Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-01-24

possibilities, TO which the crunching
wheels, the oaths and laughter from
the blocked traffic OF the roadway,
made u continuous accompaniment.
Keeping we'll to the left Chilcote still
beat on. There was Il persistence In
his movements that almost amounted
to fear-a fear born OF solitude filed
with innumerable sounds. For a space
he groped about him without result,
then his fingers touched the cold sur
face of n suffered shop front and
thrill of reinsurance passed through
him. with renewed haste and clinging
TO his landmark as blind man might,
he started forward with fresh impetus.
For dozen PAGES lie moved rapidly
and unevenly, then the natural result
occurred. He collidcd with a man com
ing in the opposite direction.
The shock was abrupt. Both men
swore simultaneously, then both laugh
cd. 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. struck on
his nerves Coming out OF the dark
ness, they sounded like a repetition of
his own.
Nine out OF every ten men in London,
given the same social position and the
same education. might reasonably be
expected to express annoyance or
amusement in the same manner, posi-
bly, in the same tone Of voice. and Chill
cote remembered this almost at the
moment Of his nervous jar.
"Beastly fog he said aloud I'm
trying to find Grosvpnor square, but
the chances seem rather small"
The other laughed again, and again
the laugh upset Chilcote. He wonder.
ed uncomfortably if he was becoming
a prey to illusions. But the stranger
spoke before the question had solved
itself.
I'm afraid they are small" he said.
ut would be almost hard to find ones
way to the devil on a night like this"
Chilcote made n murmur of amuse-
meut and drew back against the shop.
yes. We can see now where the
blind man scores in the matter of sal
walton. This is almost repetition of
the fog OF six years ago Were you
out in that" 1t was habit Of his
to jump from one sentence to another,
habit that had grown Of late.
No. The stranger had also CROPPED
his way to the shop front. NO, l was
out of England six years ago"
| "Iou were lucky" Chilcote turned
up the collar of his coat. 1T was an
! atroclous fog, as black as this, but
more universal. | remember it well.
1t was the night Lexington made his
great sugar speech. Some of us were
found on Lambeth bridge at 3 in tho
morning. having left the house at 70"
Chilcote seldom INDUCED in remnis-
cences, but this conversation with an
unseen companion was more like Il
soliloquy than dialogue. He was
almost surprised into an exclamation
when the other caught up his words.
All. The sugar speech" he said.
odd that | should have been looking
1t up only yesterday. What a mag
nii1cent dressing up of dry subject It
was. What a career Lexington prom
ised In those days"
Chilcote changed his position.
You are Interested in the middle
down at estmnster?' he asked sar-
castically
"1T 1t was the turn of the stranger
to draw back a step. "Oh, / read my
newspaper with the other 5000, 600
that is all. am an outsider" His
voice sounded curt. The warmth that
admiration had brought into it a mo-
ment before had frozen abruptly.
An outsider" Chilcote repeated.
What an enviable wordw
Possibly, 10 those who are well in
side the ring. But let us go back TO
Lexington. What a pinnacle the man
reached, and what drop he had, II
has always seemed to me nm extraor-
binary instance OF the human lesyen
running through us all What was the
real cause of his collapse?" he asked
suddenly. Was It drugs or drink? |
have often wished TO get at the truth"
Again Chilcote changed his attitude.
rs truth ever worth getting 2" he
asked irrelevantly.
an the case Of public man-yes.
He exchanges his privacy for the inter
est Of the masses. If he gives tho
masses the details of his success. why
not the details of his failure? But was
1t drink that sucked him under?'
"No" Chlcote's response came after
pause.
"Drugs"
Again Chilcote hesltated. And al
the moment Of his indecision woman
brushed past him laughing boisterous,
ly. The sound Jared him.
Was 1t drugs" the stranger went on
easily. Il have always had theory
that 1t was"
Yes. 1t was morphla" The answer
came before Chilcote had realized it,
The womans laugh at the strangers
quiet persistence had contrlved to
draw 1t from him. Instantly he had
spoken he looked about him quickly,
like one who has for moment for
gotten a necessary vigilance.
There was silence while the stranger
thought over the inforlna ton Just given
him. Then he spoke again, with new
touch Of vehemence.
$50 imagined he said, though, on
my soul, never really credited it. To
have pained 40 much and IN have