Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-12-20

Chilcote leaned back in his place and
furtively passed his hand over his fore
head. His mind was possessed by n
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 to
his waistcoat pocket.
Usually he carried his morphia tab
loids with him, but today by Il 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 Il sense
of physical sickness. He lost hold on
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 the
confusion in his mind it was evident
~ not obvious in his face.
nay lOltu lcSul1Su LIS seat, lu0Tc WAS
the usual slight stir and pause; then
! Salett, the member for Salchester. rose.
With Salett's first words Chilcote's
hand again sought his pocket, and
again his eyes strayed toward the
doors, but Fraide's erect head and stiff
back just in front of him held him
quiet. With an effort he pulled out
his notes and smoothed them rvo
"; but, though his gaze was fixed on
the pages, not Il line of Blessington's
clear writing reached his mind. He
glanced at the face of the speaker,
then at the faces on the treasury
bench, then once more he leaned back
in his seat.
The man beside him saw the move
ment. "Funking the dry dock?' he
whispered jestingly.
"No"-Chilcote turned to him sud
aenly-"but I feel beastly-have felt
beastly for weeks"
The other looked at hia more close
~. Anything wrong?' be asked. 1t
was a novel experience to be confded
in by Chilcote.
"Oh, it's the grind-the Internal
grind" AS he said it it seemed to
him suddenly that his strength gave
way. He forgot his companion, his
position, everything except the urgent
instinct that filed mind and body.
Scarcely knowing what be did he rose
and leaned forward to whisper IL.
Fraide's ear.
Fraide was seen to turn, his thln
face interested and concerned, then he
was seen to nod one or twice in az
Quiescence, and a moment later Chill
cote stepped quietly out of his place.
One or two men spoke to him as he
hurried from the house, but he shook
them off almost unclvilly, and, making
for the nearest exit, hailed a cab.
The drive to Grosvenor square was a
misery. Time after time he changed
from n corner of the cab to the other,
his acute internal pains prolonged by
every delay and increased by every
motion. AT last, weak in all his limbs,
he stepped from the vehicle at his OWL
door.
Entering the house, he instantly
mounted the stairs and passed to his
own rooms. Opening the bedroom
door, he peered in cautiously. then
pushed the door wide. The light had
been switched on, but the room Was
empty. With a nervous excitement
scarcely to be kept in check. he enter
ed, shut and locked the door, then NOV
ed to the wardrobe and, opening it,
drew the tube of tabloids from the
shelf.
His hand shook violently as he u
ried the tube to the table. The strain
of the day, the anxiety Of the past
hours, with their final failure. had
found sudden expression. Mixing a
larger dose than any he had before al
lowed himself. he swallowed it hastily
and, walking across the room. threw
himself, fully dressed. upon the bed.