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

look OF contempt anu TepuisIon pSsS-
ing over his faee
In his first glance he scarcely grasp
ed the details OF the scene. for the half
drawn curtains kept the light dim, but
as his eyes grew accustomed 10 the OBJ
security he gathered their Significance.
The room had aiecpieaa faded air
the room that under Ills own occupation
/ had shown a rigid almost monnstic Sc
verify. The plain dressing table was
| Uttered with cigarette ends and marked
with black and tawny patches where
/ the tobacco had been left 20 burn itself
out. On one corner OF the table
carafe OF water and whisky decanter
rested one against the other. as If for
/ support, and at the other end an over
turned tumbler lay in n pool of liquid
The whole effect was aickly and nause
atlng His glance turned inyoluntarily
| to the bed and there halted
On the hard, narrow mattress, from
which the sheets and blankets had fall
en- In a dlsordered heap, lay Chilcote.
He was fully dressed in a shabby
tweed suit of Loder's; his collar was
open, his lip and chin unshaven; one
hand was Imply grasplng the pillow,
while the other hung out over the side
of the bed. His face, pale, almost
earthly in hue, might have been mask
save for the slight convulsive spasms
that crossed it from time to time and
correspondent with the faint, shivering
starts that passed at intervals over his
whole body. To complete his repellent
! appearance, q lock of hair had fallen
loose and lay black and damp across
his forehead.
Loder stood for q space shocked and
spellbound by the sight. Even in the
CHASTITY disarray the likeness-the ex-
traordinary, sinister likeness that had
become the pivot upon which he him
self revolved- struck him like blow.
The man who lay there was himself,
bound to him by some subtle, inexplic-
able tie of similarity. AS the idea
touched him he turned aside and step
ped quickly to the dressing table.
There, with unnecessary energy, he
flung back the curtains and threw the
window wide. Then again he turned
toward the bed. He had one dominant
impulse, to waken Chilcote, to be free
of the repulsive, inert presence that
chilled him with so personal a horror.
Leaning over the bed, he caught the
shoulder nearest to him and shook 1t.
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-
gence in his vice. had become a 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.
"Ohr' he exclaimed in a trembling
breath. "Ohw The sound seemed
drawn from him by compulsion.
It's uncanny tone chilled Loder anew
wake up, man. he said suddenly
, wake up! It's I-Loder."
Again the other shuddered; then be
turned quickly and nervously. "Lo
der| he said doubtfully. ''LoderT
Then his face changed. Good God, ;
he exclaimed, what a reliefr'
The words were so intense. so spon
taneous and unexpected that Lodel
took step back
Chilcote laughed discordantly anC
; lifted a shaky hand to protect his eye,
from the light.
"Its-it's all right, Loder! It's al
> right! It's only that THAT 1 had ;
, beastly dream. But, for heavens sake
; shut that Window He shivered In
voluntarily and pushed the lock O
> damp hair from his forehead with
, weak touch of his old irritability
In silence Loder moved back to tn
/. window and shut It, He was affecte,
more than he would own even to him
+ self by the obvious change in Chilcote
He had seen him moody, restless, nerv
! ously excited, but never before had b
! seen him entirely demoralized. Wit
a a dull feeling Of impotence and DISCUS
he stood by the closed window, lookin
o unseeingly at the roofs of the opposit
! houses.
g But Chilcote had followed his move
: ments restlessly, and now as he watcl
f ed him a flicker OF excitement crosse
his face. God. Loder," he said agar
5 "'twas a relief to see you! l dreame
q I was in hell-a horrible hell, wors
q than the one they preach about" II
laughed TO reassure himself, but b
s voice shook pitiably.
q Loder, who had come to fight. stoo
e silent and inert
e 1T was horrible beastly," Chilcot
l. went on. There was no fire and brin
f. stone, but there was something wors
, 1t was great ironic scheme Of pul
ishment by which every man wa
Ie chained TO his own vice-by which Il
# thing he had gone to pieces over, il
IT stead of being denied him, was mao
d compulsory. You can't imagine it." E
d shivered nervously and his voice ros
It Fancy being satiated beyond the liz
II it Of safety being driven and doggt