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Masquerader
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By KATHERINE CECIL THURSTON,
Author of The Circle." Etc.
Copy riant. 1005. 1004,
COKTIMOB.l
I
He rose early on the day Hint w.i to
witness IiIn great effort anil dressed
slowly. It wns u splendid morning.
Tiie .spirit of thy spring seemed em
bodied in the nlr, in the pule liltie sky,
In .the shafts of cool sunshine that
danced from Ihe mirror to the dressing
table, from (ho dressing table to the
pictures on the walls or Chilroto's vast
room, liicnuscqucntly with itn dancing
rose n meniory of the distant past a
memory of long forgotten days when,
as a child, he had been bidden to watch
the sntne huh perforin the aaim fan
tastic evolutions. The sight and the
thought stirred liiui curiously with nn
uiilunkcd for seine of youth. I'.edrew
himself together with an added touch
of decision as he passed out Into the
corridor, and as he walked downstairs '
he whist led n bar or two of an inspirit
ing tune.
In the morning room ICvc was al
ready waiting, she looked ui. colored
and smiled as lie entered. Her faco '
looked very fresh and young, and she
wore a gown of the same pale blue
that she had worn on his first coming.
She looked up from an open letter as
lie came Into the room, and the sun
that fell through Hie window caught
her in a shaft of light, intensifying
her blue eyes, her blue gown and the
bunch of violets fastened in her belt.
Ti Loder, still under the influence of
early memories, she seemed the em
bodiment of some youthful ideal some
thing lost, sought for and found again.
Realization of his feeling for her al
most came to him as he stood there
looking at her. It hovered about him,
It tipped him, as it were, wilii its
wings; (hen it rose again and soared
away. Men like him men keen to
grasp an opening where their careers
are concerned and tenacious to hold It
when once grasped are frequently the
last to look into their owu hearts. He
.glanced at Eve, he acknowledged the
tir of his feeling, but he made no
attempt t.dollno its cuise. lie could
no more have given reason for his
filiations than he could have told
the precise date upon which, coming
downstairs at 8 o'clock, he had first
found her waiting breakfast for him.
The time wheji all such incidents were
to stand out, each to a nicety In Its ap
pointed place, had not yet arrived. For
the moment his youth had returned to
him; ho possessed the knowledge of
work done, Hie sense of present com
panionship in a world of agreeable
things; Above all, the steady, quiet con
Yiction of his own capacity. All these
things came to him in the moment of
his entering the room, greeting Eve
-nml passing to Hie breakfast table;
then, while his eyes still rested con
tentedly on Hie pleasant array of cliina
and silver, while his senses were still
nllve (o the fresh, earthly scent of
Kve's violets, the blow so long dreaded
so slow hi coming-fell with accumu
lated force.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Tlin-J letter through which the
I I blow fell was not voluminous.
I J It was wrltlen on cheap paper
: -1 in a disguised hand, and Hie
contents covered only half a page.
J.oder read It slowly, mentally artlcu
hling every word; then ho laid It
town, and ns ho did ho caught Eve's
yes raised In concern. Again he saw
mii'thing of his own feelings reflected
in hei tce, nud the shock braced him.
He picked up the letter, tearing it into
strips.
"I must go out," he said slowly. "I
iniifit go now at once." Ills voice was
hard.
Eve's surprised, concerned eyes still
searched his. "Now at once?" she re
peated. "Now without breakfast?'
"I'm not hungry." Ho rose from his
seat and, carrying tho slips of paper
across the room, dropped them Into the
fire. He did It not so much from cau
tion as from an imperative wish to do
something, lo move, if only across the
room.
Eve's glance followed film. "Is it
bad news?" she asked anxiously. It
was unlike hnr to bo insistent, but she
was moved to the Impulse by tho pecu
liarity of the moment.
"No," ho said shortly. "It's-busl-ness.
This wart written yesterday; I
should have got it last night."
