Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-04-11
CHAPTER XVIII.

rived at before he reached
III Trafalgar square. The facts
- Of the case were simple. Chill
cote had left an discriminating telegram
on the bureau in the morning room at
Grosvenor square. BY an unlucky
chance Lillian Astrupp had been shown
up into that room, where she had re-
mained alone until the moment that
Eve, either by request or by accident,
had found her there. The facts re-
solved themselves into one question:
What use had Lillian made Of those
solitary moments? Without deviation,
Loder's mind turned toward one
answer. Lillian was not the woman
to lose an opportunity, whether the
space at her command was long or
short.
So convinced was he that, reaching
Trafalgar square, he stopped and
hailed a hanson.
"Cadogan gardensw he called. mo.
49,"
The moments seemed very few be-
fore the cub drew up beside the curb
and he caught his second glimpse of
the enameled door with It's silver fit
tlngs Instantly he pressed the bell the
door was opened by Lillian's discreet,
deferential manservant.
"Is Lady Astrupp, at home" he
asked.
The man looked thoughtful. Her
ladyship lunched at home, SIR he be.
gan cautiously.
But Loder interrupted him. ASK her
to see me-" he said laconically.
The servant expressed no surprise.
His only comment was to throw the
door wide.
"If you'll wait in the white room,
sir" he said, "I'll inform her ladyship."
Chilcote was evidently frequent and
q favored visitor.
In this manner Loder for the second
time entered the house SO unfamiliar
and yet so familiar In all that it sug-
gested. Entering the drawing room, he
had leisure to look about him. 1t was
q beautiful room, large and lofty. Lux
ury was evident on every hand, but II
was not the luxury that pals or Of
tends. Each object was graceful and
possessed Its own intrinsic value. The
atmosphere was too effemlnate to ap-
peal to him, but he acknowledged the
taste and artistic delicacy it conveyed.
Almost ut the moment Of acknowledge
ment the door opened to admit Lillian,
II thought it would be you,' she said
systematically.
Loder came forward. You expected
me?" he said guardedly. A sudden
conviction filled him that 1t was not
the evidence of her eyes, but something
1t once subtler and more definite that
prompted her recognition Of him.
She smiled. why should expect
you? On the contrary, I'm waiting tc
know why you're here?"
He was silent for an instant. Then
he answered in her own light tone.
"As far as that goes" he said, 'let's
make it my duty call-having dined
with you. I'm an old fashioned per.
SON."
For a full second she surveyed him
amusedly. Then at last she spoke
'My dear Jack"-she laid particular
stress on the name-"I never imagined
you punctilious. I should have thought
bohemian would have been more the
word"
Loder felt disconnected and annoyed.
Either, like himself, she was fishing for
information or she was deliberately
playing with him. In his perplexity he
glanced across the room toward the
fireplace.
Lillian saw the look won't you sit
DOWN." she said, indicating the couch.
II promise not to make you smoke.
shan't even ask you to take of your
glovesv'
Loder made no movement His mind
was unpleasantly upset. 1t was nearly
a fortnight since he had seen Lillian,
and in the interval her attitude had
changed, and the change puzzled him.
It might mean the philosophy Of a wo-
man who, knowing herself without ade.
quate weapons, withdraws from a COM
bat that has proved fruitless, or 1t
might imply the merely catlike desire
to toy with certainty. He looked
quickly at the delicate face, the green
eyes somewhat obllquely set, the mre-
liable mouth, and instantly he inclined
to the latter theory. The conviction
that she possessed the telegram filled
him suddenly, and with it came the de-
sire to put his belief to the test-to
know beyond question whether her
smiling unconcern meant malice OF
mere entertainment.
when You first came into the room"
he said quietly, you said 4 thought 1t
would be you Why did you say that?
Again she smiled-the smile that
might be malicious or might be merely
amused. ."Oh,' she answered at last,
II only meant that though I had bee0
told Jack Chilcote wanted me, tt wasn't
Jack Chilcote expected to see"
After her statement there was a
pause. Loder's position was difficult.
1nstlnctively convinced that, strong In
the possession Of her proof, she was en-
joying his tantalized discomfort, he yet
craved the actual evidence that should
set his suspicious to rest. Acting upon
the desire, he made new beginning.
"Do you know why I came?" he
asked.
Lillian looked up innocently. Its SO
hard to be certain Of anything in this
L. II.