Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-03-20
CHAPTER MI.
AN ARRIVAL.

In the light wagon, propped up be-
tween Jack Parmelee and Dick Whit
tlesey, Rossiter rode back to the Mer.
ton farm. AT first everything was a
daze to him, but soon the air revived
him somewhat, and before the house
was reached, save for giddiness and
dull throbbing in his head, he fancied
he was quite himself. He was glad
of the aid of Parmelee's stout arm,
however, when he came to descend
to the ground.
I'll be all right after bit" he
said, as he steadied himself, ''if you'll
help me down to my cot"
Mr.. Merton and Miss Densmore had
fastened on in advance, and they,
with Miss Merton and her mother,
gathered about the injured man.
you're to come right in here,''
Mrs. Merton declared. and, though
Rossiter protested, he was led into
the family living-room, where,
stretched upon couch, he was made
as comfortable as. might be with cool
congresses that after time allayed
the painful feeling in his head. The
blow from the bludgeon had been a
glancing one, but above his ear q
lump had formed that was exceeding
ly tender to the touch.
BY and by Jack Parmelee looked in
from an outer door, and, noting the
improvement in Rossiter's appear
ance, exclaimed:
THAT was pretty ugly little clip
you got! 1t keeled you half way
down the embankment, an if it had
been couple o. inches the other
way your head an a squashed puff
BALD have passed for twins"
''How can you, JACKIE cried Miss
Merton, who, with her mother
CHANGED to be in the room.
whats the use o. gloomin' about
It? He'll be tit enough in the mornin'
A tritlc sore in the upper story
mebbe, but that won't last long"
"You were just in time,' said Ros-
sitter, smiling. 81 was about done
for"
"You put up a great fight, Sylvia
says, and Merton allows you've got
the darndest grit he ever saw. They'd
all skeedaddled by the time 1 got
down into the dip. They must have
thought had an army behind me by
the way they lit out. Well, Dick
Whittlesey was close by, and he's a
whole regiment in Scrap
Rossiter had brief nap late in the
afternoon, and woke to find himself
alone and much refreshed. The rat
ting of dishes indicated the nearness
of the supper-hour, and outside there
was suggestion of approaching
dusk. He rose to his feet without
difficulty, and was walking towards
the outer door, which opened upon
the porch, with no definite intention,
when Miss Densmore appeared from
the adjoining room bearing daintily
arranged tray, upon which was a
steaming cup of tea, some toast, and
a few other tempting edibles.
She exclaimed in protest on seeing
Rossiter.
you're to sit down at once, STRIP
she said. Were not going to have
you running off in that fashion"
He snccumbed very willingly, and
she hustled about making him com
Portable.
Miriam and my aunt are busy"
she exclaimed, 80 said I'd look
after YOU"
"iou needn't have been to all this
trouble" he answered. I'm fully re-
covered now" But he was glad to
eat with her sitting by chatting
cheerily to him.
I'm afraid" he remarked present
~, that you will find it difficult to
keep to yourself your promise Of the
other night"
"What was that?"
Don't you recall? You were 90.
ing to hold in recollection from your
hop-picking life only it's pleasant
phases. Aren't the disagreeables, SO
to speak, likely far to outweigh the
happy eXperiences?"
"Oh, mol" she replied, with little
shake of her head. TITS like a play
Unless the end is tragic, however
much the actors pass through, the
effect is not darksome, quite the con.
trary. The bright scenes stand out
and the gloomy ones rsusdA" \.