The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-11-03

/ SenSdtlOn IN the OuSe, SIT. speech
/ by Mr. Chilcote. Government defeat.'
For a moment Loder stopped and his
face Redeemed The tide of emotions
still ran strong. His hand went In
| stinctively to his pocket; then his lips
set He shook his head and walked on
! With the same hard expression about
his mouth. he turned into Clifford's
| inn, passed through his own doorway
and mounted the stairs.
| This time there was no milk can on
| the threshold Of his rooms and the door
| yielded to his pressure without the
need Of a key. With a strange sensa-
ton Of reluctance he walked into the
narrow passage and paused. uncertain
| which room to enter first. AS he stood
hesitating a voice from the sitting
| room settled the question.
"Who's there?" it called irritably.
what do you want?
Without further ceremony the in
| truder pushed the door open and en-
/ tered the room. As he did SO he drew
| a quick breath-whether Of disappoint-
ment or relief it was impossible to say
| Whether he had hoped for or dreaded
| Ii, Chilcote was conscious.
AS Loder entered he was sitting by
| the cherries CRATE, the ashes of yes
| terday's fire showing charred and
| dreary where the sun touched them.
| His back was to the light. and about
| his shoulders was an old plaid rug.
Behind him on the table stood a cup.
| a teapot and the can of milk; farther
| off a kettle was set to boil upon a
tiny spirit stove.
In all strong situations we are more
or less commonplace. Loders first re-
mark as he glanced round the disor-
dered room seemed strangely inef-
ficient
where's Robins?'' he asked in a
brusque voice His mind teemed with
big considerations. yet this was his
first involuntary question.
Chilcote had started at the entrance
of his visitor; now he sat staring at
him. his hands holding the arms of his
chair.
where's Robins?" Loder asked
again.
Il don't know. She L We did
not hit it off. She's gone-went yes
terday." He shivered- and drew the
rug about him.
"Chilcote''-- Loder began sternly.
Then he paused. There was something
in the others look and attitude that
arrested him. A change of expression
passed over his own face. He turned
about, with an abrupt gesture pulled
OFF his coat and threw it on Il chair:
then. crossing deliberately to the fire
pace, ne began TO rake the asnes from
the CRATE.
Within few minutes he had fire
cracking where the bed of dead Gin
ders had been. and, having finished the
task, he rose slowly from his knees,
wiped his hands and crossed to the Ia
Bile. On the small spirit stove the ket-
tie had boiled, and the cover was lift
ing and falling with a tinkling sound.
Blowing out the fame, Loder picked
up the teapot and, with hands that
were evidently accustomed to the task.
set about making the tea.
During the whole operation he never
spoke, though all the while he was
fully conscious of Chilcote's puzzled
gaze The tea ready. he poured it into
the cup and carried it across the room.
Drink this.' he said laconically.
1.-THE fire will be up presently"
Chilcote extended a cold and shaky
hand. "You see he began.
But Loder checked him almost saw
agely. II do-as we'll as though 1 had
followed you from Piccadilly last night.
You've been hanging about. God knows
where. till the small hours of the morn
ing; then you've come back-slunk
back, starving for your Internal poison
and shivering with cold. You've set
tied the first part of the business, but
the cold has still to be reckoned with.
Drink the tea. I've something to say
to you" He mastered his vehemence
and, walking to the window, stood
looking down into the court His eyes
were blank, his face hard; his ears
heard nothing but the faint sound of
Chilcote's swallowing, the click of the
cup against his teeth.
For a time that seemed interminable
he stood motionless; then. when he |
judged the tea finished, he turned
slowly. Chilcote had drawn closer to
the fire. He was obviously braced by t
the warmth. and the apathy that rung
about him was to some extent dispel- |
led. Still moving slowly, Loder went
toward him and. relieving him of the
empty cup. stood looking down at him. /
"Chilcote." he said very quietly. 'T've
come to tell you that the thing must
end"
After he spoke there was a prolonged
pause; then. as il shaken with sudden
consciousness. Chilcote rose. The rug
dropped from one shoulder and hung
down ludicrously: his hand caught the
back OF the chair for support; his I'M
shaven face looked absurd and repul
sive in its sudden expression OF scared
inquiry. Loder involuntarily turned
away.
81 mean IT, he said slowly. 'It's
over; we've come to the end
But why?" Chilcote articulated
blankly. why? Why?' In his confu
sion he could think of no better word.
Because l throw it up. My side OF
the bargains Off,
Again Chilcote's lips parted stamner.
ingly. The apathy caused by physica.
exhaustion and his recently administer
ed drug was passing from him; the
hopelessly shattered condition of mind
and body was showing through it like
skeleton through a thin covering OF