Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-09-12
PART THE HksT.
CHAPTER VIII


NJ for aid, and, it may be, protection. b
manifested the grea est reluctance in follow
ing any advice ! offered him. The obsti-
macy OF his refusal to obtain the assistance
Of the police placed mo in a rredicament.
That Madeline Rowan had really disap-
peared / v as, Of course, compel e / to believe.
It might even BE- poss bic that she was kept
against her will in some place CT conceal
ment. In such a case it beh ,oved lis TO take
proper steps to trace her. Har welfare
should not depend upon the LallucinatlOns
and eccentric IDEAS of man half out OF his
sense. with love and gries. 1 all but re-
solved, even at the risk Of forfeiting Carris-
TONS friendship, TO put the whole matter In
the hands OF the 20 ice, unless, in the course
Of q day or two. we heard from the girl her,
salt or GARRISON suggest Il some better plan.
CuriOusly enough, although refusing to be
guided by me, he made no suggestion on his
own account lie was racked Ivy fear and
Suspense, yet his onIy idea OF solving his
difficulties seemed TO be that Of waiting.
He did nothing. He simply vailed, as il ho
expected that chance would bring what be
should have been searching for high and
low.
Some days passed before / could get
tardy consent that aid should he sought.
Even then he would not go to the proper
quarter; but he allowed me to summon to
our councils man who advertised himself ~
being a priv ate detective. This man, or ono
Of his men, came at our call, and heard what
Wa wanted Of him. Carriston reluctantly
gave him one Of Madeines photographs
He adsn told him that only by wa ching and
spying on Ralph Carriston's every action
coul he hope to obtain the clew. did not
much like the course adopted nor did like
the look of the man to whom the inquiry
was intrusted; but, at any rate, something
was being done.
A week passed without news from our
agent CaITis on, in truth. did not sem to
expect anv. believe he only employed the
man in deferonce to my W She. He moved
about the house m disconsoiate fashion. 1
had not told him of my in,erview with his
cousin. but had cautioned him on the rare
OCCASIONS upon which no went out-of-doors
to avoii sp asing to strangers, and my
servant had stree instructions 10 prevent
any one coming in and taxing my guest by
urprls..
For | had. during those days, opened q
confidential inquiry IN my own account. l
wanted TO learn sonnet ing aLoIt this Mr..
Ralph Carriston. So | aske1 man who
knew everybody to find out all about him
He reported that Ralph Carriston was
man well known about Lordon. lie was
married and hal n house in Do setshlre;
but the greater part of his time was spent IN
town. Once he was supposed to be w1ll off;
but now it the general opinion that
every acre he owne was mort gagged, and
that h. was much presssl tor money.
But" my informant said, there is but
ono hfe between him and the rcversion to
large estates, q I'd that life is poor one. |
believe even now there is a talk about the
man who stands in his way being mai. If
20, Ralph Ca riston viii get tine manage
n,ent OF everything"
After ihls news | felt it more than ever
needful to keep watchful eye on my frieni.
So far rs | snew there had been no recur-
renee of tic trance, and .egnn to Lope that
propr treatment would effect "A complete
cure, when to nv great alarm and annoy
ance, GARRISON, while sitting with me, sud-
denly ami without warning tell INTO the
name strange state of bod and mind as
previously described. his time he was sit
ting in another part OF the room After
watching him for a minute or two, and just
as was making up my mind to grouse him
and sc0ld him thoroughly for his folly, he
spran to bis feet and shouting, Let b r
COL Loose her, 1 sayr rushed violently
across he room viol antly that | had
barely time to interpose and prevent MIN
from coming into contact It'll the opposite
wall
Upon RETURNING to his senses he told me,
with gre I excitement. thai be hGd again
seen Nadel ne; moreover this time he had
sen man with her-a man who hal placed
his hand upon her wrist and kept il there;
and so, according to Carristons will rea-
soning, became, ON account OF the contact
visible to him.
He told me he had watched them for some
moments, until the man, tightening MS grip
ON the girls arm, endeavored, he thought,
to lead her or induce her to follow him some
where. At this juncture, unaware that he
was gazing at a vision, ne had rushed to her
assistance in the frantic way l have de-
scribed; then he awoke
He also tod me he had studied the mans
features and general appearance most care
fully with view to future recogn ton. AL
those ridiculous statements were made as he
made the former ones, with the air ono
relating SIM lie, unde Unable facts one speak
ing the plain unvarnished truth, and ex-
pecting full credence 10 lie given to his
words
1t was too absurdi too sadl 1t was evident
10 me that the barrier between his halluc.na-
tons dreams visions, or whatever he chose
to call them, and pure insanity, was now a
very slight and fragile one But before l
gave his case up as hopeless determined to
make another strong appeal to his common
sense 1 told hun Of his cousins visit to me
of his intentions and proposition. l beg
ged him to consider what conse Quences his
extraordinary bel efs and eAtravagant &C
tons must eventually entail. He listened
attentively and calmly.
You see now" he said, chow right was
in attrihuting all this to Ra pin Carrston-
how right was To come to you, a doctor OF
standing, who can vouch for my sanity"
"Vouch for your sanity How can when
you sit uere and talk sucn ar ant nonsense,
and expect ME to believe it'll When you jump
from your char and rush madly at some
visionary foei sane as you may lie in all
else, any evidence could give in our favor
must break down in croSs-exanination if an
inkling Of these things got about Come,
Carriston, be reasonable, and prove your
sanity by setting about this search Tor Miss
Rowan in Il proper way"
He made no reply, but walked up and
down the room apparently in deep thought.
Ny words seemed TO have had no effect upon
him. Presently he seated hlmse.s; anu as
If to AVOID returning to The argument. drew
q book al hazard from nv shelves ana tegan
to read. He opened the volume at random,
but alter reading a few lines seemed struck
BY something that met his ewes, and in a
few minutes was deeply immersed in ira
contents OF the book. / glanced at it to see
what had 50 awakened his interest By
curious fatality he had chosen book the