The Red Cloud chief., 1906-12-14

He woke at the moment that
81 his man Allsopp tlptocd across
the room and aid the Salvcr with his
early cup OF tea on the table beside the
bed.
For several seconds he lay with his
eyes shut. The effort of opening them
on a fresh day-the intimate certainty
T what he would see on opening them
seemed to weight his lids. The heavy.
half closed curtains. the blinds severely
ORA ~, the great room with its splen-
did rniture, It's sober coloring, its
scent Of damp London w~intcr-above
an. Allsopp, silent. respectful and re-
spcctable-vere the things to dread.
A full minute passed while lie still
feigned sleep. He heard Allsopp stir
discreetly, her the inevitable informa-
tion broke the silence:
"Ninc O'Clock. sir!'
He opened his eyes. murmured some
thing and closed them again.
The man moved to the window.
quietly pulled back the curtains and
half drew the blind.
Better night. sir, I hope?" he ven
tNcd softly.
0ilcote had drawn the bedclothes
over his face to screen himself from
the daylight, murky though ii was.
YES" he responded. "Those beast
Iy Nightmares didn't trouble me for
once" He shivered n little as at some
recollection. "But don't talk-don't re-
mind me Of them. I hate a man who
has no originality" He spoke sharply.
At times he showed an almost childish
irritation over trivial things.
Allsopp took the remark In silence.
Crossing the wide room, he began to
lay out his masters clothes. The ac-
ton affected Chilcote to fresh annoy
ance.
'Confound it, he said. "I'm sick Of
that routine! I can see you laying out
M winding sheet the day of my
burial. Leave those things. Come
back in half an hour"
Ailsopp allowed himself one glance
ut his masters figure huddled in the
great bed; then. laying aside the coat
he was holding, he moved to the door.
With his fingers on the handle. he
paused.
w" gou DlcuhldSt Ill your OWL
room, sir. or downstairs ?"
Chilcote drew the clothes more tight
ly round his shoulders. "Oh. anywhere
-nOwhere!' he said. II don't care.'
Allsopp softly withdrew.
Left to himself, Chilcote sat up In
bed and lifted the salver to his knees.
The sudden movement Jared him
physically. He drew a handkerchief
from under the pillow and wiped his
forehead. Then he held his hand to the
light and studied It. The hand looked
sallow and unsteady. With a nervous
gesture he thrust the salver back upon
the table n slid out of bed.
Moving hastily across the room, he
stopped before n Of the tall ward
robes and swung the dOor open; then,
after a furtive glance arOund the room,
he thrust his hand into the recesses
of a shelf and fumbled there. The
thing he sought was evidently not
hard to find. for almost at once he
withdrew his hand and moved from
the wardrobe to a table beside the fire.
place, carrying a small glass tube filed
with tabloids.
On the table Were a d%ecanter, a
siphon and a water jug. Mixing some
whisky, he uncorked the tube. Again
he glanced apprehensively toward the
door, then with a very nervous hand
dropped two tabloids into the glass.
While they dissolved he stood with
his hand on the table and his eyes fix
ed on the floor, evidently restraining
hi1 I'm IA tinnnn Inrtnntl, tI~, L,I
disappeared he seized the glass and
drained it at a draft, replaced the
bottle In h wardrobe and, shivering
slightly in the raw air. slipped back
into bed.
When Allsopp returned he was sit
ting VI, a cigarette between his lips,
the teacup standing empty on the
saiver. The nervous irritability had
gone from his manner He no longer
moved jerkily; his eyes looked bright
or. his pale skin more healthy.
"Ah, Allsopp," he said, there are
some moments In life. after all. 1t
isn't all blank wall"
II ordered breakfast In the small
morning room, sir" said Allsopp, with
out a change of expression.
Chilcote breakfasted at 10. His ap-
petite, always tickle. was particularly
uncertain In the early hours. He help
ed himself to some fish, but sent away
his plate untouched; then. having
drunk two cups of tea, he pushed back
his chair, lighted a fresh cigarette and
shook out the mornings newspaper.
Twice he shook 1t out and twice turn