‘V
Ell-4TH lNSTALLMENT
laptor XIV—Continual!
J outcrod the larger of
l l'H-ilz‘ns Lady liramfeil "I
curt-2.; her guests. She was a
I auxin.” wmnall. who. 0:09p!
-.-:-::;in beauty of hands and
l u rortaa similarity of voice.
w! r. ’hlng in common with
- -'er Lillian. rRher warmth;
n'rw‘lp of people as they ap-
.!_ml_ and the first round of but
. uni rather (trawling tones
.«1 lollor mm a curious mo-
. w; {wimp—o vainlo «nutrition
mm
a very beautiful seer. We are all
quite curious.” -
Bramfcll parsed up his lips. "She
has a very beautiful tent at tho and
of the conservatory. It took live
men as many days to rig it up. Wa
couldn't bear ourselves talk. for hair:-
mering. My wife said it made her
feel quite philanthropcc, it rousindcd
her so much of a charity bazaar." .
Everybody laughed; and at tho
same moment Bleasington catno
quickly across the room and joined
the group.
"Hallo!" he said. “Anybody soon
Witchestonl He's nest on my ill
for the crystal business."
Again the whole party laughod.
and Bramfell, stopping forward.
touched Blessington's arm in mock
seriousness.
"Wltvheston is playmg bridge. like
a sensible man." he said. “Leave
him in peace, Bobby.” '
messlngton made a comical grim-
Worms-evil " “ in‘
National
of himself.
serial
TEE CHARACTERS IN THE STORY
JOHN cnmcdra. member of the House of Commons.
Parliament on a January night marked by the blackest fog in years
and 2:?!) of border rlalngs against tho Persian government which an
m 1
LAKELY. editor of St. George’s, as the index of a long cherished Buo-
slan schema growing to maturity under tho lax British policy. In the
fog Chilcote jostlos a stranger. and, lighting his cigarette, is astounded
to see that the othor man is the exact counterpart of himself. They
oxchango cards. the stranger’s revealing him to be _
JOHN LODEB. Depressed from morphia tho next morning. Chllcoto
soaks solace in tho .
LADY ASTBUPP. than to Parliament. where he makes a near spectacle
A hopeless drug addict. he induces Loder to change
places in life with him. 80 successful is the deception that Loder
not only bocomos a mag political lieutenant of
FRAIDE. tho great party leader. but is‘nover suspected by tho servants
or Chilcoto’s wife. ‘
EVE. lie is recalled b
temporarily.
changes places with Loder.
function at Lady Bramfell's. There is an embarrassing moment when
Lodor meets Chllcote's former secretary.
BLESSINGTON. but this passes. and he, with Eve, goes to the reception
rooms.
of
L0
T
walk'soutof
y Chilcote. who stops back-into his own shoes
Chilcoto cannot stay away from drugs and again he
der takes Eve ’Chilcote'to a social
ace. "lint l‘m Working this on com-
mcwiai principles." he said. “I keep
the list. names and hours compute.
and Lady Astrupp gazes. in blissful
lcnomnco as to who her victims are.
The: whole thing is great—simple and
statistical."
“For goodness' sake. Bobby. dint
upl" Bramfell'a round eyes were
twinkling with amusement.
“But my system—"
“Systems! Ah, we all had them
when we were as young as you arel"
“And they all had flaws. Bobby.”
Eve broke in. "We were always find-
ing caps that had to be filled up.
Never mind about Lord \Vitchestm.
get a substitute; it won't count—if
Lillian doesn't ltnmv."
lilevslngtnn wavered as she spoke.
lily: cym wandcrml round the party
and again rested on ilranli’cll.
“Not me. Bobby! Remember, I‘ve
breathcd crysmls—praltlcally lived
on tho-mwfor the last week, Now.
lllo‘l‘v's (‘llllt‘Ole—" Again bl! eyes
titlnklwl.
.' xfingllVl momorloa. Then the
s s «um vanlalmd as she turned
Ii... ."ewwl lite.
