"Never mind, Moll," the host quickly responded. "It ain't quite time for you to put in, except in the way of getting us a bite to eat." She arose, without replying, and began preparations for supper. "It is a dull time of the year with us," said the host. "It has been about two weeks since our last boarder left. But I reckon business will pearten up a little when the fishing season opens." Blake paid no attention, except when some sharp and unexpected note in the old man's voice produced a tingling of the nerves. Shortly after supper, Blake declared his readiness to go to bed. He was shown into a sort of shed room, separated by a thin partition from the room which he had just quitted. The old man placed a spluttering candle on the hearth, and, expressing the hope that his guest would pass a quiet and peaceful night, withdrew. Blake lay unable to sleep. Once the spluttering candle caused him to spring up in bed. Suddenly his ears, extremely sensitive with his nervousness, caught the sounds of a whispered conversation. "It won't do to shed blood," said the old man. "It won't do, for we made a mighty narrow escape the last time. It's impossible to get blood stains out of the house. "I b'l'eve them saddlebags air full uv money," the hag replied. "I don't doubt that, and we've got to have it." "How air you goin' ter git it?" "Poison him. I wasn't a sort of doctor all these years for nothing." "You never was no doctor ter hurt." "But I'll be a doctor to-night to hurt." "How air you goin' ter pizen him? Thar ain't a speck uv pizen on the place." "Where is that morphine?" "Up thar in the bottle, but will that fix him?" "Yes, and in such a way that nobody will suspect anything." "How air you goin' ter do? Hold it under his nose?" "Hold it under his foot!" the man contemptuously replied. "I am going to make him take it." "How?" "I'll fix it." Then there occurred a whispering of which Blake caught the following: "Think that's ernuff?" the woman asked. "It's nearly half a teaspoonful. Enough to make five men sleep throughout eternity." A moment later the host entered Blake's room. His manner was free from embarrassment. In one hand he held a glass containing water. "Stranger, I don't want to disturb you, but it occurred to me just now that you looked as if you might be going to have a spell of sickness, so I thought I would bring you some medicine. I am willing to help a man, but I don't want him to be sick on my hands. I am a doctor, but I don't propose to keep a hospital." "Suppose I refuse to take the medicine?" "Then you'll put me to the trouble of pouring it down you, that's all. I am a mighty gentle sort of a fellow as long as everything goes on all right, but if a hitch occurs, why I am as rough as a swamp oak." "Are you sure the medicine will not hurt me?" "Hurt you! Why, it will do you good. Here, swallow it down."