Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-15

ner and congratulated myself ut huv.
ing before me very pleasant visit
but l did not fOreSee an episode that
was destined 70 endanGer my init.
macy with Mark and with other re-
suits of still greater Importance.
The family consisted OF Mr.. and Mrs.
Appleton. Miss Clara DiGby, Mrs. Ap-
pleton's sister. aged twenty. and their
brother Tom. aged eighteen. Tom. l
( was told. was suffering with n bilious
attack and was confined to his room
/ found Miss Clara very delightful
young lady. and during the dinner she
seemed very responsive TO an admira-
| ton l could not conceal. During the
evening we all played bridge whist,
! Mrs. Appleton being my partner. But
/ this did not prevent an undercurrent of
mutual interest that WIS continually
passing between the young lady and
myself
Having finished the evening. Mark
showed me 10 my room. which was
one of four bedrooms on the second
floor two on each side Of the hall.
noticed that the doors OF my room ard
the one adjoining were side by side.
1t occurred to me that ! would not like
10 try TO enter my chamber in the dark,
for l would be likely TO get into the
other room. ! fell asleep thinking Of
Clara Dgby and the pleasures in store
for me the next day.
I was awakened by feeling a spoon
showed against my mouth. 1t was
warm and contained n warm liquid.
Half awake. I opened my lips, and the
contents of the spoon passed down
into my stomach. l recognized 1t as
beef broth. When | had swallowed
the first spoonful another was placed
against my lips, and | swallowed that
too Another was put against my chin,
and that was spilled
There" said a voice which I recoC-
niZed as that Of Clara DiGby, you
should have let me light the gas
BY this time ! was awake and knew
that my hostess sister was IN my room
giving me a midnight luncheon intend
ed for sick man. But n surprise like
that sprung on man sound asleep is
not an easy one for him to tackle. MY
reasoning powers worked slowly. II
they had not should probably have
blurted out what in the world are
you doing here?" or some such ques-
ton.
AS It was. 1t took time for the
possible outcome of the episode TO
work into my brain. Presently l came
to realize that Miss Digby had made
mistake and that upon recognizing
her position she would be very much
panied. Should l apprise her of the
fact that she was in the wrong room or
wait for her TO go out in ignorance Of
the fact?
While l was celebrating she fed me
the remainder of the broth. Then, say
ing that she had forgotten TO give me
my medicine she went to a closet. and
heard her fumbling among some bot
ties. Il hope l won't poison YOU" she
said but | can't see in the dark. I've
got it. It's the little square bottle"
And the next thing | knew she had
poured a spoonful OF medicine down
where she had placed the broth. Then.
having put down the spoon. with a
Good night. hope you'll he better in
the morning" she went out. shutting
the door behind her.
At first | congratulated myself that I
had not rUtIled her modesty by betray-
ing her bIunder. but / soon came to rue
my silence. The dose she had given
me made NE deathly sick. | remem-
. bered her words, Il hope | won't poison
you" and | began to fear she had. l
managed to get out of bed. lit the gas
and made a search for the square bot
tie from which she had given me my
, medicine. l found two square bottles.
one labeled. Dose, one tablespoonful
, every six hours" the other. Three
drops in ha'f glass of water"
Great heavens, | had probably taken
drops by the spoonful. There was no
time for fooIing. | went into the hall
and called Justify for Mark. He came
out in his nightshirt and asked wildly
what was the matter.
Poisoned" | cried and. going back
, into my room. fell on the bed.
, | have ever since been proud Of my
Calantry in protecting Miss Digby.
When Mark came in. asking half n
dozen questions Mt once, | paid no at
tentiou to them. but called on him for
an emetic.
He ran hurriedIy downstairs. awok.
. ening the household as he went, ana
in few minutes returned with some
: mustard water. ! drank it and threw
the broth. the medicine and everything
, else off my stomach BY this time Mrs
Appleton and Miss Digby. in wrappers
? and curl papers. came into me roon &c
see if | had expired or could I've saved
Hhe moment I rot the COMPOUNDED dose
off my stomach | felt better and waJ
satisfied that no serious results would
: follow
! now fixed my mind on another pos
! sible curious result and how 10 aver
q it. | must keep the secret That was
very well 70 resolve. but doing it was
another matter
What in thunder" cried Mark. hi.
/, irritation rising with his relief, lik.
the waves Of the sea after the wind
o has gone down. did you want to POI
Gon yourself forF'
There stood Clara. looking as IF she
nad seen ghost, with a CLEAN Of won
der in her eye. a suspicion that sh