Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-07-10
That he WIS not quite ready. Ready for what
Wmderedl

prosaic matter-Of-fact medical man doing my
work 10 the best OF my ability, and anxious
when that work was done that my hours OF
leisure should be as free from worry and care
as possible. With Carriston's advent several
Disturbing elements entered into my quiet
life.
Let Ralph Carriston be guilty or innocent
OF the extraordinary crime which his cousin
laid at his door felt that he was anxious TO
obtain possession of the supposed lunatic's
person. Ii would suit his purposes for his
cousin to be proved mad. did not believe
that even II the capture was legally effected
CarristOn's liberation would be a matter OF
great difficulty SO long as he remained i'm his
present state of mind; so long as i, doctor
Of some standing. could go into the witness
box and swear TO his sanity. But my old
dread was always with me-the dread that
any further shock would Oyerturn the bal
ance of his sensitive mind.
SO il was that every hour that CaTriston
was out OF my sight was fraught with anxiety.
If Ralph CarristOn was really as unScrlpu-
lous as my friend supposed; if he had really
as seemed almost probable, subOrned our
agent; he might by some crafty trick obtain
the needtul certificate, and some day should
come home and lind Car1'iston had been re-
moved. In such case toresaw great troub-
lie and distress.
Besides, after all that had occurred, il was
as much as could do 10 believe that CARTS
ton was not mad. Any doctor who knew
what knew would have gwen the verdict
against him.
After dismssing his visions and halmcina-
tons with the contempt which they deserved,
the fact of man who was madly, passion
ately in love with woman, and who believ-
ed that she had been entrapped and was still
kept in restraint, sitting down quietly, and
letting day after day pass without making an
effort toward finding her, was in itself prtmd
tdcie evidence OF insanity A sane man
would at once have set all the engines of de-
lection at work.
felt that if once Ralph Carriston obtain
ed possession of him he could make out a
strong case in his own favor. First of all, the
proposed marriage out OF the defendants
own sphere of life; the passing under false
name; the ridiculous, or apparently ridicu-
lous, accusation made against his kinsman;
the murderous threats: the chastiSement of
his own paid agent who brought him re-
port which might not seem az all untrue TO
any one who knew not Madeline Rowan.
Leaving out the question what might he
wrung from me in croSs-cxamination, Ralph
GARRISON had q strong ease, and | knew that,
once in his power, my friend might possibly
be doomed TO pass years, II not his whole life,
under restraint SO l was anXious,-yery
anxious.
And felt an anxiety, scarcely second TO
that which prevailed on CarristOns account,
as 70 the fate of Madeline. Granting for
sake of argument that CaTiston's absurd
conviction that no bodily harm had as yet
been done her, was tine, | felt sure that She
with her scarcely less sensitive nature must
feel the separation from her lover as much as
he himself felt the separation from her. once
or twice tried 10 comfort myself with cynl-
ciSm-tried To persuade myself that a young
woman could not in our days he spirited
away-that she had gone by her own free
will-that there was a man who had at the
eleventh hour alienated her affections from
Cariston. But could not bring myself TO
believe this SO | was placed between the
horns OF dilemma.
II Madeline had not fed of her own free will,
some one must have taken her away, and is
so our agents report was coined one, and,
II coined one, issued at Ralph's instance;
therefore Ralph must be the prime actor In
the mystery.
But in sober moments such deduction
seemed an utter abSurdty.
Although have said that GARRISON was
doing nothing toward clearing up the myS-
terry. wrong him in SO saying. After his
own erratlc way he was at work. At such
work tool l really lost all patience with
him.
He shut himself up in his room. out of
which he scarcely stirred for three days. BY
that time he had completed large and beau
uiul drawing of his imaginary man. This he
took TO well-known photographers, and
ordered several hundred small photographs
OF II, to be prepared as soon as possible. The
minute description which he had given me of
his tanciful creation was printed at the foot
| Of each copy. As soon as the first batch OF
these precious photographs was sent home,
. 10 my great JOY lie tlN Nll;lt ne SnuulG nave
done days ago; yielded 10 my wishes, and
put the matter into the hands of the police.
| was glad 10 ind that IN giving details of
what had happened he said nothing about
the ACCESSIBILITY OF keeping watch on Ralph
Carristou's proceedings lie did. indeed of
fer an abSurdly large reward for the discov-
cry OF the missing girl; and, moreover, gave
the officer in charge of the case packet OF
photographs of his phantom man, telling him
In the gravest manner that he knew the origi-
nal nf hot hnH Ia ifty To dos
the disappearance of Miss Rowan. The Of
fcer, who thought the portrait was that OF a
natural being, took his instructions in good
faith, although he seemed greatly surprised
when he heard that CarTistOn knew neither
the name nor the occupation, in fact knew
nothing concerning the man who was TO be
sought for. However, as CarriSton assured
him that finding this man would insure the
reward as much as If he found Madeline, the
officer readily promised 10 combine the two
tasks, little knowing what waste of time any
attempt TO perform the latter must be.
Two DAYS after this CarristOn came 10 me.
IL shall leave you tomorrow" he said.
Where are you going|' / asked. why
do you leave"'
II am going to travel about. have no in
tention of letting Ralph get hold OF me. So
mean TO 60 from place to place until find
Madeline
BE careful" | urged
II shall be carefukenOugh. I'll take care
that no doctors surgeons, or even apOthe-
carries get on my track. | shall go just as the
lit SEXES me. II can't say one day where
shall be the next, it will be impossible for
that villain 10 Know
This was not a bad argument. In fact, If
he carried out his resolve of passing quickly
from place 10 place did not see how he could
plan anything more likely 10 defeat the in
tcntonS with which we credited his cousin.
As to his finding Madeline by so doing, that
was another matter.
His idea seemed to be that chance would
sooner or later bring him in contact with the
man of his dream. However now that the
search had been ntruSted 10 the proper per
sons his own action i'm the matter was not
worth troubling about i gave him many
cautions. lie was la be quiet and guarded
in words and manner He was not la con-
verse with strangers. Ii he found himself
logged or watched by any one he was to
communicate at once with me. But, above
all, ] begged him not To yield again Ia his
mental inhrmty. The folly of man who
could avoid il throwing himself INTO such a
state ought to be apparent to him.
Not Ottencr than can help" was all the