The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-01-11

nation that had prompted his letter of
the day before. No; he had himself TO
look to. The survival of the fittest was
the true, the only principle. Chilcote
had had intellect, education. opportu-
nifty, and Chilcote had deliberately cast
them aside. Fortifying himself in the
knowledge, he turned from the window
and moved slowly back to the bed.
Look here" he began. you wrote
for me last night His voice was hard.
He had come TO fight.
Chilcote glanced up quickly. His
mouth was drawn and there was a new
anxiety In his eyes "Ioderw he ex-
claimed quickly. "Loder, come here!
Come nearer
Reluctantly Loder obeyed Stepping
closer to the side OF the bed, he bent
down.
The other put up his hand and caught
his arm. His fingers trembled and jerk
ed. Il say, Loder," he said suddenly,
live had such a beastly night-my
nerves, you know
With qlfck. involuntary disgust
Loder drew back Don't you think
we might shove that aside?' he asked
But Chilcote's gaze had wandered
from his face and strayed to the dress
Ing table; there it moved feverishly
from one object to another
''Loder," he exclaimed, do you see
can you see if there's a tube Of tab
loids on the mantelshelf or on the
| dressing table," He lifted himself
nervously on his elbow, and his eyes
wandered uneasily about the room. II
i had beastly night; my nerves are
horribly Jared. and l thought I
thing He stopped
With his increasing consciousness his
nervous collapse became more marked.
AT the first moment of waking the re-
lief of an unexpected presence had sur
mounted everything else, but now, as
| one by one his faculties stirred, his
wretched condition became patent.
With a new sense of perturbation
Loder made his next attack.
"Chilcote," he began sternly.
But again Chilcote caught his arm,
plucking at the coat sleeve. Where is
it?" he said. where is the tube of
tabloids-the sedative? I'm-I'm oblig-
ed to take something when my nerves
go wrong" In his weakness and ner-
vous tremor he forgot that Loder was
the sharer of his secret Even In his
extremity his fear of detection chung
to him limply-the lies that had be-
come second nature slipped from him
without effort. Then suddenly a fresh
panic seized him, his fingers frightened
spasmodically, his eyes ceased to rove
about the room and settled on his
companions face. Can you see it.
IoderT he cried 81 can't; the lights
in my eyes. Can you see It? Can you
see the tube?" He lifted himself
higher, an agony of apprehension in
his face.
Loder pushed him back upon the
pillow. He was striving hard to keep
his own mind cool, to steer his own
course straight through the chaos that
confronted him. "Chilcote'' he began
once more, you sent for me last night
and l came the first thing this morn
ing to tell you But there he stopped
short.
With an excitement that lent hin
strength, Chilcote pushed aside hi!
hands. God" he said suddenly, sup
pose twas lost-suppose twas gomez
| The imaginary possibility gripped him
He sat up, his face livid, drops o
perspiration showing on his forehead
his whole shattered system trembling
before his thought
At the sight Loder set his lips. 9TH
tube is on the mantelshelf," he sait
, in a cold, abrupt voice.
; A groan Of relief fell from Chilcote
and the muscles of his face relaxed
For moment he lay back with close
r eyes, then the desire that tortured hir
stirred afresh. He lifted his eyelid
I and looked at his companion. Han
: it to me-" he said quickly. Give 1t
me. Give it to me, Loder, quick a
! you cant There's a glass on the tabl
, and some whisky and water. TIL
tabloids dissolve, you know In hi
!, new excitement he held out his hand.
> But Loder stayed motionless. II
q had come to fight, to demand, to pleat
If need be, for the one hour for whic
o he had lived-the hour that was
I satisfy all labor, all endeavor, all an
7 bition With logged persistence
. made one more essay.
; "Chilcote, you wrote last night to r
q call me- Once again he pause
\ checked by a new interruption. 81
# ting up again, Chilcote struck out Su
o denly with his left hand in a rush I
. his old irritability.
On your he cried student
What are you talking about? Loc
at me! Get me the stuff. l tell "
4 it's imperative" In his excitement b
, breath failed, and he coughed. At t
= effort his whole frame was shaken.
q Loder walked to the dressing tab
. then back to the bed. A deep agit
i ton was at work In his mind.
Again Chilcote's lips parted. Il
n der" he said faintly-''Loder, / must
I must have If IT'S imDprafiVe" On