Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-02-21

Of the repulsiye, inert presence that
chilled him with SO personal horror
Leaning over the bed, he caught the
shoulder nearest to him and shook it,
1t was not the moment for niceties,
and his gesture was rough.
At his first touch Chilcote made no
response his brain, dulled by indul-
genee in his vice. had become lag
gard in conveying sensations but at
last, as the pressure on his shoulder
increased, his nervous system seemed
suddenly to jar into consciousness. A
long shudder shook him: he half lifted
himself and then dropped back upon
the pillow.
"Oh!'' he exclaimed in trembling
breath. "Ohr The sound seemed
drawn from him by compulsion.
Its uncanny tone chilled Loder anew.
wake up, manv' he said suddenly.
wake up. It's I-Loder."
Again the other shuddered; then he
turned quickly and neryously. so
der?' he said doubtfully. "Loder?"
Then his face changed Good God"
The words were so intense. so spon-
taneous and unexpected that Loder
took step back.
Chilcote laughed discordantly and
lifted shaky hand to protect his eyes
from the light
"It's-it's all right, Loder! It's all
right It's only that THAT had a
beastly dream. But, for heavens sake,
shut that Window He shivered in
voluntarily and pushed the lock of
damp hair from his forehead with a
weak touch of his old irritability.
In silence Loder moved back to the
window and shut it. He was affected
more than he would own even to him
self by the obvious change in Chilcote.
He had seen him moody, restless, nery-
ously excited, but never before had he
seen him entirely demoralized. 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 a flicker of excitement crossed
his face. "God. Loder," he said again.
"'twas a relief to see you! l dreamed
1 was in hell-a horrible hell, worse
than the one they preach about. " He
laughed to reassure himself, but his
voice shook pitiably.
Loder, who had come to fight, stood
silent and inert
st was horrible beastly," Chilcote
went on There was no fire and brim-
stone, but there was something worse.
1t was great ironic scheme of pun
ishment by which every man was
chained to 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." He
shivered nervously and his voice rose.
Fancy being satiated beyond the linn
it 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 shut
his ears to the panic in Chilcote's voice,
he closed his consciousness to the sight
of his shaken face With 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 wreck, with no de-
sire toward rehabilitation, but there
was no guarantee that in an hour OF
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 tc
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.
ssLook 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 new
anxiety in his eyes. .'Loderp' he ex-
claimed quickly. ssLoder, come here!
Come nearerp'
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,
Give hal such a beastly night-my
nerves. YOU know
With a quick, involuntary disgust
Loder drew back. Don't you think
we might shove that aside?" he asked.
But ChiIcote'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 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. Il
4sx v.r,