The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-17


about him. They fear that little re-
straint-temporary. hope-must be
put upon his actions. ] called to ask
your advice and aid"
lin what, Mr.. Carriston?"
"In this. a young man can't be left
free to 20 about threatening his friends
lives. 1 have brought DR.. Daley with
me-yOu know him, of course. He is
below in nv carriage. will call him
up, with your permission. He could
then see poor Charles, and the needful
certificate can be signed by you two
doctors.
Mr.. Carriston," I said. decidedly,
"let me tell you in the plainest words
that your cousin is at present as fully in
possession of his wits as you are. DIR.
whoever he may be can sign
no certificate. and in our day no asy-
lum would dare to keep Mr.. Carriston
within its walls"
An unpleasant sinister look crossed
my listeners face. but his voice still re-
manned bland and suave. - / am sorry
to differ from YOU. DIR. Brand" he said,
''but know him better than you do. |
have seen him as you havc never yet
seen him. Only last night he came to
me in frantic state. l expected every
moment he would make a nurderouS
attack on me. "
perhaps he fancied he had some
reason for anger" said.
Ralph Carriston looked ut me with
those cold eyes of which his cousin had
spoken "lf the boy has succeeded in
converting you to any of his decisions.
l can only say that doctors are more
credulous than | fanc.ed. But the
question is not worth arguing. You
decline to assist me, so l must do with
out YOU. GooG-morning, DIR. Brand"
He left tie room as gracefully a ne
had entered it. | remained in a state
of doubt 1t was curious that Ralph
Carriston turned out to DE the man
whom had met in the tram; but the
evidence offered by the coincidence was
not enough to convict him OF the crime
of endeaYoring to drive his cousin mad
by such far-fetched stratagem rs the
inveigling away of madeline Rowan.
Besides, even in wi;hing to prove
Charles Carriston mad, ls had much 20
say on his side. Supposirg him to be
innocent of having abducted Madeline.
CarfiSton's violent behav.c> 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 witch
SIDE to believe.
GARRISON still slept; so when l went
out on my afternoon rounds L left q
note, begging him to remain in the
house until my return. Then | found
him up, dressed. and looking much
more like himself. When 1 entered.
dinner was on the table, so not until
that meal was over could we talk I'M
restrainedly upon the subject which was
uppermost in both our minds.
AS soon as we were alone | turned
toward my guest And nOw." L
said, I'VE must settle what 10 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-
| inc Il trace"
To my surprise, Carri>ton fatty OBJ
jected to this course. NO" he said.
Il shall not 90 to the police. The man
who took her away has placed her
where no police can find her. l must
| find her myself.
Find her yourself! Why. it may be
months-yearS-bef you do that.
Good heavens, Cartistcn. She may be
murdered. or worse"
Il shall know if 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. 10 talk
plainly. Tell me all or nothing"
Carriston smiled very family. No
clew that you, at any rate, will bel e c
! in" he said. But know this much,
she is prisoner somewhere. She is
unhappy; but not, as vet, ill-trcat1d.
Heaycnsi Do you think if l did not
know this l should keep my senses foc
an hOur?"
How can you possibly know it,"
"By that gift-that extra sense, or
whatever it is-which you deride. l
knew it would come to me some day,
but little thought how l should well
come it. know that in some way |
shall find her by it. tell you | have
already seen her three times. | may
see her again at any moment when the
strange mt comes over me"
Tell me what YOU mean by your
strange fit" said, resolved to find out
the nature of Carriston's fancies or hal
lucinations? is it a kind of trance
YOU fall into?"
tion on the subject, but l pressed him
for an answer.
Yes" he said at last. at must be
kind of trance. An indescriba~lc
feeling comes over me. l know tina
my eyes are fixed on some object -
presently that oh, ect vanishes, and | sec
Madeline"
''How do you see her?"
''She seems to stand in a blurred cir
Gle of light as cast by magic lantern.
This is the only way that can describe
it. But her figure is plain and clear
! she might be close to me. The carpet
on which she stands l can see. the chair
| on which she sits, the table on which
/ she leans her hand. anything she
touches L can see; but no more. have
seen her talking. l knew she was eu-
| treating some one, but that some one
was invisible. Yet, if she touched that
person, the virtue of her touch would
| enable me to see him"
So far as l could see. Carriston's case
appeared to be one of overweight or
unduly stimulated Imagination. His |
had always considered to be 4 mind Of
the most peculiar construction. In his
present state of love, grief and suspense
these Authorizations might come in the
same way in which dreams come. For
a little while l sat in silence consider nS