The Washington times., 1918-07-27
CHAPTER OK.
Ts gIee1y DRUG,


1t was not an absolute uncon-
Sciousness which overlook Lillian.
Rather II was q complete languor
Of the limbs, an inability to move,
however much she desired to do so.
She felt assured that both she
and Esther had been drugged by
some strange method and by some
peculiarly subtle poison. Unknow-
ingly. Ether had been subjected to
the process night after night, and
her weird, fantastic dreams had
been the consequence OF It Lilian's
will kept urging her to rise and
throw OF the influence. but her
limbs refused to obey her will. The
aromatic scent that tainted the air
was heavy in her nosJrils. and she
knew that she was inhaling great
draaghtS of il at every breath.
Had any one entered the room with
the object of molesting her she
would have been poweTless to as
sist herself.
For a few moments the dread OF
such an event was upon her. Her
eyes were fixed upon the door in
exaggerated horror, but all was
still, and gradually the sstupor
which had affected her limbs
reached her brain.
Lillian could not recall her dream
Ii she did dream at all She had
vague impression that the
shadows upon the wall were form
ing themselves into strange shapes,
dark shapes that gradually became
luminous: 1,h oa'. and at last EiOweS with
AS with Esther, crimson, green.
and yellow were the predominating
hues. To her mind. they appeared
q like rapidly revolving wheels. 1t
hurt her to watch them, and there
was none Of the restfulness Of SEN
sation which Esther had described.
Certainly her appreciation of time
was lost; she could have said il her
Stupor LASTED a few seconds or an
eternity.
II must have endured for some
hours, for when at last Lillian
started to her feet, conscious Of
voice calling to her, the light OF
dawn was filtering into the room.
She was dazed. and her head panied
her badly: also, she was suffering
from the same sensations which
Esther had described, the cold limbs,
the quickly beating heart, the pres
sure Of blood to the brain.
LILLIAN, oh. Lillian"
Lillian staggered to Esther's bed.
sOh, Lillian, my head! 1t Is pain
ing me so badly. ! have gone
through Il all again-but worse, far
worse, than ever before" The girl
Eroaned pitifully.
I'VE have been dragged" said LII
Iian hoarsely. That's what it is,
and IL Is to that you owe your
Gtrange dreams. I, too. have been
under the influence. Ugh"-there
was a sense OF nausea in her throat
sthe horrid scent is hanging about
the room still Great goodness, let
me be quick and open a window"
she made her way to the window
reeIInz as IL drunk, and after much
Sifficulty-for her fingers seemed
20 have lost their power-she threw
hack the shutters, forced UP the
frame. and allowed the cool. sweet
Air OF the morning to mingle with
the unwholesome atmosphere Of the
.sThank heaven for this pure air."
she cried as she leaned out OF the
yrfndow, Ereedily inhaling the anti
Sots Of the poison which she had alb
Rorbed
eyes. you have been drugged
every night cannot say by what
poison, but you know the effect OF
a. have felt Il also, and knew all
the time what was happening to me.
Nv head Is aching like yours, and
1uat now could hardly move my
iIrnbs-they were SO numb and cold
I,sEBut how and why?' Esther was
~,EinC stupidly at the open window.
Il don't understand
SCone here and breathe the pure
air. That is the best thing to do
SoY the moment" Lillian. her
strength restored, went to the bed
and. lifting Esther like q child, car
ried her TO the window.
The morning was frosty. and a
white mist lay over the garden, a
mist that gave promise Of 9 hne,
clear day.
what time Is it?" Esther shiv-
cred and drew the dressing gown
which Lillian had thrown over her
shoulders more closely about her.
ait must be about seven o'clock"
'Tt is always about that time that
wake up" said Esther. 81 hear
the stable clock strike the hour just
as am recovering my senses. But
/ never thought there was anything
more than q dream, though IL was
strange that the same dream should
recuF over and over again. And
even now can hardly believe that
what you say u true-it seems too