Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-10


plunged cursing into the room.
Terrified beyond al power Of rea.
son or selfcOntrol, slammed the door
behind him and locked il. then stun.
bled through the surgery. ran up the
stairs. and into my room. ! made a
light there. locked my door and barri
caded ii with heavy chest OF draw
ers, then dragged the he'd against the
chest. Desperation lent me wonderful
strength.
Resolved TO make good fight fol-
life-fOr now ] knew Brodeur would
surely kill me II he could lay hands
ON mel looked about me for some
weapon. There was none save the
poker. | took this up from beside the
fireplace and examined il. II was two
and half .eet long and very heavy
with bic brass knob for . handle.
know H. could 10 much execution at
close range. AM fell relieved
Enr3eed and shaken with fear,
sat down on the edge OF the bed To
await developments. Ny brain was
da,ed and whirling with exhaustion
and lack OF sleep, With tragedy and
horror. 1t seemed as il while The
world stood never could rest again.
Fire coursed in my arteries; my brain
was like ball of flame. AZ the back
OF NY head dull, srinding ache had
developed nerves" | knew the
symptom only TO well from having
often observed il in others. was IN
fair way 20 have 4 general nervous
breakdown brstin-teyer, perhaps
Strung to breaking pitch, sat there.
each moment an eternity, expecting al
any time TO hear the attack upon my
room begin. After certaia time a
dull crashing downstairs told me Bro.
deur was breaking his WAY out OF the
ward.
a litlo after this heald footsteps
overhead. Mrs. Sprage The house.
sGerer wa prowllng Iii hey upper re
si0us rio thought Of her nale, ulie
face rose before ME. heard confused
speech above. No douht she was nai-
ranruine her son Joe! ana hc with
oqual probability had pulled the clothes
over lis head. In spite OF al the hct.
Tor OF that endless and Internal n hl
/ smiled grmlv.
rose and WeLt over to tie bIle dGd
wrinkled mirror thai buns above nay
wash-staEd. The sight % ms uwn tdcc
terrified me. so wan ana white ii was
50 unnatural and hag2al in ils DIS
lress.
There was no;hlns IL dc save @alt
| returned once more 10 lilc boT ana
again So. down | laid thc poker close
&C hand. Those Inad.cn below should
not take vengeance on u.e !ur lhcir
own misdeeds without ~ least meet
inc "avagc resistance
Hcw long / waited / "oulu not tell
Ii could moi have been iou@, for dawn
had not yet begun 10 penetrate 'hc
driving storm.clouds, huf Il seemed Il
hundred eternities
Gradually realized thW Il srcai
calm had settled on The house This
.0ct impressed me more and more
painfully. 1t is tar more trying TO eX-
pcct hostiltes and then not have
them develop han IL Is 10 30 forward
into battle or repel attack
listened keenlv. No, from below
states came ne sound that ! could
hear. The waiting became ntolerablr.
the nerve.strain awtnl beyond all
words.
Gradually the tension crew 50 acute
that coull endure il no longer. Ii
this continued mach longer | felt
should go mad. rush down upon them
with my weapon and invite the death
they now seemed poaipon!ng .l1r u
while.
At last could bear no more.
arose, pulled back the bed and the
chest, and opened The door just il
crack Now could hear n little some,
thng--a vague anu confused sound
of speech somewhere below.
Curiosity - the Legacy OF Eye and
her gift 10 every one ol hpr millions
of daughters presently opercamc my
canton and my prudence Silently
pulled away the barricade sufficiently
to let myself out into tho hal There,
with my weapon in hand, J listened
with stopped breath.
The mems voiees were nov distinct I
IL audible. ! could hea the lower
tones ol Drodeur the higher amt more
uuerulous ones OF VIAL ErgaAy !
sensed that they were carrying on
their discussion in the surgery y
bitter alteration seemed III pro
gress.
Tense. crept 70 the stalrhead De
low the fire was htlullS casting lts
lieht upon The walls and polished
floor. It seemed dancing IN The uls
mirror over the mantoi. reflected back
from lie glass Of Il large steel ragrat
inc that hung opposite Washinaton
Crossing the Delaware, recall
even now. Weak, sick, fevered. |
crouchcl ihfre. siraininr NY every
merry. Ia catch some words Of this