Grand Forks herald., 1917-01-25
rather-lurid. Do you suppose
things are going badly between him

rather-lurid. Do you suppose
things are going badly between him
and Eleanor? He spoke of calling me
up again. but this morning, instead,
got a note from him saying he was
going back to Chicago. He told me
he hadn't seen you forever. Why
don't you drop in on him?"
1t was quite true that Rodney had
seen very little of the Randolphs
since Rose went away. When 1t came
to confronting his friends. In the
knowledge that they knew that Rose
had left him for the Globe chorus, he
found that James Randolph was one
he didn't care to face. He knew too
curious. too full Of surmises, eager
for experiments.
But Roses letter put a different face
on the mtater. The fact that She d
put him, partly at least, in possession
of what she had observed and what
she guessed. gave him sort of shield
against the doctor. So one evening
about nine o'clock he slipped out and
walked around to the new house
which BERTHE Willis had built for
Eleanor.
Rodney reflected. as he stood at the
door after ringing the bell, that his
own house was quite meek and con-
ventional alongside this. BERTHE had
gone his limit. This thing was perfect
Perpendicular. You could. as John
Williamson said. kid yourself into the
notion. when you walked under the
keel-shaped arch to the main door
way. that you were going to church.
And the style was carried out with
lnexorab!e rigor. down to the most
minute details.
The grin which his reflection afford
ed him was still on Rodney's lips
when, servant having opened the
door, he found himself face to face
with the architect. BERTHE, top-coated
and hat In hand. was waiting for
Eleanor. who was coming down the
stairs followed by a maid with her
carriage-coat. He returned Rodney's
nod pretty stiffly, as was natural
enough. since Rodney's grin had dis
unctly frightened up at sight of him.
Eleanor said, rather negligently:
Hello, Rod. We're just dashing off to
the Palace to see perfectly exquisite
little dancer Bertie's discovered down
there. She comes on at half past nine,
SO We've got to fly. Want to Gomez"
No. Rodney said. 81 came over to
see Jim. Is he at home?"
The maid was holding out the coat
for Eleanor's arms. But Eleanor, at
Rodney's question, just stood for a
second quite still. She wasn't, looking
at anybody, but the expression in her
eyes was sullen. Eyes, he's at home" "
she said at last.
Busy. suppose" said Rodney.
Her infection had dictated this reply.
Yes. he's busy" she repeated alb
sently and in a tone still more coldly
hostile. though Rodney perceived that
the hostility was not meant for him.
She looked around at Bertie.
Wait two minutes" she said. III
Come along" And she led the way
up the lustrous, velvety teakwood
He followed her. But, arrived at
the drawing room floor. he stopped.
Look here" he said. "If Jim's busy
"oh. don't be too dense. Rodney."
she said. "A man has to be busy
when he's known to be in the house
and won't entertain his wifes guests.
Go up one flight more and to the door
do you any good to knock. He'll either
not answer or else tell you to go to
hell. Just sing out who you are and
go right In" She gave him a nod and
hard little smile, and went down
stairs again to BERTHE.
Rodney mounted the next flight,
found the door Eleanor had indicated.
knocked smartly on it, and, to fore
stall his getting told to go to hell,
Rodney Aldrich. May 1 come in ?"
Come in, of course" Randolph
called. I'm glad to see you." he add
ed. coming to meet his guest, "but do
you mind telling me how the devil YOU
got In here? Some poor wretch will
lose his Job, you know. if Eleanor
finds out about this. When I'm in this
room. scored to reflection and re-
search, it's a f1rst-class crime to let
me be disturbed" 1t didn't need his
sardonic grin to point the satire of his
words.
Rodney said curtly: Eleanor sent
me up herself. didn't much want to
come. to tell the truth, when I heard
you were busy"
"Eleanor!' her husband repeated
poodle"
Rodney said. with unconcealed dis
taste: They were on the point Of go
Ing out when I came in. That's how
Eleanor happened to see me-"
With visible effort Randolph re-
covered a more normal manner. "I'm
glad 1t happened that way" he said.
Get yourself drink. You'll find any-
thing you want over there, guess.
and something to smoke; then we'll
sit down and have an old-fashioned
talk"
The source Of drinks he indica ted
was a well-stocked cellarette at the
other side Of the room. But Rodney's
eye fell first on decanter and siphon
Randolph had been sitting in.
Il don't believe want ar,,t1,;,.
more to drink just now" Rodney said.
And. as he followed Rodney's glance.
Randolph allowed himself another
sardonic grin.
The preliminaries were gone thru
rather elaborately; chairs drawn up
and adjusted, ash-trays put within
reach: cigars got going satisfactorily.
But the talk they were supposed to
prepare the way for, didn't at once
begin.
Randolph took another stiffish
drink and settled back into a dull,
sullen abstraction Finally. for the
sake of saying something, Rodney re-
marked: This is wonderful room.
isn't it?" ''
Randolph reused himself. "Neyer
been in here before?" he asked. "Well
then. here's two more rooms you must
see."
The first one, opening from the
study. explained its purpose at a
glance. with a desk and typewriter.
and filing cabinets around the walls.
Rubber floor" Randolph pointed out.
''felt ceiling; absolutely sound-proof.
Here's where my stenographer sits all
day, ready-like fireman. And this. y
he concluded. leading the way to the
other room, "is the holy OF holies.'
1t had a rubber floor, too. and,
Rodney supposed, felt ceiling. But
its only furniture was one chair and
a canvas cot.
Sound proof too" said Randolph.