"H «v mun: of you to come!" she
murmurs-i .\n'l it turmoil in [ruler
"la: a nv “v sepvilzflill-w-‘lu vlllzlo' lifl‘ht‘
”1 u;- ln'r l'lw- 'l'hv-n s‘m extended
”- MM tn lfiyv ".\n-i you, loo!"
. all-vi. “’lll ”:Kh l frar we shall
3m vii-wilfully."
‘ -. “it'll; her xvi": interest, he saw
H mm! ...’ nvp'wukf in as her eyoa
. l ff‘l»"l tho in him. and noticed
nior - in lwr volco no she
‘l -«<ml llzu dwintly. The obser-
n" n :., ur-l him to vclf-aasurtlun.
1‘ ‘19 n guwr (niflfipl'flllellf l0 Tllt‘."
i ~ i, "l . lw l, ‘rwl la s-lroly only
, o ‘Hl' \" l:‘,'..; lll‘ll'iil."
I u .' l‘i'n'uf-Il slzdlwl. “\Vlli‘itl"
\ -' vl'nv' '\.m «loro-nli‘ng your
‘ 411‘
l ‘. " l~ ;. >~=l u l"'l--. "Tho small-
‘ o1.»n-l->fv~:‘.i.:lgllnocds."
..3
\ '3 ~r e‘ronm of arrivals awe-pt
-I. n: he ‘1‘ ”vii", l‘;\ 0 Ilillli‘il RI
' Illv\‘w‘<t and llllvVl‘il llr‘rnss ihc
11ml lw [N"‘f')l“'l' to lnI'wl. A!
,. allllt‘il luv 31“.“, tiw llllle court
Jami ldlll' l3".llial'u"l Villa 10‘“ “‘0“ in
”LP in or. luv :zw-n zlm-u; at illP far-
wL-v .--,li of Mir riliill was not yet
n ml, M‘r‘l fur Ill" moment (lit!)
ww- puwfi 1115‘ all-no.
rum».- u m n rvrlnln unvuvtneas in
.v‘ n‘n'w-r" of rnmprlnlonc'mv. If
W} ‘l:- l, ':l l?." l?\»~ \\ ‘llml i"
,iv‘.' ‘- ~ ' "“"L i'lll‘ll or lulu-
v .-‘l "l n'nwll l'u- l.|ll Hill?
- nu. . mun ,M h“. A“ if
n quTurl, .~lm lxll'mwl and lwkcd
l.
\l My Vl'I‘l'P :‘""l H4) ('nlll til l’uillllly
‘1." ll?" u‘lv- Ada-ll. "livnm-‘lll'l li
.imuuricous lo lguvm- him as
'Jl'."
< manrwr was auvwi‘n-li. It was
":69 annoyed mmnwr that one
to a man w’wn ho hm: hi'llllVi‘i]
it Was llil‘ l~,\;-l;«:l:lrnry tom- one
.llr .4101” t-m‘urtil an incorrigible
d Ill. Lmlor {w‘t tilla; but thr- gist
.l remark always mum- to him
ll»: run-lo nf etpresslon latcr.
favt ii..il, it
w he had encountered»——lilesslnx-
m whom he had spoken with
.» anll'm‘ns—d’mme to him with
mm.- of unpleasanlness. He. was
‘ to blame in the matter, neverthe-
~ ‘19 blauwd himself. lie was :m~
loll tlmt he should have made the
p in Eve's prove-lino.
'l‘hny were moving forward, nonr-
lnc lllP press of peoplc in the second
‘ romu. wimn llxe spoil“. and the fact
‘ filled him with an willow! sense of nu.
nonmrc l’wrl-lo smiled and lnwo-d
in her from awry .valv; one woman
,lo-unwi frrwurll ow lllv-y pzlvsmi and
v
“emotional nxtw'hlli: til ho'i‘
'Aaum llm swmmHHn of futility fllll
vevu‘lnn iiTli-«l him; again he ro-a'lxml
hr-w poll-.mlo‘ was the pllll‘e ssh»- heir!
i'l 'l.“ our‘l‘i. ’l'lwn, as his fi-nllnx‘i
l'l‘l'lhill liw'r lxo-lzlit and spewxil
....-=..-:l {n'v‘wl upon him, a small
- an xx‘lh .i rounri fave. catching a
tiar'wl {rum '1 Circle
'.:'E:+-rml in nmv of the win-
.
