
the way between the Strand and Gov
cnt Garden. lie had no use for oaths;
his feelings lay deeper than mere
words. But his mouth was sternly set
and his eyes looked cold.
Outside the law courts he dismissed
his cab and walked forward to elf.
ford's inn. AS he passed through the
familiar entrance a chill fell on him.
In the clear, early light it seemed more
than ever a place of dead hopes, dead
enterprises, dead ambitions. In the
onward march of life it had been for
gotten. The very air had a breath OF
unfulfillment
He crossed the court rapidly, but his
p,n,,tI, cot ;t.nlp afrncl, NC hn ,NnccnI
through the doorway of his own house
and crossed the bare hall.
AS he mounted the well known stairs
he received his first indication Of life
in the appearance Of a cat from the
second fioor rooms. At sight Of him the
animal came forward, rubbed demon
stratively against his legs and with az
fcctionate persistence followed him up
stairs.
outside his door he paused. On the
ground stood the usual morning can of
milk-evidencc that Chilcotc was not
yet awake or that, like himself, he had
no appetite for breakfast. He smiled
ironically as the idea struck him, but
IT was q smile that stiffened rather
than relaxed his lips. Then he drew
out the duplicate key he always carried
ana. inserting 1t quietly. opened the
door. A close, unpleasant smell greet
ed him as he entered the small passage
that divided the bed and sitting rooms
IA smell Of whisky mingling with the
Odor OF stale smoke. With n quick
gesture he pushed open the bedroom
door. Then on the threshold he paused,
a look Of contempt and repulSion pass
ing over his face.
In his first glance he scarcely grasp
cd the details OF the scene, for the half
drawn curtains kept the light dim, but
as his eyes grew accustomed to the OBJ
security he gathered their significance.
The room had a sleepleSs, jaded air
the room that under his own occupation
had shown a rigid. almost monastic Sc
verify. The plain dressing table was
Uttered with cigarette ends and marked
with black and tawny patches where
the tobacco had been left to burn itself
out. On one corne of the table a
carafe Of water and a whisky decanter
rested one against the other. as If for
support, and ut the other end an over
turned tumbler lay In n pool of liquid.
The whole effect was slckly and nause-
atlng, His glance turned involuntarily
to the bed and there halted.
On the hard, narrow mattress, from
which the sheets ana blankets had fall
EN- in a dlsordered heap, lay Chilcote.
He was fully dressed In a shabby
tweed suit Of Loder's; his collar was
ppen, his lip and chin unshaven; one