Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-04-25
CHAPrERI

CHAPTER TX.
Now there was something so furtive
in Dick Millions look as he turned
away from me, refusing to shake
hands, that, if had had any doubts
before that it was he who had attacked
me, could have none any longer.
But | confess that this knowledge
was possession hardly knew what
to do with. ] could not openly accuse
him until had something more defin-
lite to give as evidence than hislooks,
his shy giances, his avoidance of me.
! could not even to myself account for
his behavior in the least.
Although we were still, in sense,
rivals, since we both admired Miss AL
kinson, could not say that he had
any reason to be jealous of me with
her. For although old Atkinson, her
father, openly encouraged me, yet she
herself just as openly encouraged
young Mullion!
1 cannot, indeed, account to myself
for the certainty felt that it was he
who had attacked and tried to strangle
me. His gloomy looks, his taciturnity,
his evident dislike of me, had, indeed,
predisposed me against him; but it is
one thing to think man dislikes you,
and another to feel sure he has designs
on your life. The one or two persons
to whom 1 tried.to hint my suspicious
made light of them with something
like contempt; and as for my shooting
story, the ships doctor, to whom 1
confided it, fatty refused to make any
attempt to discover whether Dick Null
lion had bullet wound about him.
In the dilemma i was in, it suddenly
occurred to me, on the day succeeding
Dick Mullion's return among us, that
my best plan would be to confide in old
DR.. Mullion, the more especially as it
suddenly struck me that he had looked,
since his nephew's "bilious attack"
somewhat more grave and preoccupied
than usual.
He had, indeed, or SO fancied, kept
out of my way; and when, on the third
day after my adventure, deliberately
ran him to earth in the drawing-room
after dinner, there was something in
his face which made me sure that he,
too, guessed some firing of the truth.
l planted myself beside him before
he could get away,and was at once con-
as / met his kind blue eyes and
noted that his fresh-colored face
looked drawn and troubled, that need
not waste much time in preliminaries.
Doctor" l began, II want to con-
suit you
He turned to me at once, and laid a
kindly hand .on my shoulder.
II thought so," said he. 81 was GER
tain that all was not right with you,
only didn't like to offer my advice
while supposed you to be under the
care of another medical man. You're
not satisfied with his treatment
them"
"oh," said I, ITS not that. I'm un-
der no medical treatment, at all. The
ships doctor the other nighfjust said
| had had a fright and it had upset
my nerves, but told him I didn't want
any treatment
you We're wrong" said the doctor,
grayely, as he took my hand and insist
ed on feeling my pulse, "You are very
far from we'll, and you ought to take
the greatest care of yourself. I wish
you would let me prescribe for you"
"Oh, you may" said /, 'if you like.
But Twas alwaysa rickety sort Of chap,
and they never thought should grow
up. don't suppose any doctor could
keep me alive very long"
DR.. Mullion, who was looking atten-
lively into my face as I spoke, smiled
little.
Haven't you noticed" said he, that
it's often the people whose health is
ha bitually feeble that outlive the
robust ones2 Now, shouldn't mind
betting, if ever did bet, that you will
outliye everybody on board"
He said this with SO much confidence
that confess was impressed.
Il suppose you mean" presently
suggested, that I'm likely to live long
because / have to take such precious
deal of care of myself"
.Ah," said DIR. Mullion, VI won't
deny that you will have to exercise
reasonable care. But not more than
that. You have no need to make your
life a burden to yourself. Only trust
yourself to me for the time the voy-
age lasts. and perhaps few weeks
longer. You are going to stay lit
tie at Cape Town, are you not ?"
"Only month";" said I.
"a will 1,a In =
Mullion.-
"shall you give me very nauseous
and make me live by rule ?"
/ asked, for the moment laying aside.
my preoccupation, struck By his
earnestness and the interest he showed
in me.
you need hardly live more strictly
than you do at present" said he. sob
serve the golden rule of moderation in
all things; nothing more. My medi-
cines you shall test tonight. l don't
think they're more nauseous than 9TH
ers you have taken"
We were both so much occupied that
we. did not notice the entrance of Dick
Mulfion, until we found him very near.
us. Looking up suddenly, found him
glaring. at US, and apparently strain
ing his ears as if he had been trying
to overhear our conversation, which
both the doctor and | had carried out
in low tones.
] started up. At once he tried to
assume an attitude of comparative in,
difference.
There's no need for you to listen"
said |, curly. 81 was not talking