Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-07-05

And Drane took that delightful sug-
gestion TO his apartment, and medi-
tated upon it. Was 1t possible that he
was really insane? Were tho strange
events OF the past few days which he
seemed to remember, In reality only
Authorizations?
Who could determine, ifleft wholly to
himself, without single visible link
between him and the past. whether that
past had any real existence? In Short
Drane didn't know whether he was
crazy or not. He watched himself Tor
symptoms. Did his hand tremble?
Or his heart beat too fast or too slow? He
enjoyed Moe case OF hypochondriacism
till long past midnight, and when he
fell asleep, tho zebras described by the
forgetful genius were ordinary and rea-
sonable animals compared to those
which pranced through his dreams.
But the morrow brought great
event, no less than q call from Bessie.
She came unattended, but alas! the
matron was present during the entire
interview. This not only prevented
Drane from enjoying the conversation
to tho full, but 1t also made 1t impossi-
BILE, or at least unwise, for him to ask
her name. So no called her Bessie, and
she made no objection.
Only for moment in the hall were
thcy able to be alone. Then Bessie
hastily passed Drano note, and num-
Der OF small, heavy, mysterious articles,
wrapped in q handkerchief. He had
barely concealed these things in his
pocket when the matron approached.
But your name?" whispered Drane,
hastily. .
81 am here rs Mrs. Lawrence Drane,"
she replied, with blush. "Only the
wives Of patients can visit them on or
binary days"
And she hurried away, leaving Drane
in delicious perplexity.
In his room he examined the note and
tho bundle. The former proved TO be
On elaborate plan for his escape written
out with tho detail Of French de-
tective novel. The latter was q great
lot of keys Of all sorts and sizes. They
had been taken from the doors in Mrs.
Bowers house, rs the note explained,
and were of course designed to open
doors in tho Retreat.
Drane studied the plan OF escape re-
ligiously. He noted every place where
he should 60, and tho number OF the
particular stair where he must breathe
in order to avoid detection. In some
way Bessie had discovered that the
guard ut the door was changed at mid
night. Drane was to steal softly from
his room at 11:56H. AS near that hour
as he could guess he stole, according to
directions. having punched the key
from his lock and opened his door
with ono Of the bunch Bessie had
brought.
He crept down the stair keeping II
mind the various shrcwd details OF thu
plot; where he must hide to let thu
guard pass him; how he must do this
that and the other thing which the
ingenuity of the girl had devised.
And now he stood at the bottom OF
the lower stair. The guard was asleep
with his head against the wall. This
too, was according to programme
Drane could easily have passed him te
his place OF concealment, but suddenly
new and simpler phase OF the problem
struck him. He coughed. The guard
did not move. Then he went up to thu
fellow and shook him. The guart
awolie.
Here your he cried, sleepily; ''g'
back to your cage"
Drane seized him by the neck
dragged him to the parlor door; pitched
him head first into the room; and before
the man could recover his balance OF
his bowls could bring assistance, Drane
had opened tho outside door, and was
cavorting down the street.