Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-19
CHAPTER K,

1t had stopped showing and the sun
was shining, although it was so cold
| that the snow blew like powder. By
eleven o'clock every one who could
walk had come to the springhouse.
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, 81
propose, as reward to Miss ArabeIIa,
q glass of this wonderful water. Min
ME, glass Of water for Arabella!"
"She doesn't drink out of one of my
glasses" I declared angrily. Its 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 a great fuss about
the creatures being thirsty, and so
finally l got painful of spring water
and it drank until l thought it would
burst. I'm not vicious, as 1 say, but
I wish it 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 it more than a suf-
ficiency"
1--WE had one man here once who
could drink 25 at a time," l said, "but
he was a German"
HE was a tank" Mr.. Sam corrected
grumpily. He was watching something
on the foor-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
springi A CONFUSION in the bowels of
the earth, and it's health-giving prop
critics may be changed to the direst
poison. How do we know, you and I,
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 l
could not see. He suddenly straight
ened up and glanced at Miss Summers
Perhaps I'm mistaken" he said, "but
l think there is something the matter
with Arabella."
Everybody looked. Arabella was ly-
ing on her back, jerking and witch
ing and foaming at the mouth.
She's been poisoned" Miss Sum
mers screeched, and fell on her knees
beside her. Its that wretched wa
teru'
There was pretty nearly riot in a
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, 1 did what I could. The worst
Of it was, wasn't sure it wasn't the
water. l thought possibly Mr. Pierce
had made a mistake in what he had
bought at the drug store, and although
don't as rule drink it myself, l be-
gan to feel queer in the pit of my
stomach.
Mr.. Thoburn came over to the
spring, and filing a glass, took it to
the light, with every one watching anx-
iously. When he brought it back he
stopped over the railing and whispered
to me-
when did you fix it," he asked
sternly.
Last night" 1 answered. 1t was no
time to beat about the BUSH
Its yellower than usual" he said.
I'm inclined to think something has
gone wrong at the drug store, Minnie"
Mr. Won invalid was watching like
the others, and now he came over and
caught Mr.. Thoburn by the arm.
what do you think" he asked
nervously. II have had three glass
es of it,"
"Three!" shouted Senator Biggs,
coming forward. I've had eleven!
tell you, I've been feeling queer for "a
hours! I'm poisoned That's what I
am"
ITO RE CONTINUED