The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-01-25

: he had believed. Then as he stin .ook-
ed q fresh idea struck him. aud he
/. laughed.
you have entirely forgotten one
/ thing" he said. You can hardly dis-
miss your wife"
"My wife doesn't count"
Again Loder laughed. 'Tm afraid
scarcely agree. The complications
would be slightly = slightly" be
paused.
Chilcote's latent irritabillty broke
out suddenly. Look here" he said.
''this isn't a chatting matter. II may
be moonshine to you, but It's reality
to me"
Again LOder took his face between
his hands.
Don't rldIcule the idea I'm in dead
earnest"
LOder said nothing.
'Thlnk-thlnk it over before ron re
fuse"
For a moment Loder remained mo-
tiouless, then he rose suddenly, push
ing back bis chair.
"Tush, man! You don't know what
You say. The fact Of your being mar
ried bars it, Can't you see thatT'
| Again Chilcote caught his arm.
"You misunderstood" he said. you
! mistake the position. l tell you my
wife and / are nothing to each other.
She goes her way; go mine. We
/ have our own friends, our own rooms.
Marriage, actual marriage, doesn't
enter the question. We meet occasion
| ally at meals and at other peoples
houses; sometimes we go out together
for the sake of appearances; beyond
that, nothing. If you take up my life
nobody in it will trouble you less than
Eve-I can promise that" He laugh
ed unsteadily.
Loder's face remained unmoved.
Even granting that" he said, 1.-THE
thing is still impossible"
"WhyY
"There is the house. The position
there would be untenable. A man is
known there as he is known IN his
own club" He drew away from Chill
cote's touch
Every possibly Very possibly"
ChiIcote laughed quickly and excitedly
"But what club is without its eccentric
member? am glad you spoke of that
am glad you raised that point 1t
was a long time ago that hit upon q
reputation for moods as a shield for
for other things, and the more useful
1t has become the more l have let IT
grow. 1 fell you you might go down to
the house tomorrow and spend the
whole day without speaking to, even
nodding to- a single man, and as long
! as you were l to outward appearances
no one would raise an eyebrow. In
the same way you might vote in my
place, ask question, make speech
IL you wanted to-
At the word speech Loder turned in
! voluntarily. For feeting second the
GOODNESS of his manner dropped and
his face changed.
Chilcote, with his nervous quickness
of perception, saw the alteration, and
new look crossed his own face.
why not?' he said quickly. You
/
Why not renew the ambitionsY
"And drop back from the mountains
into the gutter?' Loder smiled and
slowly shook his head.
Better to live for one day than to
exist for hundredw Chilcote's voice
trembled with anxiety. For the third
time he extended his hand and touched
the other.
This time Loder did not shake off the
OBTAINING hand. He scarcely seemed to
feel it's pressure.
Look here" Chilcote's fingers tight
ened. "A little while ago you talked OF
influence. Here you can step into
position built by influence. You might
do all you once hoped to do
Loder suddenly lifted his head Alb
surd" he said. absurd! Such scheme
was never carried through"
Precisely why it will succeed. Peo-
pie never suspect until they have
precedent. VIII you consider 1t? At
least consider 1t. Remember, If there
is risk it is l who am running it. On
your own showing you have no position
to jeopardize."
The other laughed CURLY.
Before l go tonight will you promise
me to consider itT'
mo"
''Then you will send me your decision
by wire tomorrow. l won't take your
answer now
Loder freed his arm abruptly. "Why
not! he asked.
! Chilcote smiled nervously. Because
I know men and mems temptations.
We are all very strong till the quick is
touched Then we all vince. It's
morphia with one man, ambitions with
another. In each case It's only mat
ter of sooner or later" He laughed In
his satirical, unstrung way and held
out his hand. "You have my address"
he said. "Au revolr."
Loder pressed the hand and dropped
IT, ''Goodby." he said meaningly. Then
he crossed the room quietly and held
the door open. "Goodby," he said again
as the other passed him.
As he crossed the threshold Chilcote