Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-05-01
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XVI.
Early the following morning, after
satisfying myself that Jones was get
ting on as well as we had any ground to
hope he would, and that he would be
carefully looked after by the nurses
who had volunteered for the service. I
set out for the house on the knoll. It
was my plan to seek johnson after NV
regular call upon Lamar, but, fate be-
ing suspicious, was saved the trouble.
for the fisherman was at work about his
employers premises. He was very
willing to let the boat, which, he said,
was well adapted for woman's use, be.
Ing light and handy, easily rowed, and
equipped with a small triangular sail,
available in light winds and on smooth
water. He would bring it that after
noon to the head of one of the inlets.
You're on shore most of the time,
aren't your" asked. when this arrange.
ment had been made.
"Ay, ay, SIR" he answered.
"Tircd of salt water?"
mo, sir; but bed that don't pitch
and roll is comfortable enough for me,
when I've chance to lie in it."
what are you doing these days?"
I'm none too idle" he answered,
with quick glance at me.
Find him sociable" I nodded to-
ward the house.
He seemed to be about to speak, but
after q look about him he changed his
intention, and without a word turned
again to the task which my coming had
interrupted. Smiling at his caution, 1
climbed the slope to the door, and en-
tered. Lamar, who was reading, laid
down his book-it was his well-worn
Cicero's Letters-and babe me good
morning. He seemed to be rather more
gracious In mood than usual.
WELL" said I, that fellow Jones'
curiosity is not likely to cause you any
for some time to come. We
amputated his right leg last night"
Il supposed it would be necessary"
he answered, composedly.
"What9 Supposed it would be nee
essary" What did you know of it?"
Il Judged his hurt most serious"
"How did you hear of it,"
81 saw IT.
"You saw him run over?"
EYES,"
You knew that he was lying there
helpless for hours?"
ut is true"
"And you did not attempt to relieve
him, to go to his assistance2"
The inference is correct"
His tone was as unconcerned Us ever.
his speech rs deliberate as if he were
discussing the most trivial of matters.
In spite of my acquaintance with him,
l was thunderstruck by this fresh evil
dence OF his callousness, He enjoyed
my surprise, I think, as n singer may
enjoy the applause of a long hostile
critic. 1t was tribute Of the sort he
as If he had been giving directions for
a days errand-going in Trent, he told
the story of the accident. Jones, he
said, on his way home from the beach
tried o short cut which ran near the
knoll. Leaving his team in the little
hollow where Dorothy Gray afterward
found him, he cautiously approached
the hummock and climbed to it's sum
init. Turning a corner of the house, he
came face to face with Lamar. What
talk passed between the two l never
learned, but the intruder departed in
such haste that his foot slipped on the
slope, and he fell. From the way he
limped on arising. Lamar believed that
his ankle was sprainct, but he con-
trived at last to reach his horses. lie
had picked up the lines, aud was pre-
pairing to climb to the wagon-scut,
when his injured ankle gave way, and
he fell. AT the same moment the
horses started. The fore wheel of the
loaded vehicle passed over his leg, and
before he could get it out of the way
If, indeed, power to move it remained
the hind wheel had completed the work
the other had begun. Lamar from an
upper window of the house watched
what was happening, and, so far as l
could determine from his account of 1t
spent most of his time until the girl
appeared gloating over the sight of the
helpless man stretched out on the
ground ut the bottom of the depression.
When Dorothy hurried to his house for
assistance, he sat within, listening un-
moved to her knocks upon his door and
her cries for help. Moreover, he pre-.
vented old Martha from responding to
the summons, when sounds of it pene.
trated even her dulled hearing. These
things he related as calmly as If they
had occurred at the other end of the
earth, as shamelessly us if there were
no sense of pity in him. What my
opinion Of his conduct might be uppar.
emily concerned him not in the least
He sat there telling the tale of his heart
lessness, with the cold, dispassionate
directness Of man who is his own
judge. and who holds himself blameless
and beyond the need of apology.
"He will survive. you say 2" he asked
in the same level tone OF indifference he
had maintained throughout.
eve hope that he WILL" l answered
striving % keep all trace of feeling out
Of my voice,
"The odds?"
Last night they were against him;
to-day they are In his favor"
'Ah! He rallies?"
HE has the best of constitutions. In
that lies his hope. I may as well tell
you that in his incoherent talk last
night made out the word mist AIKEN.
IL II y