The Cairo bulletin., 1909-11-02

ment had run high on the Stock EY-
change, fortunes had been made and
back In his chair and tried to find
comfort in his after-dinner cigar,
every oyerstrained nerve pulsed with
fatigue and elamored loudly. insis-
tently for relief. A thousand little
devils seemed to be pounding with
heated hammers on his temples, and
with sigh of desperation he threw
his half-smoked cigar in the CRATE.
and rang the bell for his valet
johnson" he said curly. as that
long-suffering individual appeared,
IF any one calls to see me tonight
say | am not al home"
He waited impatiently while John
son bowed and closed the door then
glancing around furtively, suspicious
ly, opened drawer in his desk and
drew forth tiny hypodermic syringe.
He looked at it thoughtfully, curious
ly, and muttered. II wonder ii | am
getting TO depend too much on this
devilish thing. Anyway, | must have
relief tonight, no matter what The
price may be.
He frowned, hesitated, and then
ho, t.,t .tp n ia IaI
it gently with the needle, and throw
ing himself on the couch waited rest
lessly for the effect. He stretched his
tired limbs luxuriously: already he
felt himself a new man. The cares
and anxieties OF the day seemed mere
child's play What fool he had
been to get SO worked up! Every
thing was all right.
Why was he moping in that dull
room by himself? The night with all
its attractions was still young, He
would go and take Elem TO hear Melba
in the famous Jewel Song. he was a
fool not to have thought of it before.
Elem always rested him, anyway,
with her sentle, soothing ways Poor
little girl. he had neglected her
shamefully for that wretched deal he
had been trying to make Never
mind In few weeks she would be
his wife, and then he would make 1t
up to her thousand fold. He seized
his coat and hat and hurried from the
house.
The chill night air smote him pleas
antly and he drew long breaths of en-
joyment. He sprang lightly up the
steps of her house and rang the bell.
The maid seemed to hesitate to admit
him, but he pushed coin into her
not unwilling hand, and putting her
gently aside, darted laughingly up the
stairs. He we'll knew the way to her
boudoir.
He knocked and called safely:
Elem, Eleinl 1t is l." There
was no answer, and, pushing the door
open, he peered into the room.
All! there she was asleep by the
fire. Well! He would kiss her into
wakefulness. Her back was turned
toward him. One slender arm hung
limp and nerveless at her side. He
tiptoed quietly across the room, and.
smiling happily, Leaned over the
chair.
The smile slowly faded from his
face and a look of horror, disgust and
loathing took its place. Was this
sodden, insensate thing the woman he
had placed above all others? Had
chosen for his life companion His
practiced eye had caught the meaning
of those tiny sears on the naked arm.
She, too! 1t was horrible.
He stumbled blindly from the room
The elation Of an hour ago fell from
him like warm garment and left his
naked soul bare to thousand name
less fears and terrOrs. The noises Of
the night were maddening The dew
lis were beginning TO pound on his
temples again. He stumbled heavily
along; each foot seemed a weight
more than he could lift His brain
was in a whirl of confusion. One
idea alone stood out prominently, and
that was to find somewhere oblivion,
relief from consciousness. He turned
his bewildered steps toward the river.
Its low, sullen murmur seemed to lull
aud soothe him, as he hung fascinated
over its dark depths, too inert and
nerveless to make final effort Then
exerting all his strength he plunged
forward. He felt himself falling, fall
ing, and as he struck the icy water
with a half suppressed scream he
opened his eyes
Johnson, with an expression full OF
anxiety, was dashing cold water on
his face. The sun streamed warmly
into the ROOM and through the closed
window penetrated the shrill, CHEEKY
cry of "Mornin' papes.' The dear old
everyday world was waking into life
again. He looked around bewildered,
and then the blessed truth dawned
upon him. Thank Cod Thank
God!" he whispered brokenly. 1T
was only dream born of that mar
cotic fiend" There was still time for
redemption. Life. love, hope, were
still within his grasp.
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