The Bemidji pioneer., 1902-09-11
CHAPTER x.


Despite Surgeon Thompson's opti-
mistic prediction, the patient did not
advance directly to recovery. On the
contrary, during the succeeding night
the fever rose to perilous height and
in the morning, visiting the ward, y
as she called it, Lois found him deliri-
Gus and babbling Of strange things
She was too used to this febrlle mani
festation to be disturbed by it, though
Quirinio seemed half out Of his few
wits, but left some directions for the
application Of cooling lotions, went to
breakfast with undisturbed appetite
and thence to her work in the school
room. Getting through the lessons
was more of a task than usual because
childish curiosity had to be satisfied
twenty times over. and it needed ex-
ertion of all Of her authority to pre-
vent "Toddy" and "Miggs" rushing
away to listen to the rawlings OF the
"robber." Now and then the strong
voice of the sick man rose high and
q faint sound Of it came to them
through the massive adobe walls. AT
such times "palomita" clung the more
closely to her.
That afternoon the smuggler's men
tai wanderings became less violent He
still muttered occasionally, but was
otherwise quiet in stupor. Quirino
exhausted, slept heavily in a chair and
Lois was near the bed reclining in a
rocker and ready to battle the hot fore
head. Weston had been lying withou,
motion for half-hour, when he
opened his eyes suddenly and she
found him looking at her intently. He
half raised his head from the damp pill
low and said in a matter Of fact voice:
1T was straight shot at two hun
dred yards. The man must have eyes
like cats"
Yes" she said. STOPPING forward to
change a cloth upon his forehead and
speaking soothingly, thinking that rea-
son had returned. Doubtless it was
accidental"
He threw up large. muscular, but
finely shaped, hand, and caught her
wrist with clasp Of steel. 1t seemed
to her that the bone would shiver.
She bit her lips to restrain an outcry
and looked into his flushed face
steadily.
II say" he repeated loudly, 1T was a
straight shot at two hundred yards.
The man must have eyes like a cats. "
He dropped her wrist and turned
upon his side with his face to the
wall. Where his fingers had pressed
were long white marks. She had grown
pale and her arm was numb, but she
adjusted the cloth wet in Ice water,
then rising, went from the room.
Eyes like cats" she murmured as
she went toward the front of the
house, "eyes like cat's!" Where have
l heard something like that before? 1t
wakes some memory. What Is it?"
Like flash came to her remem-
brance Of her night stroll with Maude.
the enlargement Of his black pupils
and his statement of his inherited
ability to see well in dim light. $50"
she murmurcA. "the shot was fred by
him. | suppose he had the right, but
1t seems cruel"
Sitting outside. on an understood,
dust covered bay pony, was Allyn. He
had a polo club in his hand and a
scratch on his cheek from a fall. He
was In high good humor and had rid
den up after the game to dress for din
ner. He threw the reins to Mexican
as his feet touched the ground, and
called out with laugh:
Beat 'em badly this time, Miss Lois.
Secretary Bill here" pointing to the
draggled pony. "is wonder--a child
phenom"
"Yes?" was the reply. you know
always like you to win, Allyn. want
to ask you a question"
ASK a dozen II you like" he re-
sponded, seating himself on the step
and whacking his dusty boot with his
club. I'm your encyclopedia. you
know"
How was the man inside hurt, and
who hurt him?"
Allyn's pleasant face became grave.
TITS not good to talk about" he said.
why do you want to know"
He Is delirious and has been say
Ing queer things about IT,"
We'll" said Allyn, settling himself
you know that you al
ways get whatever you want from me.
| s'pose it's because I'm your brother.
though nv sisters back In England