Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-03-23

out. On one corner OF the table 8
carafe Of water and a whisky decanter
rested one against the other. as II FOR
support. and at the other end an over.
turned tumbler lay In a pool OF liquid
The whole effect was sickly and nause-
nting. His glance turned involuntarily
10 the bed and there halted.
On the hard. narrow mattress. from
which the sheets and blankets had fall
en- IN a disoriered heap. lay Chilcote.
He was fully dressed I'm n shabby
tweed snit Of Loder's: his collar was
open. his llp and chin unshaven: one
hand was Imply grasping the pillow.
while the other hung out over the side
OF the bed. His face. pale. almost
earthly IN hue. might have been n mask
save FOR the slight convulsive spasms
that crossed II from time 20 time and
: correspondent with the faint, shivering
starts that passed az intervals over his
whole body To complete his repellent
appearance. n lock OF hair had fallen
loose and lay black and damp across
his forehead
Loder stood for q space shocked and
speilbouud by the sight Even I'm the
CHASTITY disarray the likcness-the ex-
traordInary. sinister likeness that had
become the pivot upon which he him
SELF revolvcd struck him like a blow.
The man who lay there was himself.
bound 20 him by some subtle. inexplic-
able Gle OF similarity. As the Idea
touched him Dc turned aside and step
ped quickly to the dressing table
There. with unnecessary energy. he
fung back the curtains and threw the
window wide Then again ne turned
toward the bed. Tie had one dominant
Impulse 90 vuken Chlcote 10 bc free
OF the rcprlsIvc. Inert presence that
chilled hiu with $50 personal q horror.
Leaning over tire bed. Dc caught the
shoulder nearest 10 him and shook a.
= was not thc moment for uiceties
and his gesture was rough.
At his drst touch CnUrote made nc
respouse-his brain. duucd by indul
scnce in DTS vice. had become n lag
gard in conveying sensations M
last as the pressure on bis shoulder
Increased his nervous system seemed
suddenly 90 Jar into consciousness. A
long shudder shook him: he half lifted
himself and then dropped back upon
the pillow
"ohv' he exclaimed IN a trembling
breath. "Ohr The sound seemed
drawn from him 10y compulslon.
Its uncanny tone chilled Loder anew.
Wake up. man. he said suddenly
Wake up, It's I-Loder"
Again the other shuddercd: then he
turned quickly and nervously. 80
derf" he said doubtfuny. "LoderT'
Then his face changed. Good Cod"
he exclaimed. what a reliefr
The words were SO intense. so spon-
taneous and unexpected that I.Oder
took step back
Chilcote laughed discordanly and
lifted n shaky hand 10 protect his eyes
from the light
lists all right Loderl It's all
right It's only that THAT had
beastly dream. But for heavens sake.
shut that Window He shivered in
voluntarily and pushed the lock OF
damp hair from his forehead with
weak touch OF his old irritabillty.
In silence Loder moved back 20 the
window and shut H. He was affected
more than he would own even 10 him
self by the obvious change in ChiIcote.
He had seen him moody. restless. nerv-
Ously excited. but never before had he
seen him entirely demorailzed. with
a dull feeling Of impotence and disgust
he stood by the closed window. looking
unseeingly at the roofs OF the opposite
houses
But Chilcote had followed his move
ments restleSsly. and now as he watch
ed him flicker OF excitement crossed
his face. God. Loder." he said again,
twas a relief 10 see you! / dreamed
was in hell-a horrible he'll. worse
than the one they preach about" He
laughed 20 reassure himself, but his
voice shOOE pitiably.
Loder. who had come 20 fight. stood
silent and inert
1T was horrible-beastly." Chilcote
went on. There was no FIRE and brIm-
stone. but there was something worse.
1t was a great irOnic scheme OF DUN
ishment by which every man was
chained 20 his own vice-by which the
thing he had gone TO pieces over. In
stead OF being denied him. was made
compulsory. You can't imagine IT," lie
shiyered nervously and his voice rose
Fancy being satiated beyond the lin.
1t OF safety. being driven and logged
by the thing you had run after all your
lifer'
He paused excitedly. and in the
pause Loder found resolution. He shu
his ears TO the panic I'm Chilcote's voice
he closed his consciousness to the sight
OF his shaken face. With a surge OF de
termination he rallied his theories. Aft
er all, he had himself and his own In
terests TO claim his thought. At the mo
ment ChilcOte was a wreck. with no de
sire toward rehabilitation, but there
was no guarantee that In an hour OIL
two he might not have regained con.
troll over himself and with it the incli
nation that had prompted his letter OF
the day before. No: he had himself Il
look TO. The survival OF the fttest was
the true, the only principle. Chilcott
bad had intellect. education, opportu
nifty. and Chilcote had deliberately cas-