Her eyes widened. "Hut nobody does
business at 8 In tho morning" she be
gan In astonishment, then she sudden
ly broko oft'.
Without apology or farewell Loder
had left tho tlreplaco and walked out
of the room.
Ho passed through the hall hurried
ly, picking up n hat as ho went, and,
by Harper Drotlien
" 2
www Kferte&KrW y
Lutlcr stood xhncked and xpcllliound hi
the klijht.
reaching the pavement outside, he went
straight forward until Grosvonor square
was left behind, Uien he ran. At the
risk of reputation, at the loss of dig
nity, he ran until lie saw a cab. Hail
ing it, he sprang inside, and as the
cabman whipped up and the horse re
sponded to the call he realized for tho
first time the full significance of what
had occurred.
Realization, like Hie need for action,
came lo him slowly, but when It came
it was Willi terrible lucidity. He did
not swear as he leaned back In Ids
seat mechanically watching the stream
of men on their way to business, the
belated cars of green produce blocking
the way between the Strand and Cov
ent Garden. He had no use for oaths;
his feelings lay deeper than mere
words. But his mouth was sternly set
and ills eyes looked cold.
Outside the law courts he dismissed
his cab and walked forward to Clif
ford's inn. As lie passed through the
familiar entrance a chill fell on him.
In the clear, early light it seemed more
than ever a place of dead hopes, dead
enterprises, dead ambitious. In the
onward march of life It had been for
gotten. The very air had n breath of
iiufultillmcnt.
He crossed the court rapidly, but his
mouth set Itself afresh as he passed
through the doorway of his own house
and crossed the bare hall.
As he mounted the well known stairs
he received his first Indication of life
in the appearance of n cat from the
second lioor rooms. At sight of him Hio
animal came forward, rubbed demon
stratively against his, legs and with af
fectionate persistence followed him up
stairs. Outside his door ho paused. On the
ground stood the usual morning can of
milk evidence that Chlleote was not
yet awake or that, like himself, he hod
no appetite for breakfast. He smiled
Ironically as the Idea struck him, but
It was a smile that itlffoned rather
than relaxed his lips. Then he drew
out tho duplicate key he always carried
nn.,1, Inserting It quietly, opened Hie
door. A close, unpleasant smell greet
ed him as ho entered tho small passage
that divided the bed and sitting rooms
a smell of whisky mingling with tho
odor of stalo smoke. With a quick
gesture ho pushed open tho bedroom
door. Then on the threshold ho paused,
a look of contempt and repulsion pnBS
lug over his faco.
Iu his first glance ho senrooly grasp
ed tho details of tho scene, for tho half
drawn curtains kept the light dim, but
as his eyes grew accustomed to tho ob
scurity ho gathered their significance.
Tho room had a sleepless, Jaded air
the room that under his own occupation
had shown n rigid, almost monastic se
verity. The plain dressing table was
littered with cigarette ends and marked
with black and tawny patches where
the tobacco had been loft to burn Itself
out. On one corner of the table a
carafe of water and a whisky decanter
rested one against tho other, as If for
support, and nt tho other end an over
turned tumbler lay in a poo) of liquid.
Tho whole effect was sickly and nause
ating. Ills glance turned involuntarily
to tho bed and thero halted.
On tho hard, narrow mattress, from
which tho sheets aim blanket had fall
en In n disordered heap, lay Chlleote.
no was fully dressed In a shabby
Iweod suit of I.oder's; his collar was
tjpen, his Up and chin unsharcn; ono
opnng JJry Lioods
V0 ' I
DRESS GOODS
We arc showing a full line of Spring and Snmmer Dress
Goods of the latest patterns.
