The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-20

IL night of fog Chilcote woke at 9.
He woke at the moment that
his man Allsopp tiptoed across
the room and laid the salver 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
of what he would see on opening them
seemed to weight his lids The heavy,
half closed curtains, the blinds severely
drawn, the great room with it's splen-
did furniture, its sober coloring, its
scent of damp London winter-above
all, Alsopp. silent, respectful and re-
tableware the things to dread.
A full minute passed while he still
feigned sleep He heard Allsopp stir
discreetly, then the inevitable informa-
ton broke the silence:
''Nine 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
tured softly.
Chilcote had drawn the bedclothes
over his face to screen himself from
the daylight, murky though it was.
Yes he responded. '.Those beast
" nightmares didn't trouble me for
once" He shivered a 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
my winding sheet the day of my
burial. Leave those things. Come
back in half an hour"
Allsopp allowed himself one glance
at 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.
will you breakfast in your own
room, sir, or downstairs"
Chilcote drew the clothes more tight
~ round his shoulders. "Oh, anywhere
-nowhere.'' he said. 81 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 and slid out of bed.
Moving hastily across the room, he
stopped before one of the tall ward
robes and swung the door open; then.
after furtiye glance around the room,
he thrust his hand into the recesses
OF 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 decanter. a |
siphon and water jug. Mixing some |
whisky, he uncorked the tube Again |
be glanced apprehensively toward the |
door, then with very nervous hand |
dropped two sabioids into the glass.
While they dissolved he stood with |
his hand on the table and his eyes fix |
ed on the floor. evidently restraining |
bis Impotence. Instantly they haG /
disappeared he seized the glass ant
drained 1t at a draft, replaced the |
bottle in the wardrobe and. shiverins |