.7“ .1 .-_,-;;,.
...,. or li‘v.
v. - .
‘ v):-
rt \- qllli‘lxl‘v tuwnrda
""l \\'l'h an unjust touch of irri-
vi lm r... main-ll l.orvl Brumfcll.
\. xln lho M’ln’" of file's aloofnr-ss
-..: him a: :lwlr ho<t approached.
.w MLnr lllwnwll she Would be lost
. 1 1. xlzezwmz vim throng of strong
«lanai-ll by them ill! by rizhi.
l‘ o “ lm uvlil. involuntarily and
“"‘l‘ 2.3“. l'l‘pll‘li.
’ it f-lSlW‘fl and turned to~
"Yrs?" she said: and
w 1 r i if it was ill! imagina-
-.~, . in the word sound slight-
‘ mal'cr of Blossington
l. n Then he stopped.
'. reached them.
. lie man came up smiling
l with an onstrotc‘hed hand.
"l‘here‘s no pun "y for separating
husband anal wife, 'u there. )1". Ch“-
n "'
civic" ' 'V in i .1}. ('ihlk‘ote?" He
tw'" mi " ”no other with
“ . moist-lest r'vanner thlt ll-
r‘.l«'?vr.«'--‘ . 'n. ‘
“lrnml m ‘. to hide his vex-
.: live 3 and their host
usual seé'puaseased smile.
l l m» exempt from all penal-
.v '<r‘.;zhl‘.' she said. Then she
i 'n grooLthe members of his
, has had skilled across from
window in his wake.
.lu aha moved slide Bramfell
.mq at Loder. {‘Weil, Chilcole.
. yon dipped into the future yet?"
pawl, with I laugh.
{or echoed the laugh but said
or in his uncertainty at ihe
‘~.In be reverted to his old ro-
.- of slience.
"2.22m raised his eyebrows.
' i" he said. "Don't tell me that.
- worm—law hasn't engaged you
a'mm," Then he turnei in
1 "“-“;‘In. "You've heard of our
.~-;n-.r'.tlra. Mrs. (Illicoter'
inlwl round from the lively
!’ which she was surrounded.
'.‘-l r'rystsl-[Illh‘l Why, of
wn‘ Bloating! r'l'
Llr.‘
.\‘l 0qu wore turnml on Lnder.
llixourgl mm or two strayed sun-opti-
Illwllsly to live. She. soothing sensi-
‘rlvo in the pnsltlun, laughed quickly.
"A voy good idea!" she said.
"Who wants to sue the future. if not
a politician?"
Loder clam-ed from her to Bless-
lncton, Then. with a wry feminine
impulse. she settled the matter be-
yond dispute.
“Please use your authority, Bob-
by," nhc said. “And when you've
got him safely under canvas, come
hack to me. It's yours since we've
had a talk." Shc nodded and smiled.
then instantly rurnotl to Bramfell
with some trivial remark. .
For a second Lotlor waited. then
with a movement of resignation he
laid his hand on lllesslnxton’s arm.
“Very well!" he said. “But if my
fate is black. witness it was my wife
who sent me to it." Ills faint pause
on the word wife. the mention of the
word itself in the presence of these
people, hml a savor of rookies-macs.
The, small diva-ommure of his earlier
slip vanished before‘ it; he expe-
rienced a Wrong reaction of con-
fidence in hi~x incl-l. With a cool
head. a simuly step. anti a friendly
prosslll‘fl' or the fingers on Illo-asl’ingh
‘lon's arm, he allowed himself to be
ltlraxvn across the recopliou-rooms.
lilo-ouch the long corridors. and down
‘i‘hv hruml flight of INK”! lliilt led to
the conservatory.
