Gloucester County Democrat., 1907-01-17
CHAPTER TX.

suggested nOrllnS OF the gloom anu
solitude that it held in its owners
eyes. The ponderous furniture, the
high ceiling, the heavy curtains, I'M
changed since the days of Chilcote's
grandfather, all limited at a far reach
ing ownership that stirred him. The
ownership was mythical in his regard
and the possessions mirage but they
filed the day and surely sufficient for
the day.
That was his frame of mind as he
opened his eyes on the following morn
ing and lay appreciatiye of his COM
fort, of the surrounding space, even of
the light that filtered through the cur
tain chinks, suggestive of a world re-
created With day all things seemed
possible TO healthy man. He stretch
ed his arms luxuriously, delighting in
the glossy smoothness of the sheets.
What was it Chilcote had said? Bet
ter live for a day than exist for life
time That was true, and life had be-
gun. At thirty six he was to know it
for the first time.
He smiled, but without irony. Man
is at his best at thirty-six, he mused.
He has retained his enthusiasms and
shed his exuberances; he has learned
what to pick up and what to pass by;
he no longei. imagines that to drain
cup one must taste the dregs. He
closed his eyes and stretched again
not his arms only, but his whole body
The pleasure of his mental state in
sisted on physical expression. Then,
sitting up in bed, he pressed the elec-
trio bell
Chilcote's new valet responded.
'sPulI those curtains, Renwick," he
said. whats the timer He had
passed the ordeal of Renwiek's eyes
the night before
The man was slow, even little stu
pid. He drew back the curtains care
fully, then looked at the small clock on
the dressing table. Eight o'clock, sir.
1 didn't expect the bell so early, sir.
Loder felt reproved. and pause fol
lowed
MAY 1 bring your cup of tea, sir?''
mo, not just yet. I'll have a bath
first"
Renwick showed ponderous uncer-
tainty. warm, sir?" he hazarded.
ssNo, cold.''
Still perplexed, the man left the
room.
Loder smiled to himself. The chances
of discovery in that quarter we're not
large. He was inclined to think that
Chilcote had even oyerstepped necessi-
ty in the matter of his Wallets dullness.
He breakfasted alone, following Chill
cote's habit, and after breakfast found
his way to the study.
AS he entered Greening rose with
the same conciliatory haste that he had
shown the night before.
Ioder nodded to him. EARLY at
workY' he said pleasantly.
The little man showed instant, al
most ridiculous, relief. Good morn
ing. sir, he said. tYou, too, are early.
I rather feared your nerves troubled
you after left last night for | found
your letters still unopened this morn
ing. But am glad to see you look so
we'll"
Loder promptly turned his back to
the light. "Oh, last nights letters!'
he said. "To tell you the truth, Green
ing. my wife"-his hesitation was very
slight-s.my wife looked me up after
YOU left, and we gossiped. clean for
got the post He smiled in an ex-
planatory way as he moved to the
desk and picked up the letters.
With Greening's eyes upon him there
was no time for scruples. With very
creditable coolness he began opening
the envelopes one by one. The letters
were unimportant, and he passed them
one after another to the secretary, ex-
periencing a slight thrill of authority
as each left his hand. Again the fact
that power is visible in little things
came to his mind.
j aGive me my engagement COOK,
Greening," he said when the letters
had been disposed of.
The book that Greening handed him
was neat in shape and bound, like Chill
cote's cigarette case, in lizard skin.
AS Loder took it the gold monogram
at C.v winked at him In the bright
morning light. The incident moved his
sense of humor. He and the book were
co-operators in the fraud, it seemed.
He felt an inclination to wink back.
Nevertheless he opened it with proper
gravity and SKINNED the pages.
The page devoted to the day was al
most full. On every other line were
jottings in Chilcote's irregular hand,
and twice among the entries appeared
q prominent cross in blue penciling.
Loder's interest quickened as his eye
caught the mark. It had been agreed
between them that only engagements
essential to Chilcote's public life need
be carried through during his absence,
and these to save his confusion were
to be crossed in blue pencil. The rest,
for the most part social claims, were
70 be left to circumstance and Loders
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