Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-04-08
cHAprER XIV.

CHAPTER AAN.
taken a definite step In
IAI any direction. it was not in
HE Loder's nature to wish 1t re-
traced His face was set, but
set with determination, when he closed
the outer door of his own rooms and
passed quietly down the stairs and out
into the silent court. The thought OF
Chilcote, his pitiable condition, his sor-
did environments, were things that re-
qulred q firm will to drive into the
background of the imagination, but a
whole inferno of such visions would
not have daunted Loder on that morn
ing as, unobserved by any eyes. he left
the little courtyard with its grass, its
trees, its pavement-all SO distastefnlly
familiar and passed down the Strand
toward life and action.
AS he walked his steps increased in
speed and yigor. Now, for the first
time, he fully appreciated the great
mental strain that he had undergone In
the past ten days-the unnatural ten
sion; the suppressed but perpetual
sense of impending recall; the conse-
quently high pressure at which work
and even existence had been carried on.
And as he hurried forward the natural
reaction to this state' of things came
upon him in flood Of security and con-
fldence-a strong realization Of the tenn
porary respite and freedom for which
no price would have seemed too high.
The ,moment for which he had uncon-
sciously lived ever since Chilcote's first
memorable proposition was within
reach at last, safeguarded by his own
action.
The walk from Clifford's inn to
Grosvenor square was long enough to
1ispel any excitement that his inter
view had aroused. and long before the
we'll known house came into view he
felt sufficiently braced mentally and
physically to seek Eve In the morning
room, where he instinctively felt she
would still be waiting for him.
: Thus he encountered and overpassei
the obstacle that had so nearly threat
ened ruin, and. with the singleness OF
purpose that always distinguished him,
he was able, once having passed 1t, to
dismiss it altogether from his mind.
From the moment Of his return to Chill
cote's house no misgiving as to his own
action, no shadow of doubt rose to
trouble his mind. His feelings on the
matter were quite simple. He had In
ordinately desired certain opportuni-
ty. One factor had arisen to debar that
opportunity, and he, claiming the right
Of strength, had set the barrier aside.
In the simplicity Of the reasoning lay
its power to convince, and were tonic
needed to brace him for his task he
was provided with one in the master.
full sense of difficulty set at naught.
For the man who has fought and con-
ouered one obstacle feels strong to
vanquish score.
1t was on this day, at the reassem.
bling of parliament, that Fraides great
blow was to be struck. In the ten
days since the affair Of the caravans
had been reported from Persia public
feeling had run high, and 1t was upon
the pivot of this incident that Loder's
attack was to turn, for, as Lakeley was
fond Of remarking, "In the scales OF
public opinion one dead Englishman
has more weight than the whole east.
ern question" It had been arranged
that, following the customary proce.
dure, Loder was to rise after questions
at the morning sitting and ask leave to
move the adjournment Of the house on
a definite matter Of urgent public Inn
portance, upon which-leave having
been granted by the rising OF forty
members in his support the way was
to lie open for his definite attack at
the evening sitting. And it was with
q mind attuned to this plan of action
that he retired to the study imme-
diately he had breakfasted and settled
to final revision of his speech before
an early party conference should com
pei him to leave the house. But here
again circumstances were destined to
change his programme. Scarcely had
he sorted his notes and drawn his chair
to Chilcote's desk than Renwick enter.
ed the room with the same air of I'M
portant haste that he had shown on d
previous occasion.
"a letter from Mr.. Fraide, sir. But
there's no answer" he said, with un-
usual brevity.
Loder waited till he had left the
room; then he tore the letter open. He
read:
My Dear Chilcote -Lakeley is the re-
cipient Of special and very vital news
from Meshed-unoficial. but none tt@
less alarming. Acts of Russian agrees
sion toward British traders are reported
to be rapidly increasing, and 1t Is stated
that the authority Of the consulate is
treated with contempt. Pending a posi-
that you keep an open mind on the sub
ject of tonight's speech. By adopting an
anticipatory = even an unprepared = atti-
tude you may find your hand materially
strengthened. I shall put my opinions be-
fore you more explicitly when we meet
Yours faithfully. /
HERBERT FRAIDE. !
The letter, worded with Fraide's usu
nj restraint, made strong impression
on it's recipient. The thought that his
speech might not only express opinions
already tacitly held, but voice situa-
ton of intense and national impor-
lance, struck him with full force. For
many minutes after he had grasped
the meaning Of Fraide's message he
sat neglectful Of his notes, his elbows
resting on the desk, his face between
his hands, stirred by the suggestion