'l‘ho (“Ull‘u-rvnml'y was a feature of
the Bramh-ll townhouse, and to
Loder it came as something wonder-
ful and unlocked-for—with in cins<
tcrlng green branches, its slight. un-
npprosslve scents. its temperatoly
pleasant atmosphere. He felt no
wish to speak as, still guided by
Blessington. he passed down the
shadowy paths fill! in the halfvlight
had the warmth and mystery of a
Southern garden. Hero and there
a
He stood for
at in uncertainty. looking
I (“£an
“'1 on want
"Lady
laughed.
Come along, olri" ho
touched his
And
The
nary touch of life.
place was still.
from the darkness came the whispers
lag of a voice or the sound of a
laugh. bringing with them the noose
Otherwise the
Absorbed by the air of solitude.
long-ago incident in the tbiian
mountains had faded. like a crayon
mudy in which the man have
merged and gradually lost CHh-‘lCLdr.
Tho past had paled before the urea-
alt—as golden hair might paie be-
foro “black. The dmile came with
contrasting so remarkably with the
noise and crOWded glitter left behuu
in the reception-rooms. he had moved in
half-way down the long, green aislo
before the business in hand came
back to him with a sudden sense of
appalont irrelevance. Then again
Blessingtoa pressed his arm.
“Now. sin!" ho mid. drawing away
and lifting lilo curtain that hung be-
fore the entrance of the tent. ,
Loder looked at the amused, boy-
annoyance.
to Blessington with a touch
abruptness.
asked.
make a big call anyone.
He laughed.
Loder remanded to it.
listed. , .
the
“Oh, nothing. Being
prior place.
sh. see: nothing beyond
widened to the full breadth of
,. ' ‘ the said “She should make
mace; away to the left,
It seemed so paltry to
mar the quiet of the place with the
absurdity of a side-show. He turned
of
"What am I expected to do?" he
Bleesington looked np..surprlaed.
"Why, I thought. sir—" he began.
Then be instantly altered his tone.
"0h. Just enter into the‘s'pidt of the
thing. I‘dy Astrupp won't put and:
strain on your credulity. Mt she’ll
solomalty.”
He had an infectious ugh. and
"But what am 1 to do?” be per-
‘sbe naturally demands acolytos: but
she'll let you know that she holds the
The tent is so “1!!“
1°" W"
is; there‘s absolutely no’doludoa.’
He laughed once more. Then M
denly be lowered hisvotcojlld fick-
ened his steps. “Hero's are!” he
whispered. in pretended awe.
'At theondofthopaihthespaco
the
conservatory. The, ll was lit-Ir.
mar, giving an sddqlfiprealal of
is) face, lighted by the hanging lamp.
and smiled pleasantly; then. with a
shrug 'of the shoulders, he entered
the pavilion. and the curtain fell be-
hind him.
' cuhevsa Xv
ON ontatlng the pavilion. Loder’s
first feeling was one of annoyed
awkward”. at finding himself in .1.
most total darkness. But as his
eyes gnaw accustomed .to tho gloom.
the feeling vanished and the ab-
surdityoftheposiuoacamotohla
mind. '
Tho tent was small. heavily draped
with silk and smelling of musk. It
was divided into two sections by an
1v
9
i
3
ii
Wig
{all
333 ,
;,.s
’i
.
at:
“You must take of? your rings,” she said smoothly.
[Marcia Manon as Lady Astrupp with Guy Bates Post
as Lodcr in “The Masqurader.”]
heard the sound of splashing watch! darknnvs of the place it seemed to
and on his right hand he caught his
first glimpse of the tent that was his
goal.
It was an artistic little structure-
a pavilion formed of silkly fabric
that showed bronze in the llzht of
an Oriental lamp that hung above its
entrance. As they drew closor.
man emerged from it.
a m
aboutl'bim: then. catchlnr alzliz‘of
them. he came forward laughing.
