Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1913-12-04
CHAPTER X.

That was on a Saturday morning.
II had stopped showing and the sun
was shining, although 1t was so cold
that the snow blew like powder nv
eleven o'clock every one who could
walk had come to the sprlnghouse
About twelve o'clock Mr.. Thoburn
came In, and as he opened the door. in
leaped Arabella. The women made a
fuss over the creature and cuddled her
and when l tried to put her out every.
body objected. So she stayed, and
Miss Summers put her through a lot
of tricks, while the men crowded
around.
Mr.. Won invalid and Miss Patty came
in Just then and stood watching.
And now" said Mr.. Won invalid. 7
propose, as reward to Miss Arabella,
a glass of this wonderful water. Min.
ME. a glass of water for Arabella!"
"She doesn't drink out OF one OF my
glasses. !" / declared angrily. It's one
OF my rules that dogs"
Tut" said Mr.. Thoburn. whats
good for man is good for beast. Be.
sides, the little beggar's thirsty"
Well they made great fuss about
the creatures being thirsty, and so
finally got a painful of spring water
and It drank until l thought It would
burst I'm not vicious, as | say, but
| wish 1t had.
Well. the dog finished and lay down
by the fire, and everything seemed to
go on as before.
Just what is the record here?" the
bishop asked. I'm ordered eight
glasses, but find 1t more than a SUI.
ficiency."
1--WE had one man here once who
could drink rs at time" ! said, but
he was a German"
He was a tank" Mr. Sam corrected
grumpily. He was watching something
on the fioor--I couldn't see what
Consider" said Thoburn, standing
and holding his glass to the light,
how we are at the mercy of this little
spring! A CONFUSION in the bowels Of
the earth. and its health-giving prop.
critics may be changed to the drest
poison. How do we know, you and l.
some such change has not occurred
overnight? Unlikely as it Is, it's pos
sibility that. sitting here calmly, We
may be slipping our death potion
Some of the people actually put
down their glasses and everybody be-
gan to look uneasy except Mr.. Sam
who was still watching something
could not see. He suddenly straight
ened up and glanced at Miss Summers
Perhaps I'm mistaken" he said. but
| think there is something the matter
with Arabella."
Everybody looked. Arabella was ~
Ing on her back. jerking and twitch-
ing and foaming at the mouth.
She's been poisoned" Miss Sum.
mers screeched, and fell on her knees
beside her. TITS that wretched wa
teri"
There was pretty nearly riot in
minute. Everybody jumped up and
stared at the dog, and everybody re
membered the water he or she had
just had, and coming on top OF Mr.,
Thoburn's speech, It made them bah
bling lunatics.
Well, did what could The worst
OF 1t was, wasn't sure 1t wasn't tho
water. thought possibly Mr.. Pierce
had made mistake In what he had
bought at the drug store. and although
| dSn't as a rule drink II myself be-
gan to feel queer In the pit OF nv
stomach.
Mr.. Thoburn came over to the
spring. and filling a glass, took II 10
the light, with every one watching anN'
iously. When he brought 1t back he
stopped over the railing and whispered
to me.
when did you fix it?" he asked
sternly.
Last night" answered. 1t was no
time TO beat about the bush.
Its yellower than usual" he sall.
I'm inclined to think something mas
gone wrong at the drug store, Minnie
Mr.. Won invalid was watching "He
the others, and now he came over anu
caught Mr.. Thoburn by the arm
what do you think" he ash'"
nervously. IL have had three glass
es of IT."
"Three!" shouted Senator h.sss,
coming forward 1--WE had clever.
tell you. I've been feeling queer Tor -
hoursl I'm poisoned! That's what
am"
GRO BE CONTINUED