The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-12-11
CHAPTER II

z
his man Allsopp tiptoed across
the room and laid the salyer 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 hts lids. The heavy,
half closed curtains, the blinds severely
drawn, the great room with its splen-
did furniture, its sober coloring, It's
scent Of damp London winter-above
all, AIlsopp silent, respectful and re
pectable-were 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:
Mine o'clock, sir"
He opened his eyes, murnured 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 hopper" 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. hate a man who
has no originality" He spoke sharply.
At times he showed an almost childish
irritation over trivial things.
Allsspp 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 itr' he said. I'm sick of
that routine! 1 can see you laying out
my winding sheet the day G 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
-nowherey' 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 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 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 be
withdrew his hand and moved from
the wardrobe to q table beside the fire
place. carrying a small glass tube filled
with tabloids.
On the table were a decanter, 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
his Impotence. Instantly they haG
disappeared he seized the glass ant
drained it at a draft replaced the
bottle In the wardrobe and. shiverine
slightly in the raw air. slipped bach
into bed.
When Allsopp returned he was sit
ting up, q cigarette between his lips
the teacup standing empty on the
salver The nervous irritability haC
gone from his manner. He no longel
moved jerkily: his eyes looked bright
er, his pale skin more healthy.
"Ah, Allsopp." he said. there ar
some moments IN life. after all. I
isn't all blank WALL
/ OL0SIGQ DICdhLdSl IL AAC SLIdl
morning room, sir" said Allsopp, with
out a change OF expression.
Chilcote breakfasted at 10. His ap
petite. always tickle, was particular.
uncertain in the early hours He help
ed himself TO some fish. bat sent ava.
his plate untouched; then. havin:
drunk two cups of tea, he pushed bacl
his chair, lighted a fresh cigarette ant
shook out the mornings newspaper.
Twice he shook it out and twice turn
ed it. but the reluctance TO fix his min,
upon it made him daily The effect 0
the morphia tabloids was still appaz
ent in the greater steadiness Of hi
hand and eye. the reg2ined quiet of hl
susceptibilities. but the respite wa
temporary and lethargic The earl,
days-the days of six years ago, whe,
these tabl0ids meant IN even sweep o
thought lucidity Of brain, g balance o
Judgment In thought and effort-wer
days of the past. AS he had said o
Lexington and his vice, the slave ha
, become master.