“By Georgei" he exclahm-d, “it‘s
as dark as limbo in there:
see you at first. But I say, Blessing.
ron. it‘s a beastly shame to have that
thunder—cloud barrier shutting or the
aorceress. If she gazes at the crystal.
mayn‘t we have something to gaze
at. too?"
Blesslngtuo
too much, Gantry." he said.
Aatrupp understands the value of tho
unattainable
possess a disproportionate weight-r-
almost the weight of a familiar thing.
Then, with a sudden, unanalyned
touch of relief, he located the impres-
sion. it was the similarity to Lady
limlnrell's sweet. slow tones that had
stirrcd his mind. With a sense of mt-
lsfar'tion he drew the chair forward
and sat down. .
Then. for the first time/Input!
mat on the other side of the gauze
pariiiiun. and below it by a few
incline, was a small table of polished
wood, on which stood an open book.
a crystal ball. and a cold dish tilled
with ink. . These were arranged on
the hid. of the table. nearest to him.
the further side being out of his
,range of vision. All amused inter-
est touched him as he made his posi-
~llon more conm-rlublc Whoever this
woman was, she had an eye for stage
management she knew how to mar-
Junctlon from bcnlnd the sur-
laln. '
me sweet. slow mice after a pause.
".a one of me mules: known arts."
:lvav *5 loroard. The thought of
Lady Branden minglewzi disconcert-
mzl: with some other thought more
dim-at and less easy to secure.
"To obtain the best results." went
ootspread upon a
'the invisible prlegtess was reading
'from taa open book. for when the
word "suntan” was reached there
was a slight stir that indicated the
changing of position; and when the
voice came again it was in a different
tone. '
"Please lay your hands. palms
downward. upon the table."
Lode:- smlled to himself in the
darkness. Be pictured Chilcote with
his nerves and his impatience going
through this ordeal: then in good-
humored silence he leaned forward
and obeyed the command. His hands
rested on the smooth surface of the
table in the bar of light from the
unseen lamp. ‘
There was a secondln which the
seer was silent: than intended that
she raised her head.‘ «
of! your rings.”
she said smoothly.
“Any metal interferes with the
sympathetic carton. t."
At any other time Hider would
have laughed; but the request I0
casually and graciously made sent
all possibility of irony far into tho
background. The thought of Chili
coteand ofthoononawinthdr
. slml her effects Ho round niulaelf.
“mm W “M”: drawing aim ""' ; waiting with some curiosity for vhc'
ward with an energetic pleasure of; m,“ in
the arm.
Loder responded. and u no'dlo so
a illr‘lh-r of curiosity '
mind ior the first time He wondered-
for an instant who ml: woman was.
who aroused so much comment
with {he mecmatlon came Ina le-
membrance of how one bad assured!
Obilcoto that on one point a: least'
he was lnvulnerable. He had spoken'
then from the height of . past "peg so the sear, “the subject lays his
fiance—an experience so fully .mwed' "I'M“vd "3""!
n,“ he wondered now if It mg, 5...“, , smooth surfaCe." It was evident that
as staple a guarantee as he had men
believed Man's capacitv fov outliv-
ing is astonishingly complete
“The out at euetn.~gz.mng.‘ oezanl
l
ween mllyl’inwhowecroonf‘vfiilomfi .
W.onymgtnnow Me‘s -
1
Quanta to have adopted Jewelry
and had soul the designs of his
rings. the sight of his moaned
anger would suggest enemies and
comment; if. “motherhood. he
left the pavilion without mouse. or
it, without apparent reason. he re-
fused to remova the rings. lie opened
up a new diflculty—a fl'esh roadie
curioslw. Rumouponhimwith un-
usual quickaeeo-dlo obstacles to.
and the need for. a speody decision.
lie glanced round the tent. than an-
consciousiyhe straightened his shonl~
dors. After all, be had stopped Into
a tight corner. but thoro was no need
tocryoutlnoansedaghiswsyback.
Then he realm that the soft. ingra-
tlating tones were sounding once
more.
