Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1907-06-08

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is"
He moved feebly like man recover
Ing from an illness, and his face was
gray and beaded with perspiration,
though the air was quite cool. Any
eXertion seemed too much for him; he
looked the wreck of what must once
have been u fine strong man. Drum
mond was full of compassion and in
dignation.
why don't you communicate with
your friends?" he asked. Surely they
could put a stop to such a state Of
things If you are not strong enough to
exert your authority? OF course don't
understand the circumstances, but can
see that something Is wrong
And you will help me?" he asked
eagerly. For PHYS sake, don't refuse :;
| may not have another chance for
months. I've got past helping myself,
l can't hold out long enough, l haven't
the strength, I'm a puppet In their
hands. That Scotch fellow treats me
with the utmost contempt I've told
him to go more than once, but he only
laughs"
The shrill, excited voice broke
abruptly. The little outburst had COM
pletely exhausted him, and he leant,
shaking and half-cryins against the
stable wall, a pitiable object, absolute
ly devoid of any force.
What is 1t you want me to doY"
Drummond asked. He could not under
stand man getting into such a condi-
ton as this, and his pity was Hinged
with something like contempt WHY
didn't he pull himself together, he won
dered.
Post this for me yourself, that IS
all holding out a letter. IL wrote #
Just now on chance. 1t Is to a friend
Of mine in Montreal who will help me.
Don't let anybody see It, put it In your
pocket quickly" He looked round in
turtfye apprehension; it was a look
that had something mean and repellent
In it.
Very WELL Drummond said. rather
coldly. II will do as you wish"
You'll post it yourself?" suspicious
ly. You won't let anybody else see
it?"
II have told you that 1t certainly
shall be done"
THANK you-thank you" effuslyelv.
you don't know how grateful | am.
You saw what happened Just now to
something of mine-addressed to NE
my own property" the voice rising
again in futile wrath. DESTROYED be-
fore my eyes, without even letting me
see it! Isn't 1t monstrousY
1T seems very extraordinary" Drum |
mond said. but your wife must surely
have had some reason?' looking at him |
keenly. 1T was done quite openly"
Crawford muttered something about |
nothing being sufficient to excuse such |
treatment and shufled away.
A couple Of weeks later, when Drum |
mond was returning to Winnipeg. he |
passed close to the farm and, curious |
to learn what had happened in the in
terval-whether the letter had had any
result-he stopped and looked In. 1t
was getting dusk and Grant was sit
ting alone his arms on the table. his |
head in his hands. He looked IN rs |
Drummond stood hesitating at the
door.
You" he cried jumping up with n
forbidding look. What do you want? |
Haven't you done enough mischief"
Drummond noticed that the big, pow
erful man swayed as he stood, as
though from Weakness and his face
was haggard, with weary, cavernous
eyes.
What do you mean" he exclaimed |
Indignantly. IF you think you can |
bully me as you did your unfortunate
master you are very much mistaken. | |
suppose you have been called to ac-
count, and that explains your irrita,
tion?' with a sheer.
$50 that is what you think?" slowly. |
well, I'm not surprised l saw where !
Jour sympathies had gone last time
you were here. He took you in as he |
has taken others. He's as cunning as
Il fox. When the mischief was done. |
he told us in glee that we owed it to |
you"
Il don't understand" Drummond |
said, coldly. but with a qualm of mis-
giving. The mans voice carried con-
viction.
II can explain in few words. Mr.. |
Crawford IS addicted to the morphia |
habit and 1t was to try to effect a cure
that his wife brought him here. The
doctor said 1t was his last chance. A
healthy, outdoor life, away from temp
tation-out Of reach, as he thought, of
his enemy-mlght restore his powers of
mind and soul. He was drifting rather
rapidly down the road to insanity"
There was an exclamation of dlsmay
from his listener.