The Washington times., 1922-04-09

everything seemed possible. Hs
had, during his career, sat so often
In court while the most extraordi.
nary results Of human passions
were exhibited that he could believe
anything. Now that he was run.
ming into the incredible, an idea
such as this ceased to be incredible,
but became actual, possible, prob
able. He fell asleep at last out OF
exhaustion, but early next morning
he felt that he could not 20 10 his
chambers In this state Of disturb
ance and anxiety.
So he called on Mrs. Caldecot.
She seemed surprised, but quite
calm. He made weak excuses about
not being able TO get hold OF her in
those days unless he came with the
milk. She laughed, and he hated
her for laughing-this woman who
was concealing something from him
and, worse still, something which
she had to hide, to conceal, because
Z she did not love him.
He obtained nothing from her,
and at, last went away to submit
the problem to hypothesis. He did
not progress very far, for he could
see no precise reason for Caldecot's
return. They couldn't be reconciled
or Caldecot wouldn't have gone
away. Anyhow, II there had been
a reconciliation, Mrs. CaIdecot was
an old friend enough to tell him
something about II. No, It couldn't
be that. Then what could It be1
For one moment Britford made
the correct supposition. He said to
himself, II wonder IL he's black.
mailing herr" Then he rejected
this as absurd, because the things
that happen always seem incredible
until they do happen. Still, there
must have been reason. Perhaps
Caldecot had some financial matter
to discuss. After all, he was still
her husband with an interest in her
property. But that did not explain
Mrs. Caldecot's silence.
Surely Geoffrey's VISIT must have
disturbed her; surely she did not
think that she could deal alone with
such a man. She would naturally
have needed a solicitor or a barris-
ter, and in so delicate a matter she
would choose him, friend of TWEEN.
ty years standing. II was this In
creased Britford's suspicious: II
she did not tell him It was because
she had something TO conceal from
him. And what could she conceal
but the new illegitimacy of a legiti.
mate affectionf
rUka4 taoo ao,,,o a. H., o,ni,, 49,
days later, came to him clearly,
that Is, for he had been suspicious
Of Il almost at once; after enTaging
him into doubt II suddenly sub.
jected him. He passed the day in
complete misery He had been
beaten so often by other men in
this dearest contest. Now, indeed,
he felt his age and the greater emp
tiness of the many years which his
vigorous body would compel him to
survive.
He eft HIS chambers at about
three O'Clock, walked about aim.
lessly among the crowds in the
Strand. and later, his eyes upon the
ground, Eassed by the linked couples
on the Embankment. At nine
o'clock, having had no dinner, no
went TO bed and slept the sleep OF
exhaustion until eight next morn.
ing. AS he woke up he realized a
change in himself He felt cool and
strong. Now, indeed, he reacted
from the feebleness of the day be-
fore. He got up. stung himself into
activity with a cold bath.
Over q cigar after breakfast he
saw himself as a new man, pur.
possful. desperate man. He didn't
care what sort of q woman she
was; he wanted her, and nothing
should stop him, whatever II was.
The lswf Damn the lawl He was
seized by a sort of frenzy. as II
those long years of conformity to