Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-05-02
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
1t was in the darkness that came to
myself with a start, after another hor-
rible dream. had fancied again that
Dick Mullion's hands were at my
throat, that I was fighting, struggling
with him, tearing the cold fingers
away.
I sat up and turned my eyes about in
vain for ray Of light.
] was lying In the wagon, but not in
my usual position; soon discovered,
when my eyes grew used to the OBJ
security, that wasin the midst of a dis
ordered mass of pillows and rugs, and
I became aware that had either been
engaged in real or an imaginary
struggle.
Not only was my neck bare, but I felt
that my hands were torn and the
muscles of my arms strained as If with
great fatigue.
I looked from under the tent which
covered the wagon, and found that 1t
was not yet so dark as had supposed.
The camp fire was not yet alight, and
the native drivers were not yet collect
ed around the wagon. I saw my serv-
ant, Tom, little way off, but no one
else. The doctor had apparently gone
away again.
began to wonder whether his COM
ing had been only fancy of my de-
hrium after all, and summoning what
strength had tried to make Tom
hear me.
But he did not even turn his head. in
my direction. He was looking the
other way. All at once saw him start
up. and walk few steps rapidly away
from the wagon. Then he met an other
man; and long as the distance now was
between him and me. felt the drops
running down my face and SILVER
convulse my limbs as recognized, or
thought l recognized, the figure of
young Mullion.
Toni" shouted again.
He did not answer. But now
heard another step in my. vicinity,
and the next moment the old doctor,
with kettle in his hands, came up
and looked at me.
He seemed, thought, grave and
preoccupied, and wondered wheth-
err he knew who It was that was talk
ing to Tom.
"Hallol" said he. what on earth
are you up to? Why aren't you ~
ing DOWN."
was so delighted to see him again
that was as meek and docile as a
lamb, and went back without protest
to the mattress I had been lying on.
DR.. Mullion mounted up beside me,
and began energetically to reduce the
chaotic state of the interior to order.
But he made no remark about the
condition in which he found it, and
this surprised me.
''How comes the mattress to be
pulled over like this?" said I. "And
look at my hands!"
He brought lantern into the
wagon and examined me. But he
took my complaints very calmly, SO
calmly that I began to wonder
whether he had any doubts Of his
own as to their cause.
Doctor" said I, sharply, when all
my hints had passed UNDECIDED, II be-
Heve you know as well as I do how
this middle came aboutl"
what muddle?" asked he, as he
went on deity rearranging my sleep
ing place.
For answer I showed him my
hands.
"And this" I went on. 81 think you
know who it was that did this"
he examined my hands, and went
at once to get some water to battle
them, after which he bound up one
finger which was badly lacerated.
was not going to be put off, and ]
presently resumed:
II have to thank your precious
nephew for the struggle I've been
through"
AS expected, the doctor hooked
up almost guiltily at this point.
blank accusation Of his favorite.
"My nephewl Dick!" he cried, and
even as he spoke he cast troubled
and anxious glance toward the back
| OF the wagon, which confirmed my
suspicious that he was not so ig
norant of the danger as he chose &c
pretend to be.
eyes," said I, boldly. "Your nephew
Dick, the author of all my troubles
and the man who tried to murder me
on the voyage out"
The doctor had recovered his self
possession, and he looked as grave
as a judge before I had finished m,
bold words.
Tried to murder you, eh?" said h,
at last, In the coolest manner. "Well
we'll, suppose one mustn't be too
hard upon man In fever"
I'm not in a fever now" replied
with as much energy as was capa
BILE Of; 'at least I'm not sufficiently
feyerish not to know what I'm say
ing. You know very we'll I couldn''
have torn my hand and turned the
place topsy-turvy like this by my
self"
Still the doctor said nothing. HI
occupied himself with the Lantern
which he had brought In. and wh1ol