“It's the passing of my hands over
yours, while I look into the crystal.
that sets up sympothy"-—a slender
hand moved swiftly into the light
and picked up the ball—“and makes
my eyes see tho pictures in your
mind. Now. will you please take
of! your rings?"
The very natural». of tho ro-
queat disarmed him. It M risk.
But, as Chllcote had said. risk was
the salt of life!
“I'm afraid you think-mo very trou-
blesome." The voles came again.
delicately low and conciliatory.
For a brief second Lode: wondered
uncortainly how long or how well
Chilcote knew Lady Astrupp; then
be dismissed the question. Chilcote
had never mentioned her until to-
night. and then casually as Lady
Bramfell‘a sister. What a coward he
was becoming in throwing the dice
with Fate! Without mrther dolay he
drew oi! the rings; slipped them into
his pocket. and replaced his hands
on the smooth table-top.
Then, at the moment that he re-
placed them. a peculiar thing oc-
curred.
From thevfarther side of the dark
partition came the quick, rustling
stir of a skirt, and the slight scrape
of a chair pushed either backward
or forward. Then there was silence.
Now, silence can suggest anything,
from profound thought to imbecility;
but in this case its suggestion was
nil. That something had happened.
that some change had taken place.
was as patent .to Loner as the dark-
ness of the curtain or the band of
light that crossed the floor.‘ but what
had Occasioned it, or what it stood
for. he made no attempt to decide.
He sat bitingiy conscious of.» his
hands spread open on the table un-
der the scrutiny of eyes that were
invisible to him— vividly aware of
the awkwardness of his position.
He - felt with instinctive certainty
that a new chord had been struck:
but a man seldom acts on instinctive
certainties. if the exposure of his
hands had struck this fresh note.
then any added action would but
heighten the dilemma. He sat si-
lent and motionless.
Whether his impassivity had any
bearing on the moment he had no
mu of knowing; but no further
movement came from behind the par.
tition. Whatever the emotions that
had mam-d the sharp swish of skirts
and the sharp scrape of the chair,
they had evidently subsided or been
dominated by other feelings.
The nest indlcanoa of life that
runs to him was [no laying down of
the crystal ball. bl was laid back
upon the table with a slilbt jerk that
indicated a decision come to; and
almost simultaneously the oeer's
voice came to him again. Her‘tone
was lower now than it had been be-
fore. and its extreme case seemed
slightly shaken—whether by oxcite~
meat. surprise, or curiosity. it was
impossible to say.
“You will think it strange-9 she
began. "You will think-4' Then she
stopped
There was a pause. as though she
waited for some help. but Loder re
malned mutt. In difficulty a silent
tongue and a soon head are usually
man's best weapons.
His silence was disconcerting. He
heard her stir again.
"You will think it straw” she
began once more. Then quite sud-
denly-sho checked and controlled her
voice. ' “You must forgivo me for
what i am gomg to say." she added.
in a completely different tone. “but
crystal-gazing is such an illnslvo
thing uracil) you put your hands
upon the’tabloI felt’that’thero would
be no result; but t wouldn't admit
the defeat Women are such keen
anglers that they can aovor acknowl-
edge that any fish. however big, has
the hook." Sho laughed
softly.
- ‘Atdlososnlatholaanloder
'shiftod aumammoamume.
Boeonldaotlavotold whalntlt
%
lanai
attentively. it reasoned that she leaned
forward. and examined his hands
afresh: The sensation was as seats
that he withdrew them involuntarily.
Again there was a confused rustle;
the Crystal ball rolled from the table.
and the seer laughed Quickly. Obey-
lng a strenuous impulse. Lode:- rose.
He had no definite notion of what
he expected or what he must avoid.
He was only conscious that the pavil-
ion, withltesilkdraperieaitsscent
of mask. and its intolerable secrecy.
was no longer ontlurable. He felt
cramped and confused in mind and
muscle. Beseoodforasecondto
straighten his limbo: then he turned.
and. moving directly forward. passed
through the portion.
