Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-03-23

I The other put up his hand and caugh
his arm. His fingers trembled and jerk
ell. Il say. Lcder," he said suddenly
1--WE had such a beastly night-my
nerves. you know
With a quick, involuntary disgust
Loder drew back. Don't you thinb
we might shove that asideg'' he asked
But Chilcote's gaze had wandered
from bis face and strayed 20 the dress
ing table; there it moved feverishly
from one object TO another.
"LOder." he exclaimed. do you see
can you see IL there's a tube OF tab.
l0ids on the mantelshelf OF on the
| dressing tableT" He lifted himself
nervously on his elbow. and his eyes
wandered uneasily about the room. Il
Il had a beastly night; my nerves are
horribly Jared, and I thought u
/ think He stopped
With his increasing consciousness his
nervous collapse became more marked
At the first moment OF waking the re-
lief OF an unexpected presence had sur
mounted everything else, but now, as
one by one his faculties stirred, his
wretched condition became patent.
With new sense Of perturbation
LOder made his next attack.
"ChilcOte." be began sternly.
But again Chllcote caught his arm.
plucking at the coat sleeve. where is
itf' he said. Where is the tube OF
tabloids-tbe sedative2 Tm-Tm oblig-
ed 70 take sOmeL-.ng when my nerves
go wrong" In his weakness and ner-
vous tremor be forgot that I.oder was
the sharer Of his secret. Even In his
extremity his fear OF detection clung
70 him limply-the lies that had be-
/ come second nature slipped from him
without effort Then suddenly a fresh
panic seized him. his fingers frightened
| spasmOdicaly, his eyes ceased to rove
about the room and settled on his
companions face. can you see Il.
LOdert" he cried. 81 can't: the LIGHTS
In my eyes. Can you see it2 Can you
see the tubeT" He lifted himself
higher, an agony OF apprehension in
his face.
LOder pushed him back upon the
pillow. He was striving hard 10 keep
his own mind cool 10 steer his own
course straight through the chaos that
confronted him. "Chilcote." he began
once more you sent for me last night
and ! came the first thing this morn
ing 20 tell you But there he stopped
short
With an excitement that lent him
strength. Chilcote pushed aside his
hands. God" ne said suddenly. sup
pose twas lost-suppose twas gomez
The imaginary possibility gripped him.
lie sat up. his face Hvid. drops OF
perspiration showing on his forehead.
his whole shattered system trembling
before his thought.
At the sight Loder set his lips The
tube is on the mantelshelf." he said
in cold. abrupt voice.
groan OF relief fell from Chucote.
and the muscles OF his face relaxed.
For moment be lay back with closed
eyes. then the desire that tortured him
stirred afresh. lie lifted his eyelids
! and looked at his companion. Hand
IL TO me-" he said quickly. Give It 10
me. Give IL 10 me. Loder. quick as
you can. There's a glass on the table
and some whisky and water. The
tahloids dissolve. you know In his
new excitement he held out his hand.
But Loder stayed motionless. He
had come to lght. 20 demand. 10 plead.
II need Doe. for the one hour FOR which
he had lved-the hour that was 10
satisfy all labor all endeavor. all am
billion. With dogged persistence he
made one more essay.
"Chllcote. YOU wrote last night TO re-
"a I.n"f
checked by a new Interruption Sit
ting up again. Chllcote struck out sud
denly with his left hand In "A rush OF
his old irritabnity.
"D-n your he cried suddenly.
What are you talking about? Look
at me- Get me the stun I tell you
it's Imperative" In his excitement his
breath failed. and he coughed At the
effort his whole frame was shaken.
Loder walked 10 the dressing table.
then back 10 the bed. A deep agita-
ton was at work in his mind
Again Chilcotes lips parted 10
der" he said falntly-"Loder. / must
l must have IT, It's imperative" once
more he attempted to lift himself. but
the effort was futile.
AGAIN Louer turned away.
"LOder'-
With a fierce gesture the other turn
ed on him. Good heavens. manl' he
began. Then unaccountably his voice
changed. The suggestion that had
been lowering in his mind took sud
den and definite shape. All rightv' he
said in lower voice. "All right
Stay as you are"
He 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