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Show i SYNOPSia Minnie, sprlng-houso girl at Hopo sanatorium, sana-torium, tells ttie story. It opens with the irrivnl of Miss I'ntty Jennings, who Is reported re-ported to be engaged to marry a prince, and the death of tho old dodo, who owns tlio sanatorium. The estate Is left to a cupegraee grandson, Dicky Carter, who must appear on a certain dnto and run tho sanatorium successfully for two months or forfeit the Inheritance. A enso of mumps delays Dirk's arrival. Mr. Tho-burn Tho-burn Is hovering ah Hit In hopes of securing se-curing th plneo for a summer hotel. I'lerce, a college man In hard luck. Is prevailed pre-vailed upon hy Van Alstyne, Dick's broth-er-ln-lnw, to Impersonate tho missing heir and tako charge of the sanatorium until Carter arrives. Dick, who has eloped with Patty's younger sister. Dorothy, arrives, ar-rives, and the couple go Into hiding In the old shelter house. Kenrlng to face Dorothy's father, who Is at tho sanatorium, sanator-ium, Dick arranges with Pierce to continue con-tinue In ttie management of tho property. Julia Hummers, lending lady of Pierce's stranded theatrical company, arrives. She Is suing Olrky for breach of promise. The prince, under the Incognito of Oknr von Inwald, arrives at .he sanatorium. v llarnes, character man with l'lercn's show snd n graduate M. D., takes tho place of sanatorium physician, IMerco, who Is very much Interested In Patty, shows a strong dislike for von Inwald. CHAPTER VIII. Continued. Tho rent of tho overling was ciulot, and I needed lu MIbs Patty and Mr. von Inwald talked by tho flro und I 1 think ho told her Bomethlng not all of tho scone in tho sprlnghouse For she passed Mr. Plerco at tho foot of tho stairs on her way up for tho night and she pretended not to see him. About twelvo o'clock, Just rtftcr I went to my room, somebody knocked at-the door. When I opened, tho now doctor was standing In tho hall. "I'm sorry to disturb you," ho said, "but nobody seems to know whoro tho pharmacy clerk 1b und I'll havo to got lomn medicine." "If I had my way, wo'd havo had a doll on that pharmacy clerk long ago," I "snapped, getting my keys. "Who's ' sick?" "Tho big man," ho replied. "Blgga Is his name, I think, a senator or sonie-Milng." sonie-Milng." I was leading tho way to tho stairs, but I stopped. "I might havo known fit," 1 said. "Ho hasn't been natural all evening. What's tho matter with him? Too much fast?" "Fast?" Ho laughed. "Too much feast! Ho'b got as pretty a case of Indigestion In-digestion as I've- seen for some tlmq. Hn'fl giving a demonstration that'B al-- al-- moHt theatrical." , .. , .- ar ,.w . -W'll, IV" "iirm.fTin. lockedVand ma au couldn't find A key to fit It. And fwlum I suggested mustard and warm wuter he jumped at tho Idea. "Fine!" he said. "Hotter lot mo dish . out tho Bprlng water and you tako my Job! Lend on, MacDuff, to tho kitchen." !i Well, 1 got tho muBtard nnd water ready, put out tho light, and ho took 1 ' tho thingH nnd started out, but ho came back in a hurry. "Thoro'B Bomobody outsido talking," talk-ing," ho Buld. 1 went to tho door with him and listened. "Tho sooner the bettor," Mike wns v. saying. "I'm no good whllo I've- got It on my rnlnd." j And Mr. Thoburn: "Tomorrow la j! too soon; they're not In tho mood yet S Perhaps tho day after. I'll lot you X know." 4 I didn't got to Bleep until almost i niornlng, and then it was to dream a . that Mr. Plorco was shouting "Hypo- K crltoB" to1 nil tho people In tho snna- , lorlurn and threatening to throw glass- JNi., ' ' of mustard and warm wator at them. ' I 'hn peoplo went down to break- I'nBt' (he next morning they found a ! card hanging on tho office door with half dozen now rules on it, und when I went out to tho sprlnghouso tho kuphIh wore having an Indignation meeting In the sun parlor, with tho bishop In the chair, nnd Senator niggs, to wobbly ho could hardly stand, ma- I Icing a speech. I tried to Bee Mr. Plerco, but early as It was, ho had gono for a walk, taking tak-ing Arabella with him. So I cnllod a .