Plaids and Figured Goods, 2.1, inches wide, at.. 120
Plaids and Figured Goods, 32 inches wide, at.. 25c
Mohairs, from 30c to $1.00
All wool Plaids, 36 inches wide 50c, 60c
Phantom Mohairs 60c
Nippon Checks in Silks at 25c
Guaranteed Taffeta Silk, 36 in. wide $1.00
Guaranteed Taffeta Silk, 36 in. wide 1 .25
Peau de Soie, 30 inches wide 1 .50
Japanese Silk, 27 inches wide 50
A line line of Marceline and La Sirene Silks, Or
gandies. Dotted and India Swisses, etc., 15 to 60c.
;4
1
Percales, Etc.
26 in. Percales 7c
32 in. Percales 10c
30 in. Percales i2.c
Ginghams 7 to i2.lc
Madras 15 to 1 8c
Muslin Underwear
We have a full line of
Ladies' Muslin Underwear.
Collars
Turnover 7 to 50c
Stock Collars 15 to 60c
hand was limply grnspiu; tho pillow,
while the other hung out over the side
of Hie bed. His face, pale, almost
earthy In hue, tuijjht have been a mask
save for the slight convulsive spasms
that crossed It from time to time and
corresponded with the faint, shivering
starts that passed at Intervals over his
whole body. To complete his repellent
appearance, a lock of hair had fallen
loose and lay black and damp across
his forehead.
Loder stood for a space shocked and
spellbound by the sight. Kven in the
ghastly disarray the likeness the ex
traordinary, sinister likeness that had
become tho pivot upon which he him
self revolved struck him like a blow.
Tito man who lay there was himself,
bound to him by some subtle, Inexplic
able He of similarity. As tho Idea
touched him he turned aside and step
ped quickly to tho dressing table.
There, with unnecessary energy, ho
flung back Hie curtains and throw tho
window wide. Then again he turned
toward the bod. Ho had ono dominant
Impulse, to waken Chlleote. to be free
of tho repulsive, Inert presence that
chilled hlm with so personal a horror.
Leaning over tho bed, he caught tho
shoulder nearest to hlm nml shook It.
It was not the moment for niceties,
and his gesture was rough.
At his first touch Chllcoto mado no
rcsponse-hls brain, dulled by Indul
gence In his vice, had bocomo a lag
gard In convoying sensations but at
last, as tho pressuro on his shoulder
Increased, his nervous system seemed
suddenly to jar Into consciousness. A
long shudder shook hlm; he half lifted
himself and then dropped back upon
tho pillow.
"Oh!" ho exclaimed In a trembling
breath. "Oh!" Tho sound seemed
drawn from him by compulsion.
Its uncanny tone chilled Loder iriow.
"Wako up, man!" ho said suddenly.
"Wake up! It's I Loder."
Again the other shuddered; then he
turned quickly nnd nervously. "Lo
dor?" ho said doubtfully. "Loder?"
Then his face changed. "Good God,"
ho exclaimed, "what a relief!"
Tho words were so Intense, so spon
taneous and unexpected that Loder
took n Btep back.
Chllcoto laughed discordantly and
lifted n shaky baud to protect his eyes
from tho light
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"it's-lt's all right, Loder! It's all
right! It's only Hint I-tlint I had a
beastly dream. Hut, for heaven's sake,
shut that window!" He shivered in
voluntarily and pushed the lock of
damp hair from his forehead with n
weak touch of his old Irritability.
In silence Loder moved back to the
window and shut It. He was affected
more than he would own even to him
self by the obvious chango In Chlleote.
He had seen hlm moody, restless, nerv
ously excited, but never before had ho
seen hlm entirely demoralized. With
u dull feeling of Impotence and disgust
Jiu stood by the closed window, looking
unseelngly nt the roofs of the opposite
houses.
Hut Chllcoto had followed his move
ments restlessly, and now as he watch
ed hlm a lHcker of excitement crossed
his face. "God, Loder," he said again,
"'twas a relief to see you! I dreamed
I was In hell a horrible hell, worse
than tho ono they preach about." Ho
laughed to reassure himself, but his
voice shook pitiably.