After the dilution of tho pavilion
the conservatory seemed compara-
tively bright; but without Waiting
to grow accustomed to ma altered
lia’ht he moved onward with dellben
ato haste, The long. green alley,
was speedily traversed; in his eyes
it no longer possessed greenneas. no
longer suggested freshness or repose.
It was simply a means to the and
upoa which his mind was sat.
As he passed up the night he drew”
his rings from his pocket and slipped
them on again. Then he stepped
into the glare of the thronged cor-
ridor.
Some one hailed him as he passed
through the crowd. but: with Ghllcote‘e
most absorbed .manner ho hurried
on. Through the door of the supper-
room he caught sight of Blessington
and Eve. and then for the first time
his expression changed, and he turn-
ed directly towards them.
"Eve," he said. “will you excuse
me? i have a word to say to Bless
lngion."
She glanced at him in momentary
surprise: then she smiled in her
quiet. self-possessed way.
"or course i" she said. "I‘ve been
wanting a chat with Millicent Gower,
but Bobby has required so much en-
tertaining—" She smiled again. this
time at Bleaslngton and moved away
towards a pale girl in green who
was standing alone.
Instantly she had turned. Loder
tookvlilesslngton‘s arm.
“I know you‘re tremendously
busy." he began. in an excellent imi-
tation of Chilcoto’s hasty manner—
“I know you're tremendously busy.
but I'm in a fix.“ One glance at
filessington'a healthy. ingenuous face
told him that plain speaking was the
method to adopt.
“Indeed. air?" In a moment Bless-
ington was on the alert.
"Yes. And 1—! want your help."
The boy re'ddened. That Chlicote
should appeal to him stirred him to
an uneasy foo ing of pride and uncer-
taluiy.
Loder saw his advantage and
pressed it home. "It's come about
through this crystal-caring business.
l'm afraid I didn’t play my part-—
rather made an ass of myself; I
wouldn‘t swallow the thing, and——
and ‘Lady Astrupp—" He paused.
measuring Bleaaington with a glance.
"Well, my dear boy. you—you know
what women are l"
Blesslnrton was only twenty-three.
He reddened again, and assumed an
air of prohrndliy. “I know. sir."
he said. with a shake of the head.
Lodel‘s sense (if-humor was keen.
but he kept a grave faco. "I know
you'd catch my meaning; but I want
you to do something more. If Lady
Aalrupp should ask you who was in
her tent this past ten minutes, I
want you—" Again he. stopped,loolr~
ing at his companion's face.
“Yes, sir?" _
"I want you to tell an immaterial
lie for me."
Blessingmn returned his glance:
then he laughed a little uncomfort-
ably. "But surely. slr—"
smchfiinwffiimtmofcon-g
fauna. A,pnbdvltato wish tome
tilrouab
mnflhllcotobytherlmandhadbeen
otherhasdherobvloaschanseof
passes. woman's behavior could never ho
"She recognized mo. You mean?"
illoder's eyes were as keen as steel.
"Ya."
“Then you're wrong. She didn't.”
: ,Blesslngmn'a eyebrows went up.
. There was silence. Loder glanced
lacmss tiio room. Eve had parted
1from the url in green and wsslmov-
lag towards them, exchanging smiles
and greeting! as she came.
“Hy wife is coming back." he said.
“Will you do this for me, Illessing-
ton'l lt—it will smooth things-J
Ho spoke quickly. continuing to
watch Eve. As he had hoped. Bless-
ington's eyes tan-nod in the same di-
rection. " 'Twill smooth mothers."
he repeated. “smooth them inuin a
domestic way that i can’t emplaia."
The shot told. Bleaslngton looked
irooad.
“night. all-l" as said. “You may
leave it to me.” And beware Lodor
could speak again- he had turned mid
disappeared into the crowd.
case-ran xv:
business" with Blosslngton
1;. If Ia'dy am» had recognised
roused to curiosity. . , incident
would demand settlement ’soaner or
Wealth whatproportiou
heeonld has'ard so guess: if. on the
mannarhsdarisenfromanyomer
soorco—hohadahszyfides theta
feeling that his “cashew-had boas
groundless—ho moved .l notward tol
greet Eve. ‘ . ‘
Her face. with its rlch. clear col-i
oring. seems: to his ”:30 stand;
out from th crowd of otlmr. faces
“from aframe. andaaansaofprldo"
touched him. In every eye. but hlsfi
own her beauty below to him.
