The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-12-04
CHAPTER /.

blacklist fog within "A four years mem
DRY fell upon certain portions Of Lon
don and also on that night came tn
first announcement OF the border ris
ings against the Persian government
in the province of Khorassan-the an
nouncement that. speculated upon
even smiled at, at the time, assumed
such significance in the light Of afte
events.
At o'clock the news spread through
the house of commons, but at 8 men IL
he inner Hobbies were gossiping, not
20 much upon how far Russia, while
bstensibly unfolding the shah, had
pulled the strings by which the insur-
gents danced, as upon the manner in
which the ST. Georges Gazette, the
Tory evening newspaper, had seized
apon the incident and shaken it in the
faces of the government.
More than once before Lakely, the
owner and editor of the st. Georges,
Aad stepped outside the decorous circle
IF tradition and taken a plunge into
modern journalism, but tonight he es-
Iayed deeper waters than before and
nnder an almost sensational heading
declared that in this apparently limo
tent border rising we had less an out
come of mere racial antagonism than
first faint index of a long cherished
Russian scheme, growing to gradual
maturity under the drift policy of
The present British government.
The effect produced by this pro-
aouncement, if strong, was varied
Members of the opposition saw, or
thought they saw, reflection Of 1t in
the smiling unconcern on the minis
terial benches, and the government
newly kindled interest on the other
tide of the house lay some mysterious
Icenting of battle from afar off. But
though these Impressions ran like cleo
Eicity through the atmosphere, moth
hg tangible marked their passage, and
The ordinary business of the house pro-
.eeded until half past IL, when an ad-
iournment was moved.
The first man to hurry from his place
was John Chilcote, member for East
Wark. He passed out of the house
quickly, with the half furtive quick
ness that marks self absorbed man,
and as he passed the policeman stand
ing stolidly under the arched doorway
If the big courtyard he swerved a lit
lie, as If startled out Of his thoughts.
BE realized his swerve almost before
t was accomplished and pulled him
Ielf together with nervous irritability.
"Foggy night, constable" he said,
With elaborate carelessness.
4Foggy night, sir, and thickening up
vest" responded the man.
"Ah, indeedw Chilcote's answer was
Ibsent. The cOnstable's CHEEKY voice
AIRED on him, and for the second time
le was conscious of senseless irrita- |
lon. Without a further glance at the |
nan, he slipped out into the courtyard
nd turned toward the main gate.
At the gateway two cab lamps show
d through the mist of shifting fog |
Ike the eyes of great cat and the
amiliar Hanson, sir?" came to him
He paused by force of custom and
topping forward, had almost touched
he open door when a new impulse
aused him to draw back.
NO. he said hurriedly; mo. I'll
valk."
The cabman muttered, dashed his
orse and, with a clatter Of hoofs and
arness. wheeled away, while Chilcote.
ill with uncertain hastiness, crossed
lie road In the direction of Whitehall.
About the abbey the fog had par
ally lifted, and in the rallied garden
lat faces the houses of parliament
he statues were visible In a spectral
ay. But ChiIcote's glance was unsta-
e and Indifferent He skirted the
filings heedlessly and, crossing the
'ad with the speed of long familiar
Y, gained Whitehall on the left hand
de.
There the fog had dropped, and, look
g upward toward Trafalgar square,
seemed that the chain of lamps ex-
nded little farther than the Horse
lards and that beyond lay nothing.
Unconscious of this capricious alter
ltion between darkness and light.
nilcote continued his course. To
ose observer the manner of his going
ID both interest and suggestion. for
ough he walked on, apparently self
CROSSED, yet at every dozen steps he
Rrted at some sound or some touch,
te man whose nervous system is q
infulIy overstrung.
his haste, he went de
'erately forward, oblivlous Of the
ct that at each step the curtain Of
rkness about him became closer,
mper. more tangible; that at each
rond the passersby Jostled each
her with creates frequency Then,
ruptly, with sudden realization Of
nat had happened, he stood quite =
II. without anticipation or prepa- =
lion he had walked full into the :. =
ckness of the fog--a thickness so =
nse that as by an enchanter's wand,