Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-04-18

truder pushed the door open and ell
tered the room. AS he did so he drew
q quick breath-whether Of disappoint-
ment or relief it was impossible to say.
Whether he had hoped for or dreaded
it, Chilcote was conscious.
AS Loder entered he was sitting by
the cherries CRATE, the ashes of yes
terday's fire showing charred and
dreary where the sun touched them.
His back was to the light, and about
his shoulders was an old plaid rug.
Behind him OH the table stood a cup,
a teapot and the can of milk; farther
off a kettle was set to boil upon 4
tiny spirit stove.
In all strong situations we are more
or less commonplace. Loder's first re-
mark as he glanced round the disor-
dered room seemed strangely inef-
ficient.
where's Robins?' he asked in a
bTusque voice. His mind teemed with
big considerations, yet this was his
first involuntary question.
Chilcote had started at the entrance
Of his visitor: now he sat staring at
him, his hands holding the arms of his
chair.
"Where's Robins" Loder asked
again.
II don't know. She l. We did
not hit it off. She's %gone-went yes
terday." He shivered and drew the
rug about him.
"Chllcote'- Loder began sternly.
Then he paused. There was something
in the others look and attitude that
arrested him. A change of expression
passed over his own face. He turned
about, with an abrupt gesture, pulled
off his coat and threw it on a chair;
then, crossing deliberately to the fire.
place, he began to rake the ashes FROM
the crate.
Within a few minutes he had a fire
cracking where the bed of dead Gin
ders had been, and, having finished the
task, he rose slowly from his knees,
wiped his hands and crossed to the ia
BILE. On the small spirit stove the ket-
tie had boiled, and the cover was lift
ing and falling with a tinkling sound.
Blowing out the fame, Loder picked
up the teapot and, with hands that
were evidently accustomed to the task,
set about making the tea.
During the whole operation he never
spoke, though all the while he was
fully conscious of Chilcote's puzzled
gaze. The tea ready, he poured it into
the cup and carried it across the room.
Drink this" he said laconically.
1.-THE fire will be up presently"
Chilcote extended a cold and shaky
hand. "You see he began.
But Loder checked him almost saw
agely. 81 do-as we'll as though l had
followed you from Piccadilly last night.
You've been hanging about, God knows
where, till the small hours of the morn
ing; then you've come ~back-slunk
back, starving for your internal poison
and shivering with cold. You've set
tied the first part of the business, but
the cold has still to be reckoned with.
Drink the tea. I've something to say
to you" He mastered his vehemence
and, walking to the window, stood
looking down into the court. His eyes
We're blank, his face hard; his ears
heard nothing but the faint sound of
Chilcote's swallowing, the click Of the
cup against his teeth.
For a time that seemed interminable
he stood motionless; then, when he
Judged the tea finished, he turned
slowly. Chilcote had drawn closer to
the fire. He was obviously braced by
the warmth, and the apathy that rung
o6n,,% h;r, Woo 70 ~, ov{o,+ J;ero1
led. Still moving slowly, Loder went
toward him and. relieving him Of the
2 empty cup. stood looking down at him
"Chilcote,' he said very quietly, GIVE
, come to tell you that the thing must
end"
After he spoke there was a prolonged
pause; then, as if shaken with sudden
$ consciousness. Chilcote rose. The rug
2 dropped from one shoulder and hung
2 down ludicrously; his hand caught the
: back of the chair for support; his I'm
e shaven face looked absurd and repul
e sive in it's sudden expression of scared
j inquiry. Loder involuntarily turned
i away.
}, II mean it," he said slowly. ut:
: over; we've come to the end"
S "But why?" Chilcote articulatet
s blankly. why? Why? In his confu
t sion he could think of no better word.
Because l throw it up. My side O
e the bargains off"
n Again Chilcote's lips parted stammer
s ingly. The apathy caused by physica
exhaustion and his recently administer
b ed drug was passing from him; tn
y %hopelessly shattered condition Of min
s and body was showing through it lik
s a skeleton through a thin covering O
l. flesh.
S "But why?" he said again. "Why?"
Still Loder avoided the frightene,
It surprise Of his eyes. Because I with
s draw" he answered doggedly.
y Then suddenly Chilcote's tongue wa
loosened. "Loder," he cried excitedly
n you can't do it! Great heavens, mar
II you can't do it," To reassure himsel
e he laughed-a painfully thin echo Of hi
l. old sarcastic laugh. "If it's a matte
Re Of greater opportunity" he began, 20