Mexico Missouri message., 1904-11-10
CHAPTER xxxlll.
A Mendaelous God.
the room

The man says he will wait for an an
swer. I'm Just dying from curiosity"
Jessie Garden was reading when
Edith Hancock rushed into her room.
Too impatient to wait. she leaned
over Jessie's shoulder. The note bore
the letterhead of a hotel and waf
written in a firm but scrawling hand
II read:
Miss Jessie Garden,
"Mr. James Blake has been serious.
ly wounded by a pistol shot and may
not recover. He wishes to see you.
If possible, come at once.
SAMUEL l.. ROUNDS"
When the purport of the message
dawned upon her Edith snatched the
paper from Jessle's hand and de-
voured it with straining eyes.
He may not recoyer!' she moaneG.
He may not recover! Oh, what has
happened? l am going to him! He
shall not die! Hurry, Jessie, hurry"
Two white-faced girls rushed in
upon General Garden. His lips com
pressed as he read the message.
This is Morris work." he said.
Tell the messenger we will come at
once"
The hotel entrance was blocked by
a mob when the Bishop carriage drew
up. The blue helmets Of police of.
fcers formed a line which marked
the edge of a struggling crowd.
zone moment, sir!" ordered an Of
ficer holding his baton in front Of Gen
eral Garden. Make way for the am
bulance corps!"
The folding doors of the side en-
trance opened and four men slowly
advanced bearing a stretcher. II con-
toned a motionless mass covered
with a white cloth. Jessie chung to
her fathers arm.
With a low cry Edith Hancock
sprang forward and raised the cloth.
She looked into the dead, staring eyes
of Arthur Morris. The bearers paus-
ed while she gazed intently at the
face. She nervously replaced the COW
ering and turned to Jessie and her
father.
ITS Arthur Morris! He's dead
Perhaps it is all mistake about Mr.
Blake. Find out. general; find out
at once! Well wait for you here"
General Garden returned and silent
~ conducted Jessie and Edith to a
room on the second floor
A case of surgical instruments lay
on the center table, but the room had
TO occupant. AS they stood hesitat-
ingly by the entrance, the door con-
Meeting an adjoining room opened
and a tall man with red hair, sharp
blue eyes and enormous hands enter
ed Jessie recognized Sam Rounds.
"Heou dew ye dol" he said softly,
advancing with an awkward bow.
Sorry tew meet you in such a place,
but the bitter goes with the sweet
Jim's badly hurt, Jut he has a chance
so the doctors say"
In whispers the four talked Of the
tragedy Sam mad entered the hotel
Office just before the first shot was
fired.
1T all happened so quick l couldn't
do a thing" Sam explained. THE
second shot fired by Morris just miss.
ed-some one else-some one jim
was tryin' tew save-an' went
through the top of Mr.. Hawkins hat
Morris was dead before he struck the
floor"
The door opened and a grave-faced
surgeon entered the room.
Miss Garden may see Mr.. Blake
for a few minutes" he said.
In the dimly lighted room Jessie
Garden saw two fgures-one proppet
up with pillows so that only the head
and arms showed against the white
linen. The curling, black locks fel
back from the pale brow, and the
handsome face seemed chiseled IL
purest marble.
Ito be continued)
Answered the Call.
On the bank of the Mohawk river
midway between Amsterdam anC
Tribes Hill, New York, is the farm o
Aaron Pepper, The proprietor is tn,
possessor Of several horses, ant
among them one that is blind, o
which Our Dumb Animals tells thi
story:
The horses frequently resort to tn
islands in the river for pasturage
They ford the stream at a point nea
the dwelling, and the blind mar
usually follows the others. During
recent freshet the horses attempte
to return, while Mr.. Pepper, anxiou
as to the result, stood watching then
from the north shore. Two horse
and colts had entered the stream
then their blind companion followed
In a few minutes all were sirius
Cling against the rapid current an
failing to make any Roadway, tn
leaders sought the large island, Will
the blind beast became separate
from them and drifted a considerabl
distance below until she gained
foothold.
Then, discovering the loss OF he