I
went on with him to the club afterwards and was there when the
news came in. 'Twas a great night!"
Loder's face lighted up. "I can imagine it," he said, with an
unusual touch of warmth.
Lakely watched him intently for a moment. Then with a quick
action he leaned forward and rested his elbows on the desk.
"It's going to be something more than imagination for you,
Chilcote," he said, impressively. "It's going to be solid
earnest!" He spoke rapidly and with rather more than his
usual shrewd decisiveness; then he paused to see the effect of
his announcement.
Loder was still studying the flaring poster. At the other's
words he turned sharply. Something in Lakely's voice,
something in his manner, arrested him. A tinge of color
crossed his face.
"Reality?" he said. "What do you mean?"
For a further space his companion watched him; then with a
rapid movement he tilted back his chair.
"Yes," he said. "Yes; old Fraide's instincts are never far
out. He's quite right. You're the man!"
Still quietly, but with a strange underglow of excitement,
Loder left the fire, and, coming forward, took a chair at
Lakely's desk.
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