Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-12-24

""r@~@
believe, is the whole Of his com
plaint,"
"Yes, yes, TO be sure, poor boy. His
sweet heart has left him, or something.
But rs a doctor you must know that his
mental condition is not quite what II
should be. His friends are very anxious
about him. They fear that a little re-
straint--temporary, l hope-must be
put upon his actions called TO ask
your advice and aid"
ain what Mr.. CarristonP"
"In this. A young man can't be left
free 10 go about threatening his friends
lives | have brought DIR. Daley with
me-you know him, Of course. He is
below in my carriage. will call him
up, with your permission. He could
then see poor Charles, and tho ncedful
certificate can be signed by you two
doctors"
"Mr. Carrislon," I said, decidedly,
"let me tell you In the plaincst words
that your cousin Is at present as fully In
possession of his wits as you are. DIR.
Daley whoever he may be can sign
no certificate and in our day no asy-
lum would dare to keep Mr.. Carriston
within lis walls" 4"
An unpleasant sinister look crossed
my listeners face, but his voice still re-
maincd bland and suave. &" am sorry
10 differ from you. DIR. Brand" he said,
'but know him better than you do. |
have scon HIM rs you have never yet
seen him. Only last night he came to
me ia frantic state. l expected every
moment he would make murderous
attack on me.
Perhaps he fancied he had soma
reason for anger" said.
Ralph Carriston looked at me with
those cold eyes Of which his cousin had
spoken. "lf the boy has succeeded in
converting you to any Of his delusions,
can only say that doctors are more
credulous than l fanc.ed. But the
question Is not worth arguing. You
decline 10 assist me. so | must do with
out you. Good-morning. DIR. Brand. :"
lie left the room as gracefully as he
had entered it. remained in state
of doubt II was curious that Ralph
Carriston turned out TO be the man
whom had met in the train; but the
evidence offered by the coincidence was
not enough to convict him of the crime
Of endeavoring to drive his cousin mad
by such far-fetched stratagem rs tho
inveigling away Of Madeline Rowan.
Besides, even in wishing to prove
Charles Carriston mad, he had much to
say on his side. Supposing him TO bc
innocent Of having abducted Madeline,
Carriston's violent behavior on the
preceding evening must have seemed
very much like insanity. In spite Of
the aversion with which Ralph Carris-
ton inspired me, scarcely knew which
SIDE to believe.
Carriston still slept; so when / went
out on my afternoon rounds | left n
note. begging him to remain in tho
house until my return. Then | found
him up. dressed. and looking much
more like himself When I entered.
dinner was on the table. so not until
that meal was over could VIC talk un-
restrainedly upon the sub'cc which was
uppcrmost in both our minds
As soon as we were alone | turned
toward my guest And now,"
said, 1--WE must settle what TO do.
There seems to me to be put one course
open. You have plenty Of money. so
your best plan is TO engage skilled
police assistance. Young ladies can't
be spirited away like this without leay-
ing trace.
To my surprise, Carriston flatly OBJ
| jected TO this course. Mo- he said,
IL shall not 90 to the police. The man
who took her away has placed her
where no police can find her. must
find her myself"
Find her YOURSELF Why. it may be
months -years-before You do hiatt
Good heavens. Cariistonl She may be
murdered, or worse"
Il shall know il any further evil hap
pens to her-then l shall kill Ralph
Carriston."
But you tell me you have no clew
whatever to trace her by. Do talk
Plainly. Tell me all or nothing"
Carriston smiled very family. mo
clew that you, at any rate, will believe
in he said. "But know this much,
,he is prisoner somewhere Sac is
unhappy; but not, as vet, ill-treat d.
Heavens! DO you think il l did not
know this | should keep my senses for
an hour?n
''How can you possibly know it?"
by that gift-that extra sense, or
whatever it is-which you deride.
knew Il would como TO me some day,
but little thought how should well
come il know that in some way
shall find her by it. 1 tell You / have
already seen her three times. / may
see her again at any moment when the
strange iii comes over me-"
All this fantastic nonsense was
spoken so simply and with such an air
Of conviction that once more my sus-
picions as to the state Of his mind were
aroused. In spite of the brave answers
which had given Mr.. Ralph Carriston
| felt that common-sense was undeni.
ably on his side.
Tell me what You mean by your
strange fit" ! said, resolved 10 fin | out
the nature OF Carriston's fancies or hall
lucinations? "Is it n kind Of trance
you fall into?"
He seemed loath to give any informa-
tion on the subject but | pressed him
for an answer.
'Yes. he said at last. II. must be
a kind of trance. An indescribaNle
feeling comes over me. know that
my eyes are iiXel on some object -
presently that oh. ect yanishes, and SEQ
Madeline"
"How do you see herp''
"She seems to stand in blurred cir
Gle OF light as cast by a magic lantern.
This is the only way that can de scribe
IL Eut her figure is plain and clear
she might be close 10 me. The carpet
on which she stands can see, the chair
on which she sits. the table on which
she leans her hand. anything she
touches ] can see; but no more. have
seen her talking. | knew she was en-
treating some one, but that some ono
was invisible. Yet, If she touched that
person, the virtue OF her touch would
enable me ~ zee him"
SO far as could see. Carriston's case
appeared 10 be one Of oyerwrought or