The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-07-14

to sleep, to6-oh, how I want to be able to sleep again." Puck re- piled very softly. "But the nights are frightful, Martin. I feel as if I'd like to run away, run away from myself, I don't know where up to the tep of the Iron Tooth or down into the lake. Lenitschka made me brew of herbs but know that no one can help me but you"
 "You mustn't be so highly strung, Puck. It isn't healthy" Martin said severely. His arm throbbed madly and he laid it on the table as If it were an object alien to himself.
 Are you simply going to send me away? Won't you help e?' Puck asked in a low voice.
 "Of course l will, Puck. You are my little friend from the other side. you sec"
 Martin was thrown back into darkness for moment or two, q darkness throbbing mercilessly with pulsing pain. He felt his way to the bed and sat down. Puck fol- lowed, sat beside him and laid her hand on his arm. Martin felt a pain pass in a spasm from under his shoulder right to his brain when she touched him. He thrust his arm out and gave a low groan.
 Don't touch me-" he shouted "Why can't you all leave me in peace? I have had enough of it. You all hang around my neck like lead. You crowd round me and give me no peace. You all run after me. You force yourselves on me in the privacy of my hut. Always this eternal business swith women. this bowling and weeping. What have I done to deserve 1t? Why do you all do 1t? What do you take me for? I am not one of the attrac- tions for a summer season. l have other things to think about. I am man to be reckoned with as shall soon show you. Let me alone. There's only one girl I am fond of, and there will never be another. All the rest are nothing to me, and I'll have nothing to do with them. Here am I-ill, with nothing to eat and ready to drop in front of your very eyes and you think of nothing but your driveling love affairs. But now I've done with 1t. Eve had enough. Enough. enough, enough"
 And as he believed it out three times he brandished his clenched fists in the air. The pain this caus- ed him was so excruciating that he became dumb and fell back on his pillows with a look almost of as- tonishment in his fevered eyes.
 "DO you say this to me? Are you going to strike me?" she ask ed, utterly broken. But her lips were stiff and there was no sound in her throat. So the question was locked in silence. Martin lay on his bed with his face to the wall. He looked completely exhausted, and his arm lay like a block of wood. The hut smelled of parafiin, and the air was full of .eddying black specks that rose and fell again and covered everything. Puck went to the lamp absent-mindedly and turn ed down the wick until the fiaring flame was reduced to a steady, even yellow light. Then she gathered her wet cloak around her and pulled the hood over her head.
 "I am going now and I am going far, far away" she said in dry. lifeless voice. Then she waited; but there was no response.
 Go to the devil. Martin thought, but he kept 1t to himself. He was beginning to split into two people again and to manufacture non-in- fiammable film in a factory. He heard the doro shut. A cool breath of rain blew in and then no more.
 How sad she was with her little face in the shadow of the hood, oue of the two of him thought in do. lirium. The other had clumsily put his hand into some hydrochloric acid. The third lay for while and stared at the lamp and then With bed. He turned out the lamp. felt his way to the door and stretched his head out Into the night. Puck .. don't bo angry. ..." called out thla one of the three. who stiIi had q giimmer of normal consciousness. But Puck was no longer to be seen.
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