Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-01-31

desk ana TOOK DlS luce pct"c0" Hi'
hands. The man behind him undoubt-
edly talked madness; but after five
years of dreary sanity madness had
fascination. Against all reason it
stirred and reused him. For one in
slant his pride and his anger fatered
before it, then common sense flowed
back again and adjusted the balance.
You propose" he said slowly, that
for a consideration of money should
trade on the likeness between us and
become your dummy, when you are
otherwise cngagedp
Chilcote colored. "You are unplcas-
antly blunt" he said.
But have caught your meaning?'
I'm the rough, yes
Loder nodded curly. "Then take
you're unhingcd."
The other returned his glance, and
as their eyes met Loder was reluctant
~ compelled to admit that though the
face was disturbed, it had no traces
of insanity.
II make YOU a proposal" Chlcote
repeated nervously, but with distinct
ness. do you acceptt'
For an instant Loder was at a loss
TO find a reply sufficiently final Chill
cote broke in upon the pause.
After ALL he urged what l ask Of
you is simple thing merely to carry
through my routine duties for a week
! 81 al lie ,xl,n I
endurance giving away, when respite
becomes essential. The work would
be nothing TO Il man in your stGte Of
mind, the pay anything you like to
name" In his eagerncss he had fol
lowed LOdcr TO the desk. "Wont YOU
give me an answer? | told you / aim
neither mad nor drunk"
Loder pushed back the scattered pa
pers that lay under his arm.
"Only lunatlc would propose such
Il scheme" he said brusquely and
without feeling
"Whyr"
The others lips parted for a quick
retort; then in a surprising way the
rctort seemed to fail him. "Oh. be
cause the thing isn't feasible, isn't
practicable froin any point of view"
Chiccte stepped closer. Why" he
! insisted.
Because it couldn't work. man
couldn't hold for dozen hours"
! Chilcotc put out his hand and touch
/ "Why? Give me one unanswerable
reason"
Loder shook off the hand and laugh
, ed. but below his laugh lay n sugges-
! ton of the others excitement. Again
the scene stirred him against his
sounder Judgment, though his reply
when it came was sound enough.
AS for reasons ne said, there are
hundred, if | had time to name them.
Take it. for the sake of supposition,
that | were to accept your offer. |
should take my place In your house
et-lct us say at dinner time. Your
man gets me into your evening clothes.
and there ut the very start you have
the first suspicion set up. He has
probably known you for years. known
you until every turn of your appear
anCc. voice and manner is far more
familiar to him than it is to YOU.
There are no eyes Ike q servants"
81 have thought Of that. My sery-
ant and my secretary can both be
changed. will do the thing thor
oughly,"
Lodcr glanced at him In surprise.
The madness had more m"thCd than
he had believed. Then as he sill .ool<-
ed fresh idea struck him, and lie
laughed
You have entirely forgotten one
thing" he said. you can hardly dis
miss your wife
My wife doesn't count"
Again Loder laughed. I'm afraid
scarcely agree. The complications
would be slightly - slightly" - lie
paused,
Chilcote's latent irri'ab,ity broke
out suddenly. "lCok here" he said
this isa't a chatting matter. Ii may
be moonshino to YOU, put it's .'cality
to me-
Again Loder took his face between
his bands.
Don't ridlca.c the idea, I'm in dea>
earnest"
Lodcr said nothing.
"IAluk-tLink it over before You re
fuse"
For y moment I.od2r renl"incl mo
tiou!css, thou he rose suddenly, push
inG back his chair.
'Tush. man. You don't know wha
You say. The fact Of your being mar
ried bars IT, Can't you see thar
Again Chilcote cau,;ht his arm.
you MISUNDERSTANDING he said "Yol
mistake the position. tell You m!
wife and ! are nothing TO each other
She goes her way; | 90 mine. w
have our own friends, our own rooms
Marriage, actual marriage, docSn'
enter the question. We meet occasion
ally at meals and at other people
houses; sometimes we go out togethe
for the sake of appearances; beyon'
that, nothing. If you take up my llf'
nobody in it will trouble you less than
Eye-I can promise that" lie laugh
ed unsteadlIy.
Loders face remained unmoyed.
Even granting that" he said, eth
thing is still impossible"
"Why"
There is the house The position
there would be uutenahlc. A man |