The Red Cloud chief., 1907-04-05

tiDoNt hllll var w jill 'NNIlil hiNI'NA
led. Still moving slowly, Loder went
toward him and, relieving him Of the
empty cup. stood looking down at him.
"Chilcote," he said very quietly. 'Ive
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
dropped from one shoulder and hung
down ludicrously: his hand caught the
back Of the chair for support; his I'M.
shaven face looked absurd and rcpui-
sivc i'm it's sudden expression of scared
inquiry. Loder involuntarily turned
away.
81 meal It," he said slowly. ITS
over; we've come to the end"
But whyY' Chilcote artlculated
blankly. "yyhy? Why" In his confu.
sion he could think Of no better word.
because | throw it up. My side OF
the bargains Off"
Again Chilcotc'S lips parted stammer.
inGly. The apathy caused by physical
exhaustion ana his recently administer.
ed drug was passing from him; the
hopelcssly shattered condition of mind
and body was showing through it like
a skeleton through II thin covering OF
flesh.
But Why" he said again. "YVhy?"
Still Lodcr avoided the frightened
surprise of his eyes. because / with.
draw" he answered doggetly.
Then suddenly Chilcotc's tongue was
loosened. "Loder." he cried eXcitedly,
you can't do it! Great heavens, man,
you can't do it, To reassure himself
he laughed-a painfully thin echo of his
old sarcastic laugh. "If it's a matter
Of greater opportunity" he began, "of
more money
But Loder turned upon him.
"Be qulet!" he said so menacingly
that the other stopped. Then by an ef-
fort he conquered himself. ITS not o
matter of money. Chilcotc," he said
quietly. "Its Il matter of necessity"
lie brought the word out with diff.
Guilty.
Chilcote glanced up. Necessity" he
repeated. How? Why?"
The reiteration reused Loder. Be
cause there was a great scene in the
house last night" he began hurriedly.
Because when you go back you'll find
that Scarborough has smashed up over
the assassination of Sir William Brlce-
Field at Meshed and that you have
made your mark in a big speech, and
bccause"- Abruptly he stopped. The
thing he had come to say-the thing he
had meant to say-wOuld not be said.
Either his tongue or his resolution fail
ed him, and for the instant he stood
as silent and almost as i'll ut ease as
his companion. Then all at once in
spiration came to him, in the sugges-
ton of Il wellnigh forgotten argument
by which he might influence Chilcote
and save his own self respect. ITS all
over, Chilcote," he said more quietly.
1T has run itself out" And in a dozen
sentences he sketched the story of Lii.
liam Astrupp, her past relations with
himself. her present suspicious. 1t was
not what he had meant to say; 1t was
not what he had come to say, but II
served the purpose-it saved him hui
initiation.
Chilcote listened to the last word,
Then. as the other finished, he dropped
n~crvously back into his chair. Good
heavens. man." he said, "why didn't
you tell me? Why didn't you warn me,
instead Of filling my mind with your
political position? Your political pc
sition!" lie laughed unsteadily. The
long spells of indulgence that had
weakened his already MANNED faculties
showed in the laugh, in the sudden
breaking Of his voice. "You must dc
something, Loder!' he added nervously
checking his amusement. you must
do something"
fro BE Continued