Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-01-26

ure never spells anything" With an
other smile. partfy amused. partly Iron
teal. he stepped from the little island
| and disappeared into the throng OF
traffic.
Chilcote stood for an instant gazing
at the point where he had vanished:
then. turning 10 the lamp. be lifted the
sard and read the name il bore, 'Air.
John Loder y Chords Inn"
CHAPTER H.
TIN the morning following the
night OF fog Chilcote woke at o.
MI He woke at the moment that
- his man Allsopp tiptoed across
the room and laid the salver with his
early cup OF tea On.the table beside the
bed.
For several seconds he lay with his
eyes shut. The effort Of opening them
on a fresh day-the Intimate certainty
OF what he would see on opening them
seemed TO weight his lids. The heavy.
half closed curtains. the blinds severely
drawn. the great room with its splen-
did furniture. its sober coloring. its
scent Of lamp london wTnter-dbove
all Allsopp. silent. respectful and re
spectable-were the things TO dread.
A full minute passed while he still
feigned sleep lie heard Ailsopp stir
discreetly. then the inevitable lnforma-
ton broke tue silence:
"Nine o'clock. sirr'
Fe opened his eyes. murmurcd some
thing and closed them again.
The man moved 90 the window.
quietly pulled back the curtains and
half drew the blind
Better night. sir. I hOpeT' he ven
tured softly
Chilcote bad drawn the bedclothes
over his face to screen himself from
the daylight. murky though Il was
Yes he responded. Those beast
~ nightmares didn't trouble me for
once" He shlvered a little as az some
recollection. "But don't talk-don't re-
mind me Of them. I hate a man who
has no originality" He spoke sharply.
At times he showed an almost childish
irritation over trivial things.
Aiisopp took the remark IN silence. 7
Crossing the wide room he began to
lay out his masters clothes The &C
ton affected Chilcote 20 fresh annoy
ance.
"Confound itr' he said. I'm sick OF
that routine, I can see you laying out
my winding sheet the day OF my
burial Leave those things. Come F.
back In half an hour"
Allsopp allowed himself one glance
at his masters figure huddled I'M the
great bed; then. laying aside the coat
he was holding he moved to the door.
With his fingers on the handle. he
paused
"Wil you breakfast IN your own
room. sir. or downstairs ?"
ChilcOte drew the clothes more tight
~ round his shoulders. "Oh. anywhere
-nowhere! he said. Il don't care"
Allsopp softly withdrew.
Left 10 himself. Chilcote sat IN In
bed and lifted the salver 20 his Knees.
The sudden movement Jared him
physically. He drew a handkerchief /
from under the pillow and wiped his
forehead. Then DE held his hand TO the
light aud studied H. The hand looked
sallow and unsteady. With a nervous
gesture he thrust the salver back upon
the table and slid out OF bed.
Moving hastily across the room. he
stopped before one Of the TAN ward-
robes and swung the door open: then.
after "A furuve glance around the room.
he thrust his baud into the recesses
OF a shelf and fumoled there. The
thing he sought was evidently not
hard TO find. for almost at once be
withdrew his hand and moved from
the wardrobe 60 a table beside the Gre
place, carrying a small glass tube filled
with tabloids
On the table were a 6ecanter. a
siphon aud a water jug. Mixing some
whisky. he uncorked the tube. Again
he glanced apprehenslvely toward the
door. then with very nervous hand
dropped two tablOids into the glass.
While they dissolved he stood with
his hand on the table and his eyes fix
ed on the door. evidently restraining
his impatience. Instantly they had
disappeared be seized the glass and
drained IL at a draft replaced the
bottle In the wardrobe and. shlverIng
slightly in the raw air. slipped back
into bed
When Allsopp returned he was sit
ting up. a cigarette between his lips.
the teacup standing empty on the
salver. The nervous irritability had
gone from his manner. He no longer
moved jerklly; his eyes looked bright
er. his pale skin more healthy.
"Ah. AIlsopp." he said. there are
some moments In life. after all. IL
isn't all blank wall"
Il ordered breakfast In the small
morning room, sir" said Allsopp. with
out change OF expression.
Chilcote breakfasted at 10. His APP
petite. always tickle. was particularly
uncertain In the early hours. He help
ed himself to some fish, but sent away
his plate untouched; then. having
drunk two cups OF tea. be pushed back
his chair. lighted n fresh cigarette and
shook out the mornings newspaper.
Twice he shook II out and twice turn
ed II. but the reluctance TO fix his mind
upon II made him daily The effect OF /,
the morphia tabloids was still appar-
ent in the greater steadiness OF his
hand and eye. the regalned quiet OF his
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