The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-07-22

! huIus buTIeu, ledTluB ulsCONeIy, hlol'
softly away. Presently he went up L
the turret chamber where Frank lay
propped up on pillows, his leg help
lessly incased
The boy was perfectly motionless
staring at nothing.
why, what's the matter, FrankT
he asked "You look positively fierce.
The boy slowly turned his glance
upon Burrell. There was no Other
creature on the earth whom he Sc
heartily despised. knowing him for a
coward Of all kinds and a conscience,
less feeder upon charity.
81 was thinking that this peg OF
mine is In a bad way" said Frank
Il do not relish the idea of being a
cripple. 1t is mighty hard luck, Cousin
Rufus
at might be good deal worse" re-
sponded Rufus.
The boy spent some minutes in SON.
Der meditation and then spoke so sud,
denly that his companion jumped.
What did Cousin Martha mean by
saying that my name was unlucky?
did Mrs. Burrell say that? Well,
well! When was itg'
"The day 1 was brought in here she
was in the hall heard her say ii to
somebody-one OF the servants, sup
pose"
Rufus strove to restrain himself, but
he lacked any real faculty Of that kind.
Every temptation. however small, was
to him what cheese is to a mouse, and
he was drawn toward it with a tremu-
Ious eagerness.
"Ive heard of a cousin of mine
whose name was the same" continued
the boy, but don't know anything
about him except that he used to play
the violin"
He went west" said Rufus. Hes
dead now; died before you were
born"
What did he die OFF,
Hard luck" said Rufus. with a
nervous grin.
The boy regarded him keenly for
some seconds.
Did be kill himsef?" he demanded.
Rufus was much distressed. He
wet his lips as if they were feverish
and remained silent.
WAS he the only one" said Frank.
"You might as well tell me. I'll find
out anyway"
There was your great-uncle," an
swered Rufus after exhausting his
meager resolution His name was
Frank But-but a good many people
thought it was an accident"
Thought what was an accident?
Not the mans name. surely"
mo, no; hardly that" And Rufus
emitted a strange cackle of laughter.
"He was fooling with a revolver
That is. nobody ever really knew what
he was doing. He was alone at the
time. and when they found him
He was dead" said the boy, land
that was the end Of his troubles. Was
he a cripple?'
Rufus stared and choked upon his
words.
I1OW III luuuuGL ulu gOu GUESS
that" he finally managed to say.
A thrill passed through the boy, and
then slowly a cold horror settled upon
his vitals.
We'll" he said at last. Il guess
that's all that 1 need to know If my
mother is afraid that can't stand it
it must be pretty bad. No wonder l
haven't been able to nail DR.. Stevens
to the point. Does he think he'll have
to cut my leg off by and by"
At this Rufus uttered voluble and
coherent protest. 1t was all
a mistake. be declared. The doctor
thought there was no danger at ALL
He had said that the leg would be as
good as new
The man had no sincerity in him.
he was trying to tell the truth !
or something near it, every word |
seemed part of a monstrous lie. Frank |
looked at him with a sense Of loathing |
and nausea and then turned his glance
away.
Cousin Rufus" said he at last in a
tone Of singular quietude and steadl- |
ness, will you go and open that top
drawer in the little stand in the corner
and get me a box that you'll find
there?'
Rufus complied with this request
and held up a box of black wood.
''Is this the one?" said he. whats
In II? It's locked"
"The key is in the pocket of those
trousers. Thank you" taking the box
and the key from his cousins hands.
And now will you oblige me by clos
ng that door? Is the other one shut
at the head of the stairsY
"Why, yes" stammered Burrell. shut
ing the door. "But what Of it? What's
Ill this about?"
Frank did not reply. He had opened
the box and was looking down upon
he revolver which it contained. The
i'd prevented Rufus from seeing the
contents Of the box from his position
[Continued next week.]