The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-03-06

hCA b0u cPCAAo anu AdS ctul lOI MIS-.
Prescott. Ii l wasn't in such a hur-
~ I'd stop and see" she thought as
she passed the Green house. There
was no sign of excitement about the
place, however, and she had no time
for further speculations on Ezra
Green's reason for haste, for she saw
the doctors trap turn into the main
street from one of the crossroads.
DIR. Bascom was on his way home,
but in answer TO a call from behind
he stopped his horse and turned
about on the seat of his trap TO lis
ten to the shouted summons. Then
he backed his horse round and drove
to the side OF the road, where man
came out to take charge of the horse,
while he himself vanished as Ezra
Green had done.
There's trouble at the Prescotts"
thought Miss Deborah, and she be-
gan to run, but stopped short when
she came in sight of the Prescott
home and her own, for her neighbours
tpremises were deserted, while in her
own garden several men were gather
ed about the door talking earnestly,
and it was in front of her own door
that the doctors horse was tied.
Her pause of astonishment was a
brief one, Then she dashed into the
garden, through the group of men
and into the kitchen. A woman was
stirring something over the fire and
a hum of voices came from the sitting
room. Miss Deborah did not stop
to question the occupant of the
kitchen, who was so interested in the
contents OF her stewpan that she did
not notice Miss Markham's entrance.
Mrs. Prescott was standing over
the lounge with an empty bowl in
her hand.
There, il it was an acid that you
have taken there's chance that the
soapsuds will save YOU" she an.
nounced cheerfully, "and the sweet
oil ought to help whateyerthe stuff is.
Don t you feel any better yet, Han
nah?"
feeble groan was the only reply
DR.. Bascom was at the window ex.
aiming the contents OF bottle.
Suddenly the look OF perplexity on
his face changed to a broad smile.
Looking up, he saw Miss Deborah in
the kitchen door
This tastes like bromide | prescrib-
ed for you few days ago, Deborah
How did you happen to ticket it that
way? You've frightened Hannah out
OF years growth and furnished the
whole neighborhood with most well
come excitement"
"Oh, Miss Deborah, it was all a
mistake, wasn't it," cried Hannah,
catching sight of her mistress above
the ring OF frightened and bewildered
faces surrounding her. "You didn't
try to poison me on purpose, did
your"
Miss Deborah looked about her
with sparkling eyes. The doctors
words had explained the situation to
her.
"Mistake!" she exclaimed scorn-
fully. Have you all lost your wits?
Do you think shall have to poison
you to get rid of you, Hannah?
I've a mind to send you packing this
instant but nothing short OF a lunatic
asylum would take you in I'm afraid.
Ii your mornings work isn't farther
along than mine, ladies, perhaps you
had better go where you can attend
to it," And she turned and walked
out into the back regions of the
house, shutting several doors sharp
ly behind her.
DIR. BascOm watched her retire
with liveliest interest; the stern-faced
old man could enjoy joke heartily.
Then he turned to the astonished
group in the sitting room.
81 think, Hannah, that il you have
swallowed everything these i'm
promptu physicians have been order
ing you may consider yourself thor
oughly poisoned, and now neighbors
shall we leave her to make peace with
Deborah?"