Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1879-01-25
ave are to call for her there


and take her to the park
Presently they drove into spacious
grounds, and up to the door of a noble
mansion. Walter, with his new friends,
entered.
"This way, if you please" said an
attendant.
The next moment he was in a cell,
and the door bolted and barred behind
him.
1t was private insane asylum. The
only requisite for admission was q GER
tiicate from physician in Maryland
(who had, by the way, never seen the
bow, that he was insane, and warrant
from magistrate. Both of which pa
pers Col. Thorpe had paid for.
As soon as the boy was safely NEAR
cerated, the Colonel proceeded to take
out a commission of lunacy, and the
the lads estate passed wholly into his
his release unless by the Colonel's per-
mission.
There is no need to linger on Walters
rage and despair. He wrote letters to
his friends, to lawyers, to the press,
which the attendants quietly burned.
He urged, pleaded, stormed with his
keepers, and they listened with stolid
indifference, putting him in strait
jacket when he grew violent.
At last he became quiet. Then
they said his mania was of the sullen
kind, and therefore more dangerous.
Walter knew that if he could once es-
cape, he was safe. 1t would be impos-
sible for his guardian to prove him in
sane before any court.
But he was guarded as securely as any
prisoner in the penitentiary. Twice,
when he had grappled with his keeper,
he had been felled and beaten until life
was nearly gone.
One day, two years after his impris-
onment, as the boy walked up and
down the ward, he heard squeaking
voice repeat
"Deuce-ace! Always deuce-ace!" in
despairing tones.
Walter had heard this cry thousand
times, but, lost in his own wretcbedness,
had never noticed from whence it came.
The place was full of strange sounds,
absurd, piteous, but all full of misery.
To-day, however, he woke, rs if from
dream, at this sound, and turning,
saw a feeble old man bending over q
backgammon-board, playing with him.
self.
His game had lasted for years. Some
thing in the hopeless wretchedness of
his face filled Walters heart with sud-
den pity.
What if he was a prisoner for life?
What if he had lost Jessy, his friends,
fortune-all? Something yet was left
to him. He could make life more easy
for others.
Scan speak to him?" he asked his
keeper.
ITO old Deuce ace? 1 reckon so,"
the man said, putting at his pipe. If
you'd make UP to some of your like, I'd
not need to keep such watch on you,"
adding to another keeper, ''it's when |
they're mum they're hatchin' devilry."
"Why do you play alone?" asked
Walter, of the old man.
"Nobody will play with me-" The
bleared eyes suddenly lightened. "Will
you? oh, will You, my boy?"
Walter sat down and took up the dice
box 1t was pathetic to see the delight
of the old man, especially when he won,
whichWalter took care that he should do.
With all MS madness, he was courte-
Gus and refined, having been an educa-
ted gentleman. Day after day Walter
devoted himself to this man, playing
and losing countless '' hits" The vigil
lance of his keeper relaxed.
"He's as silly as old Deuce-ace," he
said to his fellows.
As Walter sat one day throwing the
dice and humorirg the feeble fancy of
the old man, quick disgust overcome
him. What an occupation was this for
him, an able, strong young man, while
other men were working with brain and
body in the world. He threw down the
box. The next moment he shut his lips |