Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-04-15
I lls Hand Of Ice
TRANSCRIBED BY FLORENCE WARDEN,
Author Of The House the
by the Shore, "A Prince Of Darkness"
BY FLORENCE WARDEN,
Copyrighted. 1900. by rlors
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
What it was exactly that feared as
] shut the book l don't know. But |
wished with all my heart had left the
role of detective alone. Although /
could not say that there was anything
wonderful or suspicious in itself in the
fact of medical student being inter-
ested in the subject of poisons, the re-
membrance of Dick millions guilty
look when surprised him with the
book in his hand came back to me with
fresh significance now that I knew
what subject it was that had, absorbed
him so completely.
The question now was, how to get
the book / had taken from his pocket
back into it again. 1t had been COM
paratively easy to take it out; would
it be as easy to find opportunity of
returning it., especially now that the
discovery of his loss would have put
Dick Mullion on the alert?
had got as far as the door of the
reading-room, with the book in my
hand, still wondering what to do with
it, when the very man who occupied
my thoughts came out SO quickly upon
me that l had no time either to get
away or to hide the book.
Indeed, an instructive attempt made
to thrust the volume into my pocket
arrested his attention at once, and he
seized my right hand in grip which l
sv,uNe,csh1n 10 T.
twisted my wrist round as easily as If
! had been a child, and asked, with
what seemed to me terrifying stern
ness: S5
where did you get that book from %
"I-I-I picked it up. Isis it
yours?"
Before I had got the words out he
had wrenched the book away from me
and replaced it in his own pocket with
such sturdy look of contempt as
shall never forget.
yes" he answered, with what
took 10 be sort Of stolid defiance, ct
is mine. What then?''
By this time had recovered not only
my composure, but my suspicious.
"Oh, nothing" answered, with a
sneer. II suppose poisons have great
interest for some people!"
Dick Mullion glowered down at me
with sort of depressed power in his
bulldog face that made me feel like a
little terrier caught within range Of
the chain OF ferocious animal ten
times its own size.
What subject on earth do you sup
pose is more interesting to a doctor
than that of poisons?' he asked. with
heavy. deliberate contempt that net
tied me again.
interest yourself in poisons, provided
you don't try them on mel" an
swered. with rather a weak attemptat
a fiippant and careless air.
The truth was, this man, with his odd
ways and his ponderous earnestness,
frightened me not a little. And want
ed to put on lively manner to hide
the fact that I was alarmed. He
looked down at me with evidently In
creased contempt.
IF You saw me with cutters cate
slogue in my hand, would you imagine
that intended to cut your throat ?''
asked he. quietly.
II don't know, I'm sure, answered,
still trying to keep UP tone as light
and easy as his was heavy and earnest.
But, as we happen to be rivals, there's
no knowing what might happen
II he had looked scornfully at me be-
fore. Dick Mullion's countenance now
became almost crushing
"Rivals!" echoed he. "You and I?
I hope couldn't be put by anybody
else on the same level with man who
would pick another's pocket!"
''Who says I.pick pockets?'
II say you picked mine!"
And before we got any further old
DR.. Mulion walked into us, and there
was hull in hostilities.
why. what's all this about ?" asked
the old gentleman, putting on his
glasses to look first at one and then at
the other. Not quarreling?"
The coming Of his uncle had sin
gular effect on Dick Mullion. He at
once put his hands into his pockets and
tried. 10 laugh and to lounge away as
If nothing in particular had happened.
But the doctor would not allow this;
and neither would I. felt that Dick
Mullion deserved lecture, and did
my best to let him get it.
"Oh, nothing. DR.. Mullion," said 1.
.I've only been congratulating your
nephew on the interest he takes in
poisons, and he's answered by talking
about cutting my throat"
The good doctor looked from the one
to the other of us in amazement.
"Poisons!" cried he, slowly. "Cut-
ting of throats!" Then he turned full
upon his nephew and asked, with a
sudden severity OF which, had thought
him incapable: "Dick, is this true?. Is
this possible2 What do you mean
by it9"
1t was curious to notice the sudden
alteration In Dick Millions manner as
he turned to answer his uncle. must
say that, irritated as I was against
him, liked the tone of affectionate
Difference he used to the old man.
SITS rather distorted version Of
what took place, uncle, he said, grave
ly. 81 think when he's little cooler
Mr.. Blair will be the first to admit
this"
.Well, perhaps il may be-" admit
ted, rather grudgingly. "But you
shouldn't have sneered when talked
about our being rivals as if I'had been
top far beneath you for such thing