The Red Cloud chief., 1907-03-29
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IOder 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. "Chlcote," he began
once more, you sent for me last night.
and | came the first thing this morn
ing to tell you But there he stopped
short.
With an excitement that lent him
strength, Chilcote pushed aside his
hands. God" lie said suddenly. sup.
pose twas lost-suppoSc twas gone!"
The imaginary possibility grippcd him.
lie sat up, his face livid drops of
pcrspiration showing Oh his forehead.
his whole shattered systcm trembling
before his thought.
At the sight Lodcr set his lips. THE
tube IL OH the mantesheli." he said
In II cold. abrupt voice.
\ grOan OF relief iell from Chilcote.
ana the muscles of his face relaxed.
For IL moment nc lay back with closed
eyes thea the dc ire that tortured him
stirred aircsh. lie lifted his cyeli4s
and looked ut his companion. "llani
it to me-" he said quicEly. Give it II
me. Give it TO me. Loder, quick as
you can! There's Il glass on the table
and some whisky and water. The
tabloidS dissolve, you know In h,-
new excitement he held out his hand.
But Lodcr stayed motionless. lie
had come 10 fight, to demand. to plead.
if need be, for the one hour for which
he had lived-thc hour that was to
| satisfy all labor, all endeavor, all am
bition. With dogged persistence he
made one more essay.
"Chilcote you wrote last night to re-
call me- Once again he paused.
checked by new interruption. Sit
ting up again. Chilcote struck out sud
denly with his left hand in rush of
his old irritabilty.
"D-n your he cried suddenly.
What are you talking about? Look
at me! Get me the stuff. l tell you
| it's imperative" In his excitement his
breath failed, and he coughed. At the
effort his whole frame was shaken.
Loder walked to the dressing table
then Lack to the bed. A deep agita
ton was at work in his mind.
Again Chilcotes lips parted. 80
der" he said faintly-"Loder must
must have it. It's imperative.' Once
more he attempted to lift himself, but
the effort was futile.
Again Loder turned away.
"Loder"-
With q fierce gesture the other turn
ed on him. Good heavens, man." he
began. Then unaccountably his voice
changed. The suggestion that had
been lowering in his mind took sud
den and definite shape "All right he
said in lower voice. "All right!
Stay as you are"
| lie crossed to where the empty tum-
bier stood and hastily mixed the whis-
key and water, then crossing to the
mantelpiece where lay the small glass
tube containing the tightly packed
tablolds he paused and glanced once
more toward the bed. How many"
he said laconically.
Chlcotc lifted his head. His face was
pitiably drawn, but the feverish bright.
ness in his eyes had increased. Five"
he said sharply. Give. Do you hear.
Lodar?"
"FiveT' Involuntarily Loder lowered
the hand that held the tube. From pre-
vious confidences OF Chilcote's he knew
the amount of morpha contained in
each tabloid and realized that five tab
lolds. il not an absolutely dangerous
was at least an excessive dose. even
accustomeu ..ug. For
moADcnt his resolution failed. Then the
dominant note of his nature-the un-
conscious. fundamental egotism on
which his character was bascd-assert-
ed itself beyond denial. 1t might be
reprehensible, it might even be crimi
nal to accede to such II request made
; by man in such condition of body
! and mind yet the laws Of the universe
: demanded self assertion-prompted ev-
, cry human mind to desire, to grasp and
to hold. With perception swifter than
; any he had experienced he realized the
; certain respite to be gained by yielding
to his impulse. He looked at Chilcote
!. with his haggard, anxious expression,
, his eager, restless eyes. and n vision Of
:. himself followed sharp upon his glance.
I A vision of the untiring labor of the
past ten days, Of the slowly kindling
D ambition, Of the supremacy all bat
, gained. Then, as the picture completed
. itself, he lifted his hand with on abb
! rupt movement and dropped the five
{ tablolds one after another into the
h glass.