-onfermice nt tho shelter-house MIsb Patty, Mr. and Mrs. Vnn Alatyno, Mr. and Mrs. Dick and myself. We were In a tight placo and wo knew It. "Ho Is making It as hard for us as he can," Mrs. Sam declared. "Tho Idea of hnvlng tho cardroom lights put sut nt midnight, nnd the breakfast room closed at ten! Nobody gets up at that hour." ,; "Mo wns to coino here ovory ovenlng for orders," bald Mr. Dick. "Ho came , Just once, nnd as for orders woll, ho u gavo 'em to mo!" ' Hut Miss Patty was always fair. "I loathe him," sho asserted. "1 ; want to (juarref with him the nilnuto I ' 'no him. Ho ho Ib proBiunptuous to "lit point of Impertinence- but ho's, honoHt; lio thinks we're all hypocrites' t those that uro well and those that tro Bck or think they are and he lutes hypocrisy." i "You and old Plorco would make a W tenin, Pat," Mrs, Dick remarked with n yawn. "I JIim hypocrites my-"lf. my-"lf. Thoy'ro so cflutfy. Hut if you're not above advice, Pat, you'll havo Aunt Honorla break her neck or some-blngT--nnythlng to ot father back to town. Something Ib going to explodo, d Oelmr doesn't Uko to bo agitated." Hho curled up oh tho cot with that inn went Bound asloep. Tho rest of uo ad rorfco and talked, but thoro wasn't iWIHS TUBES AWI1.5fifc I ! 3? MAEf EGBERTS BWEHART Bill I I 7Z6 CIR,OVIvAJR STAIR-CAB , 13e AANf 'WIMl'rilll'f 3 LQ-WER TEN, WHEN A MAN MATililES -lV ". ILLUSTRATED $? EDGAR. BERT 5MIIH - awvewr & tsssgv- ' ' fl anything to do. As Mr. Sam said, Mr Plerco didn't want to Btay, anyhow, and as likely as not If wo went to him In a body and told him ho must coino to tho shelter-house for Instructions, nnd bo suavo nnd gentlo when ho wns called down by tho guests about tho steam pipes making a racket, ho'd probably prefer to go down to tho village vil-lage and tako Doctor Dames' placo washing dishes at tho station. Hut ho settled It by appearing himself. him-self. Ho enrao across the snow from the direction of Mount Hopo, nnd ho had a pair of sIcccb over his shoulder. (At that tlmo I didn't oven know tho name of tho things, but I learned enough about them later.) I must say ho looked very well besldo Mr. Dick, who wasn't very largo, anyhow, and who hadn't had tlmo to put on hie collar, col-lar, nnd Mr. Sam, who'B always thin and sallow and nover takes a Btop he doesn't have to. I lot htm In, und whon ho saw us all thoro ho started and hesitated, "Como In, Plerco," Mr. Sam Bald. "Wo'vo Just been talking nbout you." Ho came in, but ho didn't look vory comfortable. "What have you decided to do with mo?" ho asked. "Put mo under restraint?" re-straint?" Of course, he had to bo sot right about tho sanatorium, and Mr. Sam began It. Mr. Plorco listened, sitting on tho floor nnd looking puzzled and moro and more unhappy. Finally ho got up and drow a long bronth. "Exactly," ho agreod "I know you aro all right and I'm wrong according to your way of thinking. Hut If these peoplo want to bo well, why should I encourage them to do tho wrong thing? They don't want to bo woll; thoy'ro all hypocrites." "That'B not tho point, Plerco," Mr. Dick broke In Importantly. "You wcro to 'come hero for orders nnd you haven't done It. You're running thlB placo for mo, not for yourBolf." Mr. Plerco looked at Mr. Dick and from thero to Mr. Sam and smiled. "I did como," he explained. "I came twlco, and each tlmo wo played rou-lotto. rou-lotto. I lost all tho monoy I'd had In advance Honostly," ho confessed, "I felt I couldnit afford to como every day." MhttPpttr hit llljl ld-rrfff"f)' around tho question," she said. "Mr. Plorco undertook to