The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-12-12

My dear boy! Nothing OF the kind.
Come back to your place and tell me
the whole tale?' She smiled again, and
patted the couch invitingly.
But Chilcote's balance had been up
set For the first time he saw Lillian
as one of the watchful. suspecting
crowd before which he was constantly
on guard. Acting on the sensation, he
moved suddenly toward the door.
II have an appointment at the
house." he said quickly. 'I'n look in
another day when-when I'm better
company. I know I'm a bear today.
Ny nerves, you know" He came back
to the couch and took her hand. Then
he touched her cheek for an instant
with his fingers.
"Goodby," he said Take care Of
yourself-and the kitten" he added
with forced gayety, as he crossed the
+ room.
That afternoon Chilcote's nervous
i condition reached it's height. All day
he had avoided the climax, but no
j evasion can be eternal, and this he
realized as he sat In his place on the
opposition benches during the half
hour of wintry twilight that precedes
+ the turning on of the lights. He real
lied it in that half hour, but the appli-
cation of the knowledge followed later,
when the time came for him to ques-
ton the government on some point re
4 lating to the proposed additional dry
dock at Talkley, the naval base Then
for the first time he knew that the suf-
ferings of the past months could have
a visible as we'll as a hidden side-could
disorganize his daily routine as they
had already demoralized his will and
character.
The thing came upon him with ex-
traordinary lack of preparation. He sat
through the twilight with tolerable
calm, his nervousness showing only in
the occasional lifting of his hand TO
his collar and the frequent changing
of his position, but when the lights
were turned on and he leaned back in
his seat with closed eyes he became
conscious of a curious impression-a
disturbing idea that through his closed
lids he could see the faces on the OPP
posite side of the house. see the rows
of eyes, sleepy, interested or vigilant.
Never before had the sensation pre-
sented itself, but once set up it ran
through all his susceptibilities. BY an
absurd freak of fancy those varying
eyes seemed to pierce through his lids,
almost through his eyeballs The cold
perspiration that was his daily horror
broke out on his forehead, and at the
same moment Fraide, his leader, turn
ed, leaned over the back of his seat
and touched his knee.
Chilcote started and opened his eyes.
IL believe 1 was DOING" he said
confusedly
Fraide smiled his dry, kindly smile
"A fatal admission for a member of
the opposition" he said. But l was
looking for you earlier in the day,
Chilcote. There is something behind
this Persian affair. l believe it to be
a mere first move on Russia's part.
You big trading people will find it
worth watching"
Chilcote shrugged his shoulders. "Oh,
I don't know" he said. 81 scarcely
believe in it. Lakely put match to
the powder in the St. Georges, but
twill only be a noise and a puff of
smoke"
But Fralde did not smile. what Is
the feeling down at Wark?" he asked.
Has it awakened any INTEREST,""
AT Wark? oh, II don't quite
know l have been a little out of
touch with Wark in the last few
weeks. A man has so many private
affairs to look to- He was uneasy
under his chiefs scrutiny.
Fraide's lips parted as if to make re-
ply, but with q certain dignitied reti-
cence he closed them again and turned
away
Chilcote leaned back in his place and
furtively passed his hand over his fore
head His mind was possessed by one
consideration = the consideration OF
himself. He glanced down the crowd
ed, lighted house to the big glass
doors; he glanced about him at his col
leagues, Indifferent or interested; then
surreptitiously his fingers strayed tc
his waistcoat pocket
Usually he carried his morphia tab
loids with him, but today by a lapse
of memory he had left them at home
He knew this, nevertheless he contin
ued to search, while the need Of the
drug rushed through him with a sense
of physical sickness. He lost hold Oh
the business of the house; unconscious
" he half rose from his seat.
The man next him looked up. Hold
your ground, Chilcote," he said. Ray
forth is drying up"
With a wave of relief Chilcote drop
ped back into his place. Whatever thu
confusion in his mind it was evident
" not obvious In his face
Rayforth resumed his seat, there wa
the usual slight stir and pause; thel
Salett, the member for Salchester, rose
With Saletts first words ChilcoteI
hand again sought his pocket, ant