The Princeton union., 1907-02-28
! THURSDAY !, FEBRUARY Is, Il so7..

Still quietly but with strange un-
derglow Of excitement, Loder left the
fire and, coming forward, took a chair
at Lakeley's desk.
DO you mind telling me what you're
driving at?" he asked in his old, la
comic voice.
Lakeley still scrutinlzed him with an
air OF brisk satisfaction; then with a
gesture of finality he tossed his cigar
away
my dear chap" he said, ''theres 60
ing to be a breach somewhere-and
hraide says you're the man to step in
and fill it! You see, five years ago,
when things looked lively on the gulf
and the Bundar Abbas business came
to light, you did some promising work,
and a reputation like that sticks to a
man even when he turns Stacker! I
won't deny that you've Stacked abomi-
nably," he added as Loder made an un-
easy movement, ''but Stacking has diff
ferent effects. Some men run to seed,
others mature. I had almost put you
down on the black list, but I've altered
my mind in the last two months.'
Again Loder stirred in his seat. A
host Of emotions were stirring in his
mind. Every word wrung from Lakeley
was another stimulus to pride, another
subtle tribute to the curious force of
personality.
''Well?' he said. "Well?"
Lakeley smiled. 1--WE all know that
Sefborough's ministry is-well, top
heavy" he said. "Sefborough is build
Ing his card house just story too high.
It's toss up what'll upset the balance.
It might be the army, Of course, or it
might be education, but it might quite
as well be matter of foreign policy!
They looked at each other in compre-
hensive silence.
"You know as we'll as I that it's not
the question Of whether Russia comes
into Persia, but the question Of wheth-
er Russia goes out Of Persia when these
Hazaras are subdued! I'll lay you what
you like, Chilcote, that within one week
we hear that the risings are suppress
ed, but that Russia, instead of retiring,
has advanced those tempting twenty
miles and comfortably ensconced her.
self at Meshed-as she ensconced her.
self on the island Of Ashurada.' Lake
ley's nervous, energetic figure was brac-
ed, his light blue eyes frightened by
the intensity Of his interest.
IF this news comes before the Eas-
ter recess" he went on, ''the first nail
can be hammered in on the motion for
adjournment. And if the right man
does it in the right way I'll lay my life
twill be a nail in Sefborough's coffin"
Loder sat very still. Overwhelming
possibilities had suddenly opened be-
fore him. In moment the unreality
Of the past months had become real; a
tangible justification of himself and
his imposture was suddenly made pos
sible. In the stress Of understanding
he, too, leaned forward, and, resting
his elbows on the desk, took his face
between his hands.
For space Lakeley made no remark.
To him man and mans moods came
second in interest to his paper and his
party politics. That Chilcote should be
conscious Of the glories he had opened
up seemed only natural; that he should
show that consciousness in becoming
gravity seemed only right. For some
seconds he made no attempt to disturb
him, but at last his own irrepressible
activity made silence uncomfortable. He
caught up his pencil and tapped i'm
patiently on the desk.
"Chilcote," he said quickly and with
a CLEAN Of sudden anxiety, you're not
by any chance doubtful of yourself?"
At sound of his voice Loder lifted his
face. It was quite pale again, but the
energy and resolution that had come
into it when Lakeley first spoke were
still to be seen.
mo, Lakeley," he said very slowly,
''it's not the sort of moment in which
a man doubts himself"