"nu face looked allvo‘oitllfiam
fnl as she reached his'slde." “May I
monopolies you?” he said. with the
quickness of speech borrowed trots
Chllcot "We—we see so little of
each er." '
Almost as it compelled. hauls-bee
lifted and her eyes met his. Bar)
glance was puzzled, uncertain. alight- ,
1y confused. There was a deeper.
color than usual in her chem-Laden
felt something in his own conscious.
nose. our in response
"You know you are yle
said.
Again she blue .d.
He saw the
it was he—hi
gctual semblance he had i
ved his superiority over Chilcoto.
For the first time be had been given ‘
a tacit. personal acknowledgment of
his power. Involuntarlly he drew
nearer to her. ' ‘
"Let's get out of this crush."
She made no answer except to
bend her head: and it came to him
that. for all her pride. also liked—-
and unconsciously yielded toy—dom-
ination. With a satisfied gesture
he turned to make a passage towara
the door.
But the passaga‘vns more easily
desired than made. In the few Ino- ~
meats since he had enteredtbe sup- ;
per-room the press of petiple bad
considerably thickened—until svbiock
had formed about the door—way.
Drawing Eve with him, heamoved,
forward for a dam paces. then
paused. unable to make further head-
way. ,
As they stood there. be looked
back at her. "What a study in
democracy a crowd always is!" be
said.
She responded with a bright, ap.
preciative glance. as if surprised in-
to naturalnees. He wondered sharply
what she would be like if her en~i
thuaiasms were really aroused. Then
a stir in the corridor outside caused
a movement inside the room: and
with a certain display of persistence
he was enabled to make a passage
to the door. ,-
There again they were'oompeiled
to halt. But though tightly wedged
into his new position and guarding
Eve with one arm. Loder was free
to survey the brilliantly thronged
corridor ovcr the head of a man a
few inches shortcr than himself. who
stood directly in front of him.
“What are we waiting for?" he
asked. good humorediy. addressing
the back of the stranger’s head.
The man turned. displaying a
genial face, a red mustache. and
an eye-glass. ' .
"Hallo. Ghllcotei" he said. “Hope .
it's not on your feet I'm standing."
Lode-r laughed. “No." ha said.
“And don‘t change the position. If
you were an inch higher I should be
blind as well as crippled." '
The other laughed. It was a pleas-
ant surprise to find Chilcote amiable
under discomfort. He looked round
again in slight curiosity. .
Loder felt the scrutiny. To ore.
ate a diversion be looked out along
the corridor. “I believe we at! walt-
lng for something," he exclaimed.
”What's this?" Then quite abruptly
he ceased to speak. :
“Anything interesting?“ Ev. touch-
ed his arm.
He said nothing: he madeno ef-
fort‘to look round. Ills thougdlt as
well as his speech was suddenly susa
pended. .
The man in front of him let his
eye-glass fall from his eye. than
screwed it in again. 3
"Jove l" he exclaimed. "Eerocouaes .
our sorcerusa. It’s like the phone-s
of a fairy princess. I belieée this
is the meaning of our getting penned \,
in here." He chuckled dellght'edly. '
Lodor said nothing. He stared?
straight on over the other’s head.
Along the corridor. agreeably con-
scious of the hum of admiration she
aroused. came Lillian Astrnpp. sur-
rounded by a little court. deli- .
cats face was lit up: her ey shone
under the faint gleam‘ of hot hair;
her gown of gold embroidery! swept
round her gracefully.
w
s .
in her eyes. as theytnmed flflckl’i
in one direction and than southern;
Lodor.gsaingia stupofactida over
the other man's head. saw its-hit
and understood it with a mind, that
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Norwalk Chronicler