The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1906-12-21

entrapped The second feeling out
weighed the first. He moved forward,
then paused again, uncertain OF him
self. Finally, with the consciousness
that inaction was unbearable, he
moved on once more, his eyes wide
open. one hand thrust out as a protec-
ton and guide.
The fog had closed in behind him as
heavily as In front. shutting off all pos
lbility OF retreat. All about him in
(ic darkness was a confusion OF voices
cheerful, dubious, alarmed or angry.
Now and then n sleeve brushed his or
land touched him tentatively. 1t
was strange moment. moment OF
possibilities, to which the crunching
wheels, the oaths and laughter from
the blocked traffic of the roadway,
made continuous accompaniment.
Keeping well to the left Chilcote still
beat on. There was n persistence in
his movements that almost amounted
to fcar-a fear born of solitude filled
with innumcrable sounds. For n space
he groped about him without result,
then his fingers touched the cold sur
face Of a suffered shop front and
thrill OF reinsurance passed through
y y
to his landmark as n blind man might,
he started forward with fresh impetus
For a dozen PAGES he moved rapidly
unevenly, then the natural result
occurred. He collided with n man com
ing in the opposite direction.
The shock was abrupt Both men
Swore simultaneously then both laugh
ed. The whole thing was casual, but
Chilcote was in that state of mind
when even the commonplace becomes
abnormal. The other mans eXclama-
ton. the other mans laugh. Ss'uck OH
his nerves. Coming out of the dark
ness they sounded like Il repetition OF
his own.
Nine out of every ten men i'm London.
given the same social position and the
same education, might reasonably be
expected to express annoyance or
amusement in the same manner poSsi-
bly, in the same tone Of voice. and Chill
cote remembered this almost at the
moment of his nervous jar.
"BeaStly fog lie said aloud. "I'm
trying TO find GroSvenor square, but
the chances seem rather small"
T. lille other laughed again, and again
a The laugh upset Chilcote. He wonder
ed uncomfortably if he was becoming
4 a. prey to illusions. But the stranger
: spoke before the question had solved
- itself. Z.
I'm afraid they are small" he said.
1T wodld be almost hard TO find ones
j., way to tile devil OH night like this"
thGcote made Il murmur of amllSe-
ment ana drew back against the shop.
Yes. We can see now where the
bling man scores in the matter of sal
vainn. This is almost repetition OF
the fog OF six years ago. Were YOU
out in that:" 1t was Il habit OF his
to jump from one sentence to another
habit that had grown of late.
No. The stranger had also groped
his way To the shop front. NO, l was
out OF England six years ago"
You were lucky" Chicote turned
up the collar of his coat. 1T was an
atrocious fog. us black as this, but
more universal. / remember it well.
1t yas the night Lexington made his
gr3 sugar Sl'eecn. Some of us were
fotUi- on Lambeth bridge ut ) in the
morning, having left the house ut 12."
thilcote seldom INDUCED in reminis-
cenceS, but this conversation with an
unseen companion was mere like
solilOquy than Il dialogue. He was
almost surprised into an exclamation
Whcn the other caught up his words.
An! The sugar speech he said
"Odd that l should have been looking
it up only yestcrSi;:. What Il mag
nificent blessing l.s ~ u tlrr subject Il
was! H hat Il career lexington prom
IN those days.
Chilcote changed his position.
You gre interested A. .he muddle
s"%" s"s,ic,;'3 at S|s"'"'""'o,2f' he asked s"r-
"I:" l was Tie Crn of the stranger
To draw Rick Il stcs. "Oh. read my
ncwI"nptr with~$Ac other 5.ooO,oOO.
that lS3ll. | am I'm outsider" His
voic1 |nded curt. The warmth that
adm P0n had brought into it a mo-
mert before had frozen abruptly.
an outsider" Chilcote repeated.
What an enviable word"
( POSSIBLY. to those who are well in
side the ring. But let us go back to
Lexington. What Il pinnacle the man
reached. and what n drop he had! 1t
mas always seemed to me an extraor-
dinary instance OF the human leaven
running through us ALL What was the
real cause Of his collapse?" he asked
suddenly. WAS 1t drugs or drink? /
have often wished to get at the truth"
Again Chilcote changed his attitude.
rs truth ever worth getting at?' he
asked irrelevantly.
'In the case Of public man-yes
He exchanges his privacy for the inter