mnnago tho sanatorium, sana-torium, and to try to manago It successfully. suc-cessfully. Ho cannot do that without making some attempt at conciliating tho people. It's It's absurd to antagonize an-tagonize them." "Exactly," ho said coldly. "I was to manago It, and to try to do it successfully. success-fully. I'm sorry my methods don't moet with tho approval of this or executive committee Hut It might as well be clear that I Intend to uso my own methods or nono." Well, what could we do? Miss Patty went out with her head up and tho rest of us stayed nnd nto humble plo, and after a whllo ho agreed to ctny If ho wasn't interfered with. Ho said ho nnd Doctor Hnrnes had a plan that ho thought was a winner that If would either mako or break tho placo and ho thought it would mako It. And by that, tlmo wo were so meek that wo didn't oven ask what it was. Doctor Barnca and Misa Summers wero tho first to como to tho mineral spring that niornlng. "Curious old world, isn't It?" sho enld between puffs. "Hero we aro tho three of us snug and nice, having seven kinds of holl-flre water and not having to pay for it; three meals a day and afternoon tea ditto, good beds nnd steam-heat ditto and four days mwll A. "wvS .M "Not Not Dicky Carter!" Sho Cried, ago where were wo? Pierce, you wero hocking your clothes! Doc, you. " "Washing dlahos!" ho said, "1 novor know before how extravagant it la to havu a aaucor under n cupl" "And 1!" sho went on, "I, Julia Sum-mera, Sum-mera, wns Blaring nt a colling in tho Flnkyvlllo hotel, with n face that lookod llko a toy balloon." "And now," said Doctor Harncs, "you aro moro beautiful than over, I am a successful physician. And my young friend hero Plerco Julia, Pierce has now bocomo a young reprobato named Dicky Cartor, and may tho Lord havo mercy on his soul!" I tried to got out in tlmo, but I was 1 too lntc. I flaw hor rlso, eaw tho glass of wator nt hor elbow roll over and smash on ho floor, and saw her clutch wildly at Mr. Piorco'B shoulder. "Not not Dicky Carter!'' sho cried. "Hlchnrd they call him Dick," Mr. Plorco said uneasily, and loosened hor fingers from his coat. Oh, woll, ovorybody knows It now how sho called Mr. Dick everything In tho calendar, and thon began to cry and said nobody would over know what sho'd been through with, nnd the very dross eho had on was a part of tho trousseau sho'd had made, and what with tho dressmaker's bills Suddenly sho stopped crying. "Whoro Is ho now?" Bho demanded. "All wo nro nwnro of," Mr. Pierce replied quietly, "is that ho Ib not In the sanatorium." She looked at us all closely, but Bho got nothing from my fnco. "Oh, very well," eho said, shrugging her shoulders, "I'll wait until he showB up. It doesn't cost anything." Then, with ono of hor easy changes, sho laughed and picked up her muff to go. "MInnio and I," she said, "will tend bar hero, and in our lelauro moments wo will pour sulphur water on a bunch of Dicky's letters that I havo to cool 'em." Sho walked to tho door and turned around, smiling. "Carry nro insurance on 'em all tho time," she finished and went out, leaving leav-ing us staring at ono another. CHAPTER IX. I went to bed early that night. Wtint wlli ivnrrvlncF nnrl tinlnp fittnr natcly chilled by trumping through tho snow nnd roasted as If I was sitting on a volcano with an eruption duo, I was about all in. I guess It v.TiH about four o'clock In tho morning when a hand slid over my face, and I sat up nnd yolled. Tho hand covered my mouth at that, nnd something long and whlto nnd very thin bealdo tho bed said: "Shi For heaven's sake, Mlnnlo!" It was Miss Cobb! I lighted a candlo and set it on a chair besldo tho bod and took a good look at her. Sho waB sli nk I n g Riovjnfxr f " rlndfiw hat d. !", uo nan a Key in Mout flo "Here," Bhe gasped, holding hou.lo koy, "hero. MInnio, wnxe