The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-04-01
HE TOOK HIS
MEDICINE
And Didn't SQueal
Either II
BY F. A. mitchell

! BY F. A. mitchell
reached my friend Mark Appleton's
country house in time to dress for din
her and congratulated myself at hay
Ing before me very pleasant visit,
but did not foresee an episode that
was destined to 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 bilious
attack and was confined to his room.
l found Miss Clara a 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 was continually
passing between the young lady and
myself
Having finished the evening, Mark
showed me to my room, which was
one Of four bedrooms on the second
floor, two on each side Of the hall 1
noticed that the doors Of my room and
the one adjoining were side by side
1t occurred to me that would not like
to try to enter my chamber In the dark,
for l would be likely to get into the
other room. / fell asleep thinking OF
Clara Digby and the pleasures in store
for me the next day.
/ was awakened by feeling a spoon
showed against my mouth. It was
warm and contained a warm liquid
Half awake, opened my lips, and the
contents Of the spoon passed down
into my stomach. 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 recog-
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 a surprise like
that sprung on a man sound asleep is
not an easy one for him to tackle. Ny
reasoning powers worked slowly. If
they had not l should probably have
blurted out, what in the world are
you doing hereT or some such ques-
ton.
AS it was, it took time for the
possible outcome of the episode to
work into my brain. Presently came
to realize that Miss Digby had made
a 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 I 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 closet, and
heard her fumbling among some bot
ties. II hope 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 l 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 be better in
the morning." she went out, shutting
the door behind her.
At first congratulated myself that
had not ruf1ed her modesty by betray-
ing her blunder, but soon came to rue
my silence. The dose she had given
me made me deathly sick. remem-
bered her words, II hope won't poison
you," and l began to fear she had. /
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. found two square bottles,
one labeled, "Dose. one tablespoonful
every six hours" the other, Three
drops in half glass of water"
Great heavensl had probably taken
drops by the spoonful. There was no
time for fooling | went into the hall
and called Justify for Mark. He came
out In his nightsh.rt and asked wildly
what was the matter.
Poisoned" l cried and, going back
into my room, fell on the bed.
l have ever since been proud Of my
gallantry in protecting Miss Digby
When Mark came In. asking half
dozen questions at once, / paid no at
tention to them, but called on him for
an emetic.
He ran hurriedIy downstairs, awak-
ening the household as he went, and
In few minutes returned with some
mustard water. drank it and threw
the broth, the medicine and everything
else of my stomach. By this time Mrs
Appleton and Miss Digby, in wrappers
and curl papers, came into the room to
see If had expired or could be saved
The moment l got the COMPOUNDED dose
or my stomach / felt better and was
satisfied that no serious results would
follow.
l now fixed my mind on another pos
sible curious result and how to avert
It must keep the secret. That was
very well to resolve, but doing 1t was
another matter
''What In thunder" cried Mark, his
irritation rising with his relief, like
the waves of the sea after the wind
has gone down, did you want to poi
son yourself forY'
There stood Clara, looking as If she
had seen ghost, with CLEAN Of won
der In her eye. a suspicion that she
might have had something to do with
this case of suicide.
I'D rather not tell" moaned.
mot tell" snarled Mark. do you
mean to admit that you took 1t on pur-
poser
looked at Clara and saw by her ex-
preston that what had been a sus-
picion had developed into an explana-
don of the mystery. How could get
out of the scrape without exposing her
blunder7 There seemed to be no way
to protect her except by owning that
/ had attempted suicide.
"Yes," said; II did"
well, I'll be hangedl What did
you do 1t forf'
Love-" said, casting side glance
at Clara. She blushed, but was the
only one Of the party who noticed It.
"Are you sure you're free from the
effects OF the poisonr asked Mrs. Ap-
pleton. Hadn't we better telephone
for a doctorT
"Or a superintendent Of q lunatic