Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-05-16
+ lpe Hand of Ice
TRANSCRIBED BY FLORENCE WARDEN.
OF The House tho Marsh aph Ryder Of Brent
by the Shore "A Prince of Darkness I" enc.
Copyrighted. 100, By Florence warden,

terry thnt should make him On unde-
sirable husband for pretty Jennie
But much as l wished to have q
chance of saying this to old Akin
son, Mullion made it impossible. He
lowered about never further away
than the doorway between the bed
room and the kitchen, until became
convinced that he was aware of what
was in my mind, and that he meant
to thwart me He succeeded. When
at last Jennie's father went into the
next room. then and not till then did
Nullion go away too.
was consumed with rage.
OF course Mullion's interest in me,
which had been so keen that he was
unable to leave me while the Akin
sons were. about, disappeared, with
them. I was left before long to the
care of Hottentot June, who came in
the other three had gone out for
little while.
"They not like to leave you till you
| better, baas," he added.
l grunted ungratefully. l had
something to find out about the
course of my illness, and I ques-
toned the fellow.
1 had been i'll, very i'll for days and
nights, he said, and had continually
accused Mr.. Mullion of wanting to
| poison or strangle me. In my deliri-
UNI 1 had seemed to know when he
approached and had made mad at
tempts to beat him off, clutching at
the air, and uttering loud cries.
"You very i'll, baas," he added,
shaking his head. Thought you was
going to die"
81 wish l had died." said, gloom
lily.
Then another thought struckme.
"And didn't old DR.. Mullion, the
gentleman with the white beard you
brought me the letter from, ever
come here again?" 1 asked, curiously.
The Hottentot nodded mysterious
ly and seemed to hesitate.
Come tell me, tell me-" said I, inn
patiently. There are more gold
pieces where the first came from,
June"
Thus stimulated. he spoke, lower.
ing his voice.
you no get Jane into trouble,
baas, no tell what say?"
Certainly not. June"
"Well, baas. the old gentleman
come, twice, three times, but Mr.
Mullion tell him every time you not
here"
''Sh-sh, June. he's comingl" whis
pared I, as 1 heard the creek of the
outer door. And the Hottentot with.
drew hastily from my bedside.
The next moment young Mnluon
entered the room-alone.
daresay the emotion 1 had expe
rienced on hearing the news Jun,
had just given me had affected tn,
expression of my face for confess
found 1t difficult to look uncon
cerned.
AS June would have left the room
young Mullion wheeled round sharp
ly and looked sus,piciously from. hin
to me.
Nov, then" sadd Mullion, at once
to the Hottentot. what have yo,
been saying to Mr.. Blnir?"
The man looked askance at; hi
master, and then at, me. Them b,
made an attempt to, escape through
the doorway. But Mullion was toe
quick for him.
Come, ] mean to have thiss out,
said he. TITS clear you've saidssome
thing to Mr.. Blair,fwhich has alarmed
him, and will know what it is.s
Then fastened to speak.
ut was nothing of any oonse
quence" I said, feebly, anxious II
conceal my unfortunate infor1 nant
'And he letAit out by aocident.1'
well, what was it2"
Nothing but that your urlcle ha
called here while was lying ill.,
/ Clearly. there was nothing in thi
piece Of information for which h
could fairly blame his servant; sc
although he probably guesse tho
At was not all, Mullion calmetL dow
little and suffered the Hot.tento
to leave the room.
Then he turned to me with
frown, the usual frow,n, on hi s fac,
but he did not speak harshly.
Il wish you'd learn a lttleF ,sens,
Blair" he said. "Y.ou hayemlt tn
least gratitude for the care THAT ha
been taken of you nor even fol. IN
sending off the letter that ha
brought Miss Atkinson here"
! laughed little. y
DO you really expect me to I
grateful for that?" l asked, noel
ingly. why, it's you who GU ght t
be grateful to me about it, siI ice 81
has eyes and'ears for nobody / att yo
And have no doubt" 1 went on. en
boldened by the vicinity of A tkinsc
and has daughter to speak OF 1t VIII.
was in my mind, that it's tn anks /
the fact that she was coming that
am as well as am"
l made no attempt to hide th ug
hint that lay in these words. Il
him know that 1 attributed my pre-
ent safety to the coming of t he o
city man and his pretty dar ,ghte
IT had been allowed to die, Jenn
would have been taken away aga
by her father with the utmo
promptitude.
Mnllion understood my neanin
and he had the grace to g row We
red. Then he besitated a mome1
ana finally sat down on BOX, whi
did duty .altarpo+al1, Gov - S.:z -,