The Last of the Plainsmen 



sense of fear. This lasted only for a moment, as I 

 well knew the use and power of the acid, and had 

 not swallowed enough to hurt me. I was about to 

 make known my mistake in a matter-of-fact way, 

 when it flashed over me the accident could be made 

 to serve a turn. 



&quot; Jones!&quot; I cried hoarsely. &quot;What s in this 

 butter?&quot; 



&quot; Lord ! you haven t eaten any of that. Why, I 

 put carbolic acid in it.&quot; 



&quot; Oh oh oh I m poisoned ! I ate nearly all 

 of it! Oh I m burning up! I m dying! &quot; With 

 that I began to moan and rock to and fro and hold 

 my stomach. 



Consternation preceded shock. But in the excite 

 ment of the moment, Wallace who, though badly 

 scared, retained his wits made for me with a can 

 of condensed milk. He threw me back with no 

 gentle hand, and was squeezing the life out of me 

 to make me open my mouth, when I gave him a jab 

 in his side. I imagined his surprise, as this peculiar 

 reception of his first-aid-to-the-injured made him 

 hold off to take a look at me, and in this interval I 

 contrived to whisper to him : &quot; Joke ! Joke ! you idiot ! 

 I m only shamming. I want to see if I can scare 

 Jones and get even with Frank. Help me out! 

 Cry! Get tragic!&quot; 



200 



