Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-12-31

 whisky and set it on the table; then in 1 stinctiveIy he turned aside. AS plainly 1 as though he saw the action he men l tally figured Chilcote's furtiye glance. 1 the furtive movement of his fingers to | his waistcoat pocket, the hasty drop ping of the tahloids into the glass. | For an instant the sense of his tact connivance came to him sharply; the next. lie flung it from him. The hu- man, inner voice was whispering it's old watchword. The strong man has no time to waste over his weaker brother.
 When lie heard Chilcote lay down his tumbler he looked back again. Well. what is it:' he said. What 've you come for?' He strove rcsoi4tcly to keep his voice severe but, try as he might, he could not quite subdue the eager force that lay behind his words. Once again. as on the night of their second interchange. life had become d phoenix, rising to fresh existence even while he sfted it's ashes. "Well?' he ! said once again.
 
 was nervouSly passing his handker chief across his lips. There was some thing in the gesture that attracted I.o- der. Looking at him more attentively, he saw what his own feelings and the others conventional dress had blndei him to-the almost piteous panic and excitement in his visitors eyes. nu'S hn with abrupt intuition.
 Chileote started "Yes-no-that is, yes" he stammered.
 Loder moved around tue table. Something's eoue wrong" he repeat ed. and you've cone to tell me
 The tone unnerved Chilcotc He sud denly dropped into q chair. 'It-it wasut my faHlt." he began. II have had d leolrilac timo",
 Lodel's lips ti@htened. Yes" he said. yes l understand. Ilie oiAer glanced up with q "leam of his ell suspicion, ''Twas all my nerves. l.odcr"-
 of course Yes of eourse.' To der'S intcrrilptinf was e'lrt. ei,lcofe eyed him 0ol1t1fullH. Then roco!lcctton took the place of doubt. and |. ,.il.tis:.t' pas>eti os.el' his eNpreS sion. "It wasn't ,ssE fdgIt." he began hastily. "un ntv saul it wasn't. l. was trnlla!n'S h2astiv fault for show iuc her into tll" morning re9M Ioder kept silent lis curiosity had fared into sudden life at the others words. but he feared to break the shat. tered train of thought even by q word. In the silence Ckilcote moved un easily. You see," he went on at last, "when I was here with you I-I felt strong. IT. He stopped
 "Yes, yes. When you were here with me you felt strong
 'Yes, that's it. While I was here l felt l could do the thing. But when l went home-when went up to my rooms Again he paused, passing his handkerchief across his forehead.
 When you went up to your roons:" 1 I.oder strove hard 10 keep his control "To my room?-- Oh. I-l forget about that. l forget about the night He hesitated confusedly. AM re- 1 member is the coming down to break 1 fast next morning-this morning at 1 IF o'clock"-
 Loder turned to the table and poured himself out some whisky. 'Yes,' he acQufesced in a very quiet voice. At the word Chilcote rose from his seat His disquietuae was very evi- dent. "Oh, there was breakfast on the 1 table when l came downstairs-break- l fast. with flowers and a horrible, dag zIing glare of sun. It was then, Loder. as l stood and looked into the room. that the mpossibility of 1t all came to 1 me-that I knew I couldn't stand it. ] couldn't go on."
 I.oder swallowed his whisky slowly. His sense of overpOwering curiosity held him very still, but he made no effort to prompt his companion.
 Again Chilcote shifted his position agitatedly. Tt had to be done,' he said disjointelly. Il had to do it-then and there The things were on the bu- reau-the pens and ink and telegraph forms. They tempted me- | Loder laid down his glass suddenly. | An exclamation rose to his lips, but he checked it.
 l At the slight sound of the tumbler touching the table Chilcote turned, but there was no expression on the others face to alright him.
 "They tempted me-" he repeated has tily. "They seemed like magnets; they seemed to draw me toward them. sat at the bureau staring at them for d long time. Then terrible compulson seized me-something you could never understand-and l caught up the near est pen and wrote just what was in my mind It wasn't a telegram, properly speaking. It was more letter.
 wanted you back, and l had to make myself plain. The writing of the mes
 Sauo Saan,au ta steady me. the mere