tKorhcaf-nnd tKorhcaf-nnd get him, but, oh, MInnio, !v' en's snko, save my reputntionl saw U "Get who?" I domnnded, for' was her room koy, room I" "I havo locked a man In my and col-sho col-sho declared In a torrlblo volce.ibd. lapsod into tho middle of the 1 to toll Well, I leaned over and trloce more her sho'd make a mistake. Tltnndlng I looked at her, with her hulr s'nd her strnlght out over her head, a collar cambric nightgown and a high on hor and long sleeves, nnd tho humpVad hit nose where hor brother Willie ill bat, hor In childhood with a basobJy had tho surer I was that somoborf mudo a mistake likely tho mania bed I sat down on tho sldo df tn and put on my allppors. msked. "What did ho look like?" I 1 "Could you seo him?" 1 Sho uncovered ono eyo. 1 "I "Not not distinctly," Bho saldjither think ho waB largo, nnd and rlaust handsome That beast of a dog ep havo got In my room nnd was asl by undor tho bod, for it awakenod ml snarling." lko Thero was nothing In that to mlon mo nervous, but it did. As I putlrd, ray kimono I was thinking pretty hMby I could not waken Mr. Plerco n. knocking, eo I went In and shook hi "Mr. Plorco! Mr. Pierce!" lit It was two or three minutes at iMlt before I had him sitting on tho sler of the bed, with a blanket spread out his knees, and was telling him abfl Miss Cobb. BL. After ho seemed pretty well wjBlt-ened wjBlt-ened I wont out. I wnitod in tho M ting-room and I heard him growlingt ho put on his clothes. Ho was quBs, when we gdl to tho bedroom flooflt however, and whon wo atopped outsSi Misa Cobb'a door ho waB as Bobor X any ono could wish him. I gavo him tho key and he fitted -quietly In tho lock. Arabollo, just oul sldo, must havo heard, for sho snarledS But tho Btiarl turned Into a yolp, as Wt sho'd been suddenly kicked. ' Mr. Plerco, with hla lmnd on thfl knob, turned and lookod nt mo In thdfl cnndlo-llght. Then ho opened thfl door. g Arabella gavo another yolp nnd ruBhed out; eho went hot ween my feot llko a shot und almost overthrew mo 9 nnd whon I'd got my balanco again l' looked into tho room. Mr. Plorco waal nt tho window, Ktnrlng out. nnd thn'l room wna empty. "Tho Idiot!" Mr. Plorco Buld "If It hadn't beon for thnt snow-bank! Hero, give mo that candlo!" Ho stood there waving It In circles, but thoro was neither Bight nor sound from below. After a mlnuto Mr. Plorco put tho window down and wo stared at tho room. All tho bureau drawers wero out on tho floor, nnd the lid of poor Miss Cobb'a trunk wns open nnd tho trny upset. We brought her back to her room, nnd she didn't know whothor to bo huppy that Bho was vindicated or mad at tho state her thlngn woro In. Sho drew my head down to hor and her eyes woro fairly popping out of her head. "I fool as though I'm going crnzy, Mlnnlo t" sho whispered, "but tho only things that nro gono nro my letters from Mr. Jones, nnd my black woolen tights J" ' I slept Into the next morning, and when I'd had brcakftwt and waded to tho sprlng-houso it was nearly nine As I floundered out 1 thought I saw Bomcbody slink around tho cornor of tho aprlng-houso, but when I got thero nobody wns In sight. I wns on my kneoB In front of tho fireplace, raking out tho flro, whon I henrd tho door closo behind mo, nnd when I turned, there stood Mr. Dick, muffled to the nock, with his hut nlmost over hla fnco. "What tho douco kopt you so lute this morning?" ho demanded, In a sulky voice, nnd limping over to n table ho drow a package out of his pocket and slammed It on tho table, "I was up half tho night, as UBUal," I said, rising. "You oughtn't to bo here. Mr. Dick!" Ho was pulling something out of his overcoat pockot, an inch nt n tlmo. "For God's Boko, Mlnnlo," ho exclaimed, ex-claimed, "return thla this gurment to whomover it belongs to!" Ho handed It to me, and It wne MIbb Cobb's blnck tights! I