Loder, who had come to fight, stood
silent and Inert.
"It was horrible beastly," Chllcoto
went on. "There wns no lire and brim
stone, but there was something worse.
It was a great ironic scheme of pun
ishment by which every man wns
chained to his own vice by which the
thing ho had gone to pieces over, In
stead of being denied hlm, was made
compulsory. Von can't Imagine It." Ho
shivered nervously and his voice rose.
"Fancy being satiated beyond Hie lim
it of satiety, being driven and dogged
by Hie thing you had run after all your
life!"
He paused excitedly, and in tho
pnuso Loder found resolution. Ho shut
Ills ears to the panic In Chllcote's voice,
ho closed his consciousness to tho sight
of his shaken face. With a surgo of de
termination lie rallied his theories. Aft
er all, ho had himself and his own in
terests to claim his thought. At the mo
ment Chllcoto was a wreck, with no de
sire toward rehabilitation, but thoro
wns no guarantee that In an hour or
two ho might not have regained con
trol over himself and with It the Incli
nation that had prompted his letter of
tho day before. No; ho had himself to
look to. Tho survival of tho fittest was
tho truo, tho only principle. Chllcoto
had had. l!itollectueducaU.ont opportu
v.i' yviv'(av.
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Infants'
Long Dresses
V l"-1 V. "li ".AIl'I 111 Ibil-'m L-'WJKTA
It al i I i
Infants' Long Dresses at 35c
to Si. 00.
Infants' Long Skirts, 25 to 50c
Infants' Short Dresses, 25 to
Infants' Short Skirts, at 20c
to 40c.
Gloves
White Silk Gloves at
50c
Long-wristed Black
Gloves, $1.25.
VTNWMIHMM M4kllIIBia
Cloud, Mr.
J
nity, and Chffcotc had deliberately cast
them aside. Fortifying himself In thu
knowledge, ho turned from tho window
and moved slowly back to the bed.
"Look here," he began, "you wrota
for me last night." His voice wus hard.
He had come to fight.
Chlleote glanced up quickly. Ills
mouth was drawn and thero was a nevr
anxiety in his eyes. "Loder!" he ex
claimed quickly. "Loder, como here!
Come nearer!"
Heluctantly Loder obeyed. Stepping
closer to the side of the bed, he beut
down.
The other put up his hand and caught
his urm. His fingers trembled and Jerk
ed. "I say. Loder," he said suddenly,
'"I I've had such n beastly night my
nervei, you know"
With a quick, involuntary disgust
Loder drew back. "Don't you think
we might shove that aside?" he asked.
IJut Chllcote's gaze had wandered
from his faco and strayed to the dress
ing table; there It moved feverishly
from ono object to another.
"Loder," he exclaimed, "do you seo
-can you see If there's a tuho of tab
loids on the mantelshelf or on tho
dressing table?" Ho lifted himself
nervously on his elbow, and his eyes
Wandered uneasily about tho room. "I
-I bud u beastly night; my nerves are
horribly Jarred, nna I thought I
think" Ho stopped.
Witli his Increasing consciousness his
nervous collapse became more marked.
At tho first moment of waking tno re
lief of an unexpected presence had sur
mounted everything else, but now, as
ono by ono his faculties stirred, his
wretched condition became patent.
WlHi a new sense of perturbation
Loder made his next attack.
"Chllcoto," he began sternly.
But again Chllcoto caught his urm,
plucking at tho coat sleeve. "Whore Is
It?" he said. "Where Is tho tubo of
tabloids tho sedative? I'm I'm oblig
ed to take something when my nerves
go wrong." In his weakness and nor
vous tremor ho forgot that Loder was
tho sharer of his secret. Even In his
extremity his fear of detection clung
to hlm limply tho lies that had bo
como second naturo slipped from him
(Continue.! on Pit Six.)
Get one of those clocks wo aro gly
ing away.
III
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