Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-05-13
CHAPTER XIX.


Hottentot, and then the latter came
back and began to prepare a second
improvised, bed In one corner.
who's that for?" I asked.
June nodded his head in thetdirec-
ton of the kitchen, and was silent.
I would rather have had the Hottentot
in my room if was not to be left alone.
The idea of sleeping in the same room
with one whom believed to be mad
man was by no means to my liking.
However, there was no help for it.
and when dark-faced Dick Mullion.
looking more saturnine than ever,
brought his candle into the room and
went straight up to the window with
out taking any notice of me, Just lay
quiet, and pretended to be asleep.
This was difficult to keep up, for he
Left the window, when he had stood by
it silently for some moments, and
coming up to my bedside remained
there for what seemed to me long
time.
At last, In the nervous fear which
possessed me, my limbs began to,
witch, and Dick laughed mockingly.
Iopened my eyes, Deception was no
longer possible.
"Not asleep, eh?" said he.
"No-o," / answered, not succeeding
in keeping my voice very steady. Il
can't sleep we'll without light in the
room"
Cant you? Well don't know how
we are to manage for one. But I'll put
q candle and matches by my own bed
for I'm going to sleep here myself and
look after you-and if you want light
I'll make you one Haven't got any
night lights with u.s."
THANK you," said l, not TOO CRATE
fully.
"How do you feel now. eh7"
He took my hand, and seemed to
feel, ae his fingers grasped my wrist.
the same icy touch which I knew so
we'll. l uttered low cry, and shiv-
cred. Dicks face darkes,ed angrily.
whats the matterr' he asked,
shortly. Elm only going to feel your
pulse"
why do that?" said I. in voice
which was broken and harsh and un-
like my own, "why take any trouble
about NE? You know I shall never
leave this place alive"
He ~as holding my wrtss still. aud
could feel the tremnr which ran
through his frame as uttered these
words He beot over me. glazing at
me with what appeared to tpa 70 he
apmistahable tepossts, and said:
Don't be . fool Blair. I've dome
sou no harm; and yen'ra az safe here
as if You were at homo in England.
Look. I'm going to board up the win
dow so that nobody can get in"
| It was on my tongue to say that I
feared nothing from anybody outside
the farmhouse, but for the moment
prudence prevailed, and made no
answer. Mullion, meanwhile. went
into the kitchen and presently reap
peared with June, who was carrying
some strong boards, a hammer and
some long nails. Between them they
soon boarded up the one window tn the
room, with the exception OF space
of about six or eight inches wide at
the top.
l confess these proceedings in
creased the great uneainess from
which ! was suffering. 1t seemed like
a preparation for shutting me up from
the outer world into what I already
looked upon as a tomb.
Then Juno retired, Mullion rear
ranged my improvised pillow. and in a
few minutes he had stretched himself
upon the bed in the corner and blown
out the candle.
I never passed so miserable night
10 all my life. AT each movement of
Mullion's during the long time that
elapsed before he went to sleep, inn
| agined that he was about to get up and
attack me in the darkness. When at
last he breathed regularly and even
began to snore-never was music so
welcome to my ears as that sound.
| AT first, suspicious still, wondered
whether it was a. mere pretense, and
whether he was waiting all the while
for me to drop of to sleep before APP
ps>caching me again. If he should do
so. knew myself to be beyond all hope
of help. The Hottentot was not in the
farmhouse itself, he was. knew. pass
ing the night in one Of the outhouses !;
so that l was absolutely at Mullion's
mercy.
AT last, however. became convinced
that his sleep was real, and then, worn
out with weary wakefulness and watch
ing, and with theintense fatigue which
benumbed every faculty, fell asleep
myself.
/ know that got no rest even then;
that my dreams We're wild and un-
canny, that my bones ached; heavy
weight seemed to be lowering over
me; now threatening to fall on my
throbbing head, now pressing slowly
down on my breast. And at last, with a
stified cry, 1 awoke to find that, i'm the
pitch darkness, some one was standing
over me. his breath on my face, his
hands lowering over me.
AS | sprang up came in contact with
the bending figure, and shouted with
all my might:
.Mullion! It's you! It's you again!
/ know 1T"
| ."Of course it's me" returned Dicks
voice liz a growl. "Who else should it
be? But that's no reason why you
should charge into me like that! Here
wait bit! I'll get light"
II He stumbled back across the room
and Iii the candle.
| stVall {" cotd ha nc ha mama In nj. .nf