stood nnd Btared. "And thon," ho went on, reaching for tho packago on tho tnblo, "when .1 ...i . . .,-( you vo uoiio luai, return to uiukio theso lottors from her Joncsle "Don't stand and stare," ho continued con-tinued Irritably, when I didn't mako n movo, "at least got thut thnt Infernal black garment out of sight." "So It was you!" I gasped, putting tho nowepapor over tho tights. "Why in tho noma of pence did you Jump out of tho window, nnd whnt did you want with with theso things?" "Want with thoso things!" ho Bnnrled. "I suppose you can't understand under-stand that a man inlcht wnko up In Jho jnlddlttc-f-thtfnniilit with a mud craving for a pair of black woolen tlghtB. and" "You needn't bo sarcastic with mo." I broko in. "You can snvo that for your wife I supposo you also had a wild longing for tho love-letters of nn lnsurnnco agent " And thon it dawned on mo, and I eat down nnd lnughcd until I cried. "And you thought you woro stenllng your own letters !" I cried. "Tho ones Bho curries fire lnsurnnco on! Oh, Mr Dick, Mr. Dick!" "How wnB I to know It wasn't Ju Miss Summers' room?" ho demanded angrily. "Didn't I follow tho drntted dog? I gavo her tho beiiBt myself. Oh. I tell you, MInnio, if I ovor got nway from this place " "You've got to get nway this minute," min-ute," I broko In, rememborlng. "They'll bo coming nny lnstunt now." Ho got up nnd looked nround him holplcBsly. Whero'll I go?" ho asked. "I can't go back to tho shelter-house." I looked at him and he tried to grin "Fact," ho said, "hard to bellove. but fact, Mlnnlo. She's got tho door locked. Didn't I tell you sho is of n suspicious nature? Sho wub asleep when I loft, nnd mostly she Bleeps nil night. And Just becnuso Bhe wnkes when I'm out, nnd lets mo como In thinking she's nsleep, when sho hus ono oyeopon nil tho tlmo, nnd sho Bees what I'd never even seen myself thnt tho string of that damned Karmont. whatever it 1b, Ib fastened to the hook of my shoo, mo thinking all tho tlmo that the weight wns becauflo I'd broken my log Jumping doesn't sho suddenly Bit up and ask mo where I'vo boon? And I I'm unsuspicious, Mlnnlo, by nature, nnd I said I'd been asleep. Thon she Jumped up nnd showed mo i thnt thut thing thoso things, hnng-lng hnng-lng to my shoo, and she hasn't spokon !to mo slnco. I wish I was dead." And Just then a dog barked outsido snd somebody on tho Btep stampud now off his feet. We woro both paralyzed para-lyzed for a moment, "Julia!" Mr. Dick cried, nnd wont Tthlte 1 made a leap for tho door, Just as I the handle turned, and put my buck I against It, "JuBt a minute," I called. "The car-I car-I pet is caught under It!" I Mr. Dick had lost his bond and was 1 making for tho spring, as If ho thought biding his feet would conceal him. I made frantic gestures to him to go into my pantry, and ho wont ut last. leaving his hat on tho table 1 left the door and flung It after him the niat.of course, not tho door und when HUea Summers sauntered in Just after, H was on my knoes brushing tho Hieartb, with my heart going three-our three-our tlmo nnd skipping ovory sixth jeat "Hello t" sho Bnld. "Lovely weuthcr for polar bears. If tho natives wnde -B rough this nil winter It's no wonder tHer wM as If thoy nro hum-strung. tflm't bother getting mo n glass. I'll Iflt my own." Sfcha w&a making for tho pantry when I cnught her, nnd I guess I looked pretty wild. "I'll got It," I enld. "I Hint's ono of tho rulcB." Sho put hor bunds in tho pockets of her whllo Bwentor nnd smiled nt mo. "Do you know," sho doclnrod, "tho old lndlcB knitting socloty lan't so fur wrong nbout you! About your making rules whatever you want, whenovor you want 'em." Sho put her hcud on ono Bide. "Now," sho went on, "supposo I break thnt rule nnd got my own glass? What happens to mo? I don't think I'll bo put out!" I throw up my bunds In dcspnlr, for I was about at tho end of my string. "Oct it then!" I exclaimed, and Bat down, waiting for tho volcano to erupt. Hut sho only laughed and sat down on a table, swinging hor feet. "Whon you know mo bettor, Minnie," Min-nie," sho Buld, "you'll know I don't spoil sport. I happen to know you hnvo somobody In tho pantry moreover, more-over, I know It's n man. Thoro nro trucks on tho little porch, my dour girl, not made by your galoshes. Also, my dearest girl, thoro's n gentlomnn's glovo by your chnlr thoro!" I put my foot on It. "And Just to Bhow you what a good follow I am " Sho got off tho table, still smiling, and sauntered to the pantry door, watching mo over hor shoulder. My heart wus skipping every second bent by thnt tlmo, nnd MIbs Julln stood by tho pantry door, her head back and hor eyes almost closed, en-Joying en-Joying every mlnuto of it. If Arnbolla hadn't mudo a diversion Just thon I think I'll hnvo fnlntod. She'd pulled tha nowepapor nnd tho tights off tho tnblo nnd wnu running nround tho room with them, ono leg In her mouth, "Stop It, Arnbolla!" suld MIbb Julln, nnd took tho tlghtB from her, "Yours?" sho asked, with her eyebrows raised. "No yes," I atiBwored. "I'd novor suspect you of them!" sho remarked. Mr. Sam and his wlfo camo lu at that moment, Mr. Sam carrying n bpt-- JolU-OWJimr7Jrn!mBhoTu)rhouBo, wrapped in paper, and two cans of somethfng or other. Ho wns too busy trying to mnko tho bottle look llko something else which n good mnny peoplo huvo tried nnd fnlled nt to notlco what Miss Summers was doing, and sho had Miss Cobb'B protectors stuffed In hor muff nnd wub standing vory dignified In front of tho flro by tho tlmo thoy'd shnkon off tho anow, "Good morning!" eho Bnld. "Morning!" said Mr. Sam, hnnging up his overcoat with ono hand, nnd trying try-ing to put tho bottle In ono of his pockots with tho other. Mrs. Sam didn't look ut her. "Good morning, MrB. Van Alstyno!" Miss Summers nlmost throw it nt hor. "I spoko to you before; I guoss you didn't henr me." "Oh. yes I heurd you," answered Mrs. Sum, and turned her back on hor. Give me n little llght-hulred woman for Bheor dcvlllshnessj I'd expected to boo MIbb Summers fly to pieces with rngo, but sho stared at MrB. Sam's buck, and ufter n mlnuto mln-uto alio laughed. "I see!" sho romnrked slowly. "You're tho BlBtor, nren't you?" Mr. Sntri hnd gtvon up trying to hldo-tho hldo-tho bottle -and now ho sot It on tho floor with a thump and camo over to tho fire "It's you see, tho situation Is embarrassing," em-barrassing," ho began. "Undor tho If t I u r x If Arabella Hadn't Made a Diversion I Think I Would Have Fainted. clrcuniBtances, don't you think It would bo er bettor form If or undor the clrcumstnuces " "I urn not going to louvo, If that Is what you uro about to suggest," sho Bald. "I'vo beon trying to seo Dicky Carter tho Inst ten days, und I'll stay hero until I eeo htm. I'll Btay right here, and I'll have what's coming to mo or I'll know tho reason why. Don't forget for u mlnuto that I know why Mr. Plerco Ib hero, and that I can spoil tho Uttlo gamo by calling tho extra aco, If I want to." Whon she was aafoly gone I ,i'-i1J11lia brought Mr. Dick out to tho flro. Ills H Bieter would not speak to htm. H Mike went to Mr. Plorco that day M and asked for a rnlso of salary. Ho H did not got it. Perhaps as things havo H turned out, It wub for tho beet, but It M is strange to think how dlfforont M tilings would hnvo boon If ho'd boon M glvon It. Ho wnB sent up later, of M course, for six months for malicious jH mischief, but by thnt tlmo the dam M ago was dono. H CHAPTER X. Thnt was on n Saturday morning. M It hnd stopped snowing and tho Bun M was shining, although It xias so cold H that tho snow blow llko pawdor. Hy H oloven o'clock every ono who could M wulk hud comu to tho spiipghouso. H About twelvo o'clock Mr. Thoburn H camo In, nnd as ho opened th door, In H leaped Arabella. Tho women made a H fuss over tho creature and cuddled hor, H nnd when I tried to put hor out every- H body objoctod. So eho ntayed, und H Miss Summers put her through a lot v of tricks, whllo tho mon crowded " H nround. H Mr. von Inwnld and MIbs Patty camo H In Just thon and stood watching, H "And now," enld Mr. von Inwald, "I H propose, as n reward to Miss Arabella, H a glass of this wonderful wator. Mln- H nle, n glaBS of wator for Arabella!" H "Sho doesn't drink out of ono of my H glasses," I declared angrily. "It's ono H of my rules that dogs " H "Tut!" said Mr. Thoburn. "What's good for man Is good for boast. Be- H aides, tho Uttlo beggar's thirsty.',' 1 Woll they mado a great fuss nbout tho creature's being thirsty, and bo H Anally I got a panful of spring water H and It drank until I thought it would M burst. I'm not vicious, as I sny, but H I wish it hnd. Well, tho dog ilnlBhed and lay down H by tho flro, und everything seemed to H go on as before. . H "Just what Is tho record horo?" tho M bishop nsked. "I'm ordered eight M glasses, but I And it more than, uAm-H llcloncy.''----fjBBBWBM11B 1 "Wo had ono man horo once who H Icould drink 25 at u time," 1 said, "but H ho was a Gorman." H "Ho was n tank," Mr. Sam corrected H grumpily. Ho was watching something H on tho floor I couldnjt see what. "Consldor," said Thoburn, standing and holding his glass to tho light, "how wo aro nt tho mercy of this Uttlo H sprlngl A convulsion In tho bowels of H tho earth, und Its henlth-glvlng prop- ortica may bo changed to tho direst H poison. How do wo know, you and I, H Homo such change has not occurred H overnight? Unlikely ns it Is, It's u pob- Blbility that, sitting here calmly, wo H mny bo sipping our death potion." H Somo of tho peoplo actually put H down their glasses nnd ovorybody bo- H gnn to look uneasy excopt MrSam. H who wus still watching something I H could not Bee Ho suddenly straight- H ened up und glanced nt MIsb Summers. H "Perhnps I'm mlstnkon," ho snld, "but H I think there Is something the matter H with Arabella." Everybody looked. Arabella ws ly- H Ing on hor back, Jerking and twitch- H ing nnd foaming nt tho mouth, H "She's been poisoned!" MIsb Gum- H mors screeched, nnd fell on hor Knees H besldo her. "It's thut wretched wn- H tor!" Thero wub pretty, nearly a riot in a H mlnuto. Everybody Jumped up nnd H stnred nt tho dog, nnd ovorybody re- H memborcd tho wnter ho or sho had H Just had, and coming on top or Mr. H Thoburn'B speech, it made them bab- H bllng lunatics. H Well, I did what I could. Tho worst H of it waB, I wasn't sure It wasn't tho H wator. I thought possibly Mr. Plorco H had mado n mlstnko In what ho had H bought nt tho drug store, nnd although jH I don't us n rule drink it myself, I be- fl gun to feel quour in the pit of my jfl stomach. H Mr. Thoburn camo ovor to tho IP spring, and Ailing u glass, took it to ISS tho light, with every ono watching anx- Kp lously. Whon ho brought it back lie P5 stooped over tho railing nnd whispered W& to mo. R5i "Whon did you fix It?" ho nsked . M sternly. ' Eg "LuBt night," I answered. It was no Iff time to bent about the bush. rag "It's yellower than usual," ho Bald. KJRt "I'm Inclined to think something has SSp, gono wrong at tho drug Btoro, Mlnnlo." ,'&K Mr. von Inwald was watching llko . jn the othors, and now he camo ovor and ? caught Mr. Thoburn by tho arm. S1 "What do you think" ho asked W nervously. "I I havo had three glass- KiJ oh of it!" as "Three!" shouted Senator Biggs, 1rS coming fot-ward. "I've had oloven! I toll vnn I'vo henr. fnnllntr i,.v. -- o. f,i.'. tun juu, i vo uuun loonng queer for 21 SJf houra! I'm polsbnod! That's what I WL am." K (TO HE